Funding for Infrastructure Welcome
SARM welcomes today’s announcement by Premier Wall of $100 million in new infrastructure funding for Saskatchewan’s municipalities, by way of the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program. Rural municipalities will receive $19.2 million of that amount.
“There is a definite need for infrastructure funding in rural Saskatchewan,” said President David Marit. “A recent study estimated that the backlog alone for rural municipal bridges that have exceeded their expected life span is $82 million.”
A simplified application process is to be utilized, and funding is to flow to municipalities by the end of March.
“We like the fast-tracking of this funding and the elimination of some of the “red-tape” that is a part of many funding programs,” said President Marit.
Industries like oil, gas and potash, which have been fuelling the recent provincial economic upsurge, are all located in rural Saskatchewan. Rural municipalities provide the infrastructure for these industries, so this new funding can be considered an investment in the future of the provincial economy.
“We appreciate the new funding the province is providing, which will assist municipalities with addressing their infrastructure needs,” said Marit.
