EM: SUMA’s Proposed Name Change to “Municipalities of Saskatchewan”
Res #: 1-20A
Number: 1
Year: 2020
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Matters Pertaining to SARM
WHEREAS at the 2020 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association’s Annual Convention the urban delegates soundly defeated a resolution to start a discussion with SARM to amalgamate SUMA and SARM into one association;
WHEREAS SUMA delegates spoke loudly against the discussion stating that SUMA should concentrate on mending their current divide between citiesand smaller urbans within their association;
WHEREAS even though the resolution was defeated soundly, the SUMA Board of Directors presented the SUMA delegates with a new name for their association called “Municipalities of Saskatchewan”;
WHEREAS the proposed name suggests SUMA represents all municipalities in the province of Saskatchewan including the rural municipalities;
WHEREAS SUMA has not done their due diligence prior to the announcement around legal requirements including changing the legislation of the Act to Incorporate the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association;
WHEREAS for the amendment to take place, the provincial government is required to approve the name change;
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM stand with the SUMA membership stating there is zero interest in any such discussion around the amalgamation of the two associations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SARM make a strong statement to Premier Scott Moe to not permit the amendment of the SUMA Act to permit SUMA to change their name to “Municipalities of Saskatchewan” as SUMA does not represent all the municipalities of Saskatchewan.
Responses From: SARM Board of Directors
June 30, 2020
The SARM Board of Directors put forward Emergent Resolution EM 1-20A seeking support from SARM members to take action regarding Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) name change to Municipalities of Saskatchewan and state strongly that SARM has no interest in SUMA and SARM amalgamating.
SARM delegates voted in favour of the resolution. As such, SARM has communicated with the province asking for their support for this resolution. In the response from Minister of Government Relations Lori Carr, the minister reiterated that the province expects SUMA to seek the support of its members before taking any steps to change the association’s name and to follow the process necessary to formally change the association’s name, including the requirement to amend the legislation that created the organization. This has also been imparted to SUMA. The Minister Carr notes that there is no legislative process for the province to prevent SUMA from using the name Municipalities of Saskatchewan in the meantime. SARM will continue to take steps to protect the SARM brand.
SARM Board of Directors
