WHEREAS the only funding available to municipalities for road construction is for heavy haul roads (i.e. Clearing the Path);

WHEREAS, the infrastructure on the farm access roads are in desperate need of reconstruction due to the size of farm trucks, equipment and machinery used in todays operations; and

WHEREAS a producer has to access heavy haul roads via farm access roads;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby all levels of government for new funding to reconstruct farm access roads.

Previously Passed Resolutions
Resolution 22-09M:
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to provide funding for main farm access roads at $1000 per km per year.

Response from Honourable Jim Reiter, Minister of Highways and Infrastructure:

The Ministry currently provides for municipal road improvements through the Municipal Roads for the Economy Program (MREP). MREP was introduced in 2009 and amalgamated a number of previous municipal infrastructure funding programs. The Ministry funds MREP through annual budget allocations provided by the legislature. The Ministry and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities work together to develop an annual program that is administered by SARM.  

MREP consists of the Heavy Haul, Clearing the Path, and the Municipal Bridge and Culvert components, which help fund improvements to eligible municipal roads – many of which are Class 5 and 6 roads formerly categorized as main farm access roads.