Whereas the cities of our Province are pressuring their neighbouring rural municipalities to allow expansion of their city limits through annexation; and

Whereas restructuring agreement negotiations between the cities and rural municipalities appear futile; and

Whereas there exists a need to ensure the protection of existing land uses, existing land owners and the existing tax base within the rural municipalities; and

Whereas there exists a need for the Province to recognize the rural municipality’s most attractive lands for economic development (or even already developed lands) are the targeted lands for annexation by the cities; and

Whereas there exists a need to move quickly in order to avoid losing potential economic development opportunities for our areas;

Be it Resolved that SARM lobby the Province to set up a joint committee between SARM, SUMA and themselves to establish guidelines for annexation that would facilitate fair and orderly development in our Province.  

Response from Honourable Bill Hutchinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs:

·         Good faith negotiation and mediation are cornerstones to strong inter-municipal relationships.  Municipal Affairs encourages municipalities to collaborate on land development and annexation processes.

·         Where RMs experience inter-municipal disputes, The Cities Act and The Municipalities Act contain provisions for voluntary mediation and arbitration through the Saskatchewan Municipal Board (SMB) for a decision.

·         Managing the pressures of growth and development has been discussed at the Municipal Sector Strategic Plan Tables (MSSP).  As such, SARM is well positioned to use the MSSP Tables as a forum for discussion and preparation of guidelines to advance development opportunities.

·         Future consideration could be given to preparing guidelines for municipalities to negotiate development and annexation issues.