Resolution No. 20-05A

WHEREAS, many of the cost shared road construction projects require heritage site reviews by Heritage Resources Unit of Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation; and

WHEREAS, during many of these reviews the Heritage Resources Unit and/or its assigns or agents can be found wandering areas far removed from the area to be impacted by the construction process;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that “Heritage Resource Impact Assessments” be restricted to the road allowance and back slope sites shown to be impacted by the process on the engineering profiles for the project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Heritage Resources Unit and/or its assigns and agents coordinate their review with the municipality in which the work is to be done.

Response from Honourable Joan Beatty, Minister of Culture, Youth and Recreation:

The provincial Heritage office routinely reviews proposed land developments to determine the need for heritage resource impact assessment (Hria) or other conservation action per s.63 of The Heritage Property Act. Where Hria is deemed necessary, these studies, including pedestrian examination of the development area, are conducted by private-sector contractors who are selected and commissioned by the developer. Provincial Heritage officials do not conduct impact assessments in the field, and heritage contractors selected by the developer do not act as "agents" for the provincial government. Where Hria is required as a condition of project approval, I can assure you that such requirements pertain only to project areas that will be directly impacted by the construction process.

This resolution appears to relate to the RM of Piapot's application for cost-shared funding under the Prairie Grain Road Program. In reviewing the project-specific application, the need for Hria was identified and subsequently conveyed to the RM by the (Federal) Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration which administers the funding program. It is my understanding the engineering firm, contracted by the RM of Piapot to design the road development, commissioned the heritage contractor to carry out the Hria.

According to the preliminary heritage report, the exact development area, slated for construction later this year, was not staked at the time the field work was conducted. I regret any confusion that may have arisen in this particular instance concerning the heritage resource impact assessment process in Saskatchewan. Accordingly, I have asked that the provincial Heritage office contact the RM of Piapot to clarify the Hria process and the respective roles and responsibilities of key players in the process including: regulators, developers, contractors, and approving and funding agencies.