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Lake District

Res #: 10-23A
Number: 10
Year: 2023
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations

WHEREAS the provisions for the establishment of a municipal district under The Municipalities Act do not allow for a
portion of a rural municipality to form a municipal district and requires that a municipal district contains at least one
former rural municipality and one former urban municipality in their entirety.

WHEREAS organized hamlets located adjacent to lakes have unique governance interests from the rural municipality.
Establishing provisions for the formation of a lake district that may include portions of a former rural municipality,
organized hamlet, unorganized hamlet, and/or urban municipality will provide a legislative governance framework to
satisfy these unique interests and foster collaboration.

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Ministry of Government Relations to amend The Municipalities Act to allow for
the establishment of a Lake District.

Responses From: Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations

May 31, 2023

  • The Ministry of Government Relations (GR) does not support amendments to The Municipalities Act to allow for the establishment of a new type of municipality, as several options already exist in legislation.
  • The Municipalities Act provides opportunities for meeting unique needs within specific areas of the municipality, including additional service areas, special service areas, and organized hamlets.
  • Municipalities can also look at boundary alterations or restructuring if they cannot find solutions to meet diverse needs within their existing boundaries.
  • Municipal districts offer great flexibility for municipalities with unique regional considerations, and options to access both the urban and rural legislative frameworks. A municipal district would be formed between at least one urban municipality and at least one rural Municipalities are encouraged to speak to GR about innovative solutions that could be available to a municipal district.
  • GR encourages municipalities in the same region to cooperate in addressing challenges related to governance, taxation, and service Regional cooperation allows communities to consolidate resources and enhance their capacity to tackle challenges together. Options to address regional challenges include:
    • Establishing a voluntary planning district under The Planning and Development Act, 2007;
    • Entering into inter-municipal agreements and partnerships; and
    • Applying for funding under the Targeted Sector Support Initiative, which provides cost-shared grants to municipalities partnering on projects focused on regional cooperation, capacity building, and good governance.

The Honourable Don McMorris – Minister of Government Relations, Government of Saskatchewan