Resolution No. 9-01A

WHEREAS, Sub-Section 243(3) of The Rural Municipality Act, 1989, states as follows: “Any amount with respect to any work performed pursuant to subsection (1) for any person occupying land in the municipality that remains unpaid at the end of the year in which the work was performed shall at the end of that year be added to and form part of the taxes on any land owned by that person; and

WHEREAS, this section of the act is heavy handed and councils should have the option of applying these charges to the taxes;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM lobby the provincial government to amend Sub-Section 243(3) of The Rural Municipality Act, 1989 by removing “shall” and replacing it with "may".

Response from Hon. Ron Osika:

This amendment would be consistent with government's current initiative to provide more autonomy and decision making flexibility to municipal councils. In this particular case, councils should be in the best position to determine whether local circumstances warrant this action, or whether other arrangements should be made. MAH will include this proposed amendment on the list of issues to be addressed when government next considers changes to the Act.