Resolution No. 10-01M

WHEREAS, Federal/Provincial/Municipal road programs are usually designed to assist with construction or replacement of existing infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, municipal road traffic is increasing, much of the increase being by transient haulers; and

WHEREAS, with this increased traffic there is the need for increased maintenance; and WHEREAS, better maintained roads generally mean longer road service life;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM ask the Province to implement a road funding program to assist municipalities with road maintenance costs.

Response from Ron Osika, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH):

MAH provides $11.2 million of unconditional Road Preservation and Construction grants to every rural municipality annually through Rural Revenue Sharing. This combines the former conditional grants for road maintenance, construction and regravelling. Municipal councils determine the spending priorities for these grants. MAH also provides $9.55 million of unconditional Equalization grants to most RMs annually through Rural Revenue Sharing. The spending priorities for these grants are also determined by the municipal councils. Rural municipalities may also require haulers of bulk commodities to enter into haul road maintenance agreements to recover incremental maintenance and loss of road life costs from road users.