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Issue No. 16-17

August 8, 2016 
Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Marion Buller, a member of the Mistawasis First Nation (130 km north of Saskatoon) and British Columbia's first female First Nations judge, has been named the Chief Commissioner to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and GirlsShe will be joined by four other commissioners: University of Saskatchewan professor Marilyn Poitras, Michèle Audette, Qajaq Robinson, and Brian Eyolfson.

The five-member independent panel will investigate " underlying causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls including systemic issues" and have the "authority to examine institutional policies and practices such as policing or child welfare."  The inquiry will run from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 and is expected to cost $53.9 million.

SUMA added our voice to the many calling for an inquiry - first through a  a resolution at Convention 2015, then as part of the quality of life theme of our federal election advocacy. We appreciate the Government of Canada's commitment and their movement forward on the inquiry.

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Have Your Say: Marijuana Legalization and Regulation

The federal government is seeking input from municipal governments as it designs a new legislative and regulatory system for marijuana. 

To participate, read the discussion paper  " Toward the Legalization, Regulation and Restriction of Access to Marijuanaand respond to questionnaires in  sections 3.1 to 3.5. If you can't submit through the online portal, you can send your feedback by email  or formal letter  to the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat,  Address locator 0602E, Ottawa, ON  K1A 0K9.

Please also forward a copy of your response to this consultation to our policy and legal advisor, Steven Dribnenki, as SUMA will also prepare an official response to this consultation. 

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Have Your Say: 
Electronics Recycling Expansion

Saskatchewan is interested in expanding the waste electronic equipment program to include additional electronic products, which will require an amendment to The Waste Electronic Equipment Regulations. The Ministry of Environment is seeking your input on the proposed changes outlined in the  Summary of Proposed Amendments. Please review the proposed changes and complete the online questionnaire by  August 31, 2016, and copy our policy and legal advisor,  Steven Dribnenki, on any responses you have to this consultation.

Questions? Contact  Brienne Bennett: 306-787-2916.

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National Building Code Updates Affecting Group Homes and Farm Buildings

National Building Code amendments will come into effect September 1, 2016. Of interest to urban municipalities is the removal of the requirement  to install fire sprinklers in small group homes that house five or fewer residents in care. The  Building Standards Advisory, Fire Sprinkler Requirements in Alternative Family Care Homes,  has more details on the sprinkler requirements for group homes in Saskatchewan.

Another amendment  to   The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Regulations   (the UBAS Regulations) covers the question:  When is a farm building truly a "farm building" and when is it considered a "commercial operation" subject to the National Building Code? For more information on that change, read the Building Standards Advisory, Farm Buildings and the National Building Code .

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Safer Rail Transport of Crude Oil 

The federal government recently announced it will fast track the retirement of older, crash-prone rail tankers used for carrying crude oil. More stringent standards come into effect November 1, 2016, six months ahead of schedule for "unjacketed" (without thermal protection) DOT-111 rail cars and 16 months earlier for jacketed DOT-111s. SUMA has been a strong advocate for increased rail-safety measures, including new standards for tankers transporting dangerous goods.

DOT-111 tankers are vulnerable to spills and explosions due to their thinner walls, exposed valves, and poor thermal protection. The severity of the 2013 Lac-Megantic rail disaster which killed 47 people was in part blamed on the use of this type of rail car. 

The announcement only affects crude oil transport, as  DOT-111 cars will still be allowed for the transport of other flammable liquids until  April 30, 2025.

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How Will You Celebrate Saskatchewan's Seniors' Week?
 
The Province has declared September 25 to October 1 Seniors' Week and is encouraging citizens to organize events that  recognize seniors and the important contributions they make to our communities. The provincial week coincides with both National Seniors Day and the International Day of Older Persons, on October 1.

Here are some resources and ideas to get you started:
  • The World Health Organization's International Day of Older Persons 2016 (October 1) has an article on Taking a Stand Against Ageism as part of their Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health.  
Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism will be kicking off Seniors' Week with their  Celebrating Seniors provincial volunteer awards at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on September 25, with guest speaker Alvin Law. 

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Good Luck to Communities in Bloom Competitors 

Judges are visiting 26 Saskatchewan communities this summer as part of Communities in Bloom, a provincial  and   national  program  which recognizes efforts in community beautification, environmental responsibility, and civic pride. Communities participating at the competitive and evaluation levels are awarded up to five "bloom" ratings based on the community's collective performance in six categories: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, and floral displays.  Communities can also participate non-competitively. 

Winners will be announced at this year's national Communities in Bloom National Symposium and Awards Ceremonies being held in conjunction with Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association Convention in Regina, October 27 to 29. The theme of the joint event will be Healthy Communities: Harvesting the Benefits

We wish good luck to all our members who are hosting judges this summer at the national level (the Village of Denzil; the towns of Indian Head, Ituna, Kinistino and Maple Creek; and the City of Humboldt) and at the provincial level (the villages of Mankota, Middle Lake and Riverhurst; the towns of Aberdeen, Bienfait, Eastend, Eston, Fleming, Frontier, Gull Lake, Kamsack, Kindersley, Shaunavon, Wynyard and Hague; and the cities of Moose Jaw, Warman and Weyburn).

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In This Issue

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Supreme Basics: Quality Service and Products at Competitive Prices 


Longtime SUMAdvantage partner Supreme Basics has again signed on  to be our office products supplier, along with newly added Staples Business Advantage.

Check out their August promotion 
Furniture on Demand, in stock and ready to ship.

Supreme Basics, founded in Saskatchewan in 1974 and still based in Regina, has been providing our members with personalized customer service since 2001. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Supreme Basics'  Kim MacDougall on his cell at 306-539-6764 or SUMA representative   Lisa Rawlings.

Visit SUMAdvantage online for a complete list of member programs.

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Nominate to Celebrate!

Show gratitude to long-serving municipal employees and elected officials by nominating them for the Meritorious or Honorary Service Awards presented at the President's Banquet during Convention 2017. 

You can also recognize an individual for outstanding service in municipal government or administration on a local, provincial, and national basis by nominating them for the Scoop Lewry Award

Visit the Convention 2017 awards page on the SUMA website for more information on the Meritorious and Honorary Service Awards, and the Scoop Lewry Award. 

The nomination deadline for all these prestigious awards is October 5, 2016.

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Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council (SWRC) Fall Workshops

Learn about local programs, waste-to-energy, waste composition, construction/demolition waste. and get updates from the Ministry of Environment during one of two workshops being offered this fall: September 20 in Swift Current or September 22 in Prince Albert. Consult the workshop schedule for more details and register today. The registration  fee ($100 for SWRC members and $125 for non-members) includes lunch.

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Classifieds

POSITIONS AVAILABLE




Village of Young: Administrator (Expires: August 27) 

Town of Wadena: Town Administrator (Expires: When filled) 

Town of Elrose: Administrator (Expires: When filled) 

Find the latest listings by visiting the SUMA Classifieds  section of our website, under the Programs and Services tab.

Have a position to fill or an item to sell? Submit your ad on our website.

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Grants 

Upcoming Deadlines  
Ongoing
For a full listing of grants, check the   Grants   section of our website under the Resources tab.

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About Us

Thank you for reading the Urban Update this week. We welcome your comments.
  

SUMA

200 2222 13th Ave.

Regina, SK  S4P 3M7

suma@suma.org

www.suma.org