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Issue No. 17-11

May 23, 2017
Bill 64 Proclaimed

Last week Bill 64, the  Act to Amend The Power Corporation Act and The SaskEnergy Act, was proclaimed into law. You can see the committee discussion, in which more information was offered on some of the historic contracts affected by the act, in the video archive of the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice from Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Of note, legislators voted to drop from the bill wording that would have denied local governments the ability to defend legal agreements, or be compensated for this loss of revenue. In committee, Government Relations Minister Donna Harpauer affirmed that power bill surcharges collected from ratepayers in 109 urban municipalities will be redirected from those municipalities to the provincial general revenues to help cover the budget deficit.

On May 12, w e issued  this response to Bill 64 calling for meaningful consultation. We remain in close contact with the 109 hometowns affected, as they assess their legal options.

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Sector Meeting and Workshop in Saskatoon This Week

This Wednesday and Thursday, May 24 and 25, SUMA will be in Saskatoon for the Town and Village Sector Meeting and workshop, Government Relations and Advocacy: Strategies for Success. The itinerary and agenda are now available. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Capacity Building: SUMA Fundamentals Webinar Series

Have questions about your role as a municipal leader? Wondering what new legislation means to you? 

Join Steven Dribnenki, SUMA's Policy and Legal Advisor, for the first in our SUMA Fundamentals Webinar Series, The Municipalities Act: Meeting Expectations ,   June 20, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Registration is  $45 for members and $75 for non-members. Spaces are limited, so register early to reserve your spot.

Whether you're a new or experienced leader, an elected official or part of administration, this webinar is designed specifically for our town and village members. The presentation will cover:
  • legal and practical roles and duties of council members and administration;
  • meeting rules and requirements; and
  • how to stay out of legal tangles.

The webinar will wrap up with a 15-minute question and answer section. 

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Funding: First Nations and Métis Partnerships

The First Nations and Métis Community Engagement Project Fund is accepting applications until December 5 for innovative projects  that involve  partnerships with First Nations and/or Métis communities, agencies, or non-profit organizations. Submit projects that support  s afe c ommunities, s trong f amilies, s tudent a chievement, and/or e conomic g rowth. Funding u p to $15,000 is available for community projects or $45,000 for regional or multi-party projects. Questions? Email the Office of the Provincial Interlocutor or phone 306-798-0183.

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Capacity Building: Municipal Management Essentials (MME)

These upcoming workshops from Southeast College are ideal for municipal employees and council members.

June 5 - 6, Regina
Conflict is a normal and expected aspect of working together; it exists in human relationships at work as well as in other areas of our lives. This workshop will help you determine the best approach to conflicts and challenging situation.
 
July 11 - 12, Saskatoon
Leadership is the art of motivating and inspiring people to work toward shared aspirations. This workshop covers important leadership topics and will help you to hone your leadership skills.
 
See the latest schedule for additional workshops from Southeast College.  Call 1-866-999-7372 to register.

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SUMA Advocacy Week

SUMA invites our members to take up the torch on our annual Advocacy Days!  For the last several years, SUMA officials met with members of the provincial Cabinet to discuss SUMA priorities, active resolutions, and ongoing concerns. 

This year, we invite members to book a meeting with your local MLA during SUMA Advocacy Week, from June 12-16. This is a great chance to talk to your MLA about
 the concerns and priorities for your hometown. SUMA is preparing template briefing packages that you can personalize for your meeting. Watch your inbox for details when they are available. 

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Capacity Building: Wastewater Best Practices Webinar
 
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities invites  staff and elected officials from small and medium-sized municipalities to participate in a webinar, Optimizing Your Wastewater Treatment Plant, on Thursday, May 25 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. MDT. Speakers from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, and the Grand River Conservation Authority will share lessons you can apply in your municipality. Register online today.

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Government of Canada Introduces Legislation to Legalize Cannabis

Last month, the federal government introduced  Bill C-45 (the Cannabis Act)   which would create a national framework for the production, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis across Canada. If approved by parliament, the bill could become law by July 2018.

In  response to last summer's consultation on cannabis legalization, SUMA emphasized the need to protect the safety and health of residents, and ensure resources were provided to municipalities. This is particularly important as municipalities are responsible for bylaw enforcement, building standards, zoning issues, and emergency response.  

We continue to engage the federal and provincial governments on these issues in partnership with municipal organizations across Canada, including FCM and SARM, and ask that you share with us your views on the legislation. If you have comments or updates to share, please contact  Steven Dribnenki.

For more information, visit the federal web page on

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Share Your Green Stories

During Convention 2017, delegates passed a resolution on the carbon tax that "resolved that urban municipalities assume a leadership role in adopting carbon reduction strategies" and SUMA is always happy to share the success stories of our members. The City of Saskatoon is working toward its target to produce or generate 10 per cent of its annual energy requirement from local, renewable resources with a solar panel demonstration site announced in late April . We also applaud their leadership in green energy, and have added it to the resolution page .
 
Do you have a success story about how your municipality is leading the way on green initiatives? We want to hear from you, so we can share your success! Please pass along your municipality's story by emailing it to us at suma@suma.org.

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Have Your Say: Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy

Managing solid waste is a big municipal responsibility, and the provincial Ministry of Environment wants to hear from you as they develop a provincial strategy. They have prepared  a discussion paper, and want comments by  May 31. There are three main ways to provide feedback: an  online survey; w ritten submissions; and an online e ngagement workshop May 9 (the link to be provided on the ministry website).

If you send a written submission by email or letter, please copy Steven Dribnenki in our office as well.

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Municipalities Today
 
The May edition of Municipalities Today is out. This newsletter from the Ministry of Government Relations Advisory Services covers First Nations partnership grants, flood prevention workshops, and more.
In This Issue

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Ship and Save with Canada Post
 
Did you know you can use shipping labels purchased through SUMA to ship just about anything? Members get these discounted price s for packages of 25 labels:
 
Xpresspost:
Up to 1.36 kg: $277
1.37 - 5 kg: $370.25
 
Priority Post:
Up to 1.36 kg: $334
1.37 - 5 kg: $381
 
Add shipping of $10.65 plus GST.
 
To get member pricing, send your  order forms to SUMA by fax or email, or call Laurie Bryant at 306-525-4385.
 
Visit  SUMAdvantage online for a complete list of member programs or email  Lisa Rawlings at SUMA with any questions.

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Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Request for Proposals Open

Applications are now open for community-based projects for seniors under the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program. Up to $25,000 is available per organization per year, for projects that  enable seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others, and help communities increase their capacity to address local issues.  Projects must be led or inspired by seniors and address one or more of the following five program objectives:
  1. Promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations
  2. Engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others
  3. Expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse
  4. Supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors
  5. Providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors
Questions? Email the New Horizons for Seniors Program, use their online contact form, or call 1-800-277-9914 (select "0" to speak with an agent).

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Gather to Golf
 
The Town of Rosthern is proud to host the 29th Annual SUMA Golf Tournament on July 13-14, at Valley Regional Park. Registration is open until Friday, June 16. See the event page on our website for more information. Be sure you take this opportunity to visit with fellow SUMA members!

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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