Rural Dart

April 9, 2024

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SARM Legal Services Updates

In order to continue to better serve our members, SARM's legal team is streamlining how you contact them. If you have a legal inquiry or require legal services going forward you can now contact: legal@sarm.ca

This general inbox will ensure all messages are assigned to the appropriate team members and your inquiries are responded to efficiently and in a timely manner. Please refrain from reaching out to individual lawyers on new inquiries, and instead use legal@sarm.ca.

Contact SARM Legal Services

Your Voice

Preview SaskPower's Long-Term Supply Plan

SaskPower has entered stage 4 of their Future Supply Plan - 2023 and Beyond project. They recently released their “Long-Term Supply Plan Draft Summary” and are asking for your input. This is Stage 4 of SaskPower's 5-stage process. Their Long-Term Supply Plan is a roadmap that provides direction for decision-makers to ensure SaskPower can continue to provide reliable, sustainable and cost-effective power to 2050.

Preview Supply Plan

There are four ways to provide your feedback.

Take SaskPower's Survey

Take Survey

Share your opinions through SaskPower's Future Supply Plan Stage 4 online survey. Finish the survey for a chance to win 1 of 10 $250 VISA gift cards. The survey closes on April 19, 2024.

Attend an Online Workshop

Preview the Long-Term Supply Plan with SaskPower experts. Sign up for a workshop today!

Submit a Written Response

Submit Response

Submit a formal response to SaskPower on behalf of an organization.

Ask a Question

View Questions

Visit SaskPower's engagement hub to find the answers to over 100 questions we’ve received so far. Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Submit a question of your own.

Information & Resources

Municipal Waste Management: Updates & Resources

Presented by: Ministry of Environment

Join SARM and the Ministry of Environment for an informative webinar on municipal waste management. Representatives from the ministry’s Environmental Protection Branch will provide updates and helpful overviews of the various waste management resources currently available to municipalities.

Topics that will be covered during this session include landfills, transfer stations, impacted sites funding, recycling stewardship programs, and more.

Date: May 23, 2024

Time: 10-11:00 a.m. CST

Violence in the Workplace: New Policy & Prevention Plan Requirements

Presented by: MLT Aikins

The provincial government has legislated that as of May 17, 2024, all employers in Saskatchewan must have violence in the workplace prevention policies in place that include:

A commitment to minimize or eliminate risk
Identification of worksites
Identification of staff positions
Procedure to inform workers of the nature and extent of the risk from violence
Actions to minimize or eliminate risk
Violent incident reporting procedure
Documenting and investigation procedure
Recommendations or post-incident counseling or consultation with physician
Commitment to training

SARM and SUMA have enlisted MLT Aikins to assist in creating a template for municipalities to use to draft their policies. Please find a copy of the template linked to download.

As part of the policy, a workplace risk assessment must be conducted to determine the appropriate actions to eliminate and minimize the risk of violence in the workplace. More information can be found through the Government of Saskatchewan's guide linked for reference.

In addition to the policy template, SARM has invited MLT Aikins to host a webinar for municipalities who are looking for additional information. Join this session to learn more about this new legislation and to ask any questions that you may have regarding your municipality's policy.

Date: April 17, 2024

Time: 10-11:00 a.m. CST

Respect in the Workplace Training

Since 2019, SARM has been fortunate to offer the Respect in the Workplace Training at half the cost due to SARM’s partnership with the Respect Group. This program is designed to empower your team with the skills to prevent bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination. Our goal is to have our members, both council and staff, certify themselves through the training. The program takes approximately 90 minutes and is done online in one sitting, but we recommend you break it up. You can come and go from the modules. The focus of the training is on culture change but of equal importance is the legal risk and liability avoidance it affords.

The certification costs $20.00 per person. Councils and staff simply register for the training. SARM will invoice the members on a quarterly basis based on your activity. It’s as simple as that.

Linked below are the registration and access for Respect in the Workplace. You will also see the “Respect in the Workplace One pager”. Providing these instructions to your users simplifies the registration process for end-users and reduces possible confusion or challenges.

For helpdesk support, visit support.respectgroupinc.com

Registration and Access

Information Page (PDF)

Disclaimer: The following RMs have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service.

Looking to Hire:

RM of Pleasantdale No. 398, Working Foreman, Apr 14 - Close

RM of Coteau No. 255, Grader Operator, Apr 18 - Close

RM of Coteau No. 255, Seasonal Grader Operator, Apr 18 - Close

RM of Ponass Lake No. 367, Public Works Manager, Apr 26 - Close

RM of Senlac No. 411, Grader Operator/Labourer, Apr 30 - Close

RM of Corman Park No. 344, Gravel Truck Operator, May 3 - Close

RM of Corman Park No. 344, Asphalt Truck Operator, May 3 - Close

RM of Corman Park No. 344, Mower Operator/General Labourer, May 3 - Close

RM of Corman Park No. 344, Spray Operator, May 3 - Close

RM of Biggar No. 347, Assistant Foreman, May 3 - Close

Looking to Buy/Sell:

RM of Lakeside No. 338, For Sale: 2018 770GP John Deere Motor Grader, Apr 20 - Close

RM of Britannia No. 502, For Sale: 2016 John Deere 770GP Grader, Apr 28 - Close

RM of Tecumseh No. 65, For Tender: 2007 Castleton Belly Dump Trailer, Apr 30 - Close

If you have questions or would like to post in the SARM Classifieds contact: 306.757.3577 or sarm@sarm.ca

Please send your advertisement in a Word Document.

SARM Classifieds

$530,000 Investment Keeps Short Line Rail Infrastructure on Track

Under the Government of Saskatchewan's Short Line Railway Improvement Program (SRIP), funding will assist with track upgrades and expansion, improved crossing surfaces and sightlines, bridge maintenance, track rehabilitations and other projects.

Saskatchewan Municipalities Encouraged to Apply for Targeted Sector Support Funding

The Minister of Government Relations and the Targeted Sector Support (TSS) steering committee announced the spring application intake for TSS funding opens April 2, 2024. The TSS Initiative is a cost-shared grant program that encourages municipalities to work together to build stronger Saskatchewan communities.

To view past issues of the Rural Dart, visit the Publications page on the SARM website.

Rural Dart Archive