Northern Saskatchewan municipal leaders could soon reach an agreement on whether to push the date of the next local elections to 2021.
At the Aug. 21 meeting of Creighton town council, council members received correspondence from regional municipal association New North, in advance of a regional meeting on Nov. 16.
Both provincial and local elections in Saskatchewan are set for roughly the same time in 2020. On the current schedule, local elections will be held on Oct. 28, with the provincial election only five days later on Nov. 2.
The measure would mean that all Creighton and Denare Beach council members, initially elected to four-year terms in 2016, would serve five-year terms, expiring in 2021.
“They would go back to four year terms from then on, for 2021, 2025, 2029, etc.,” wrote New North CEO Matt Heley in the letter.
The idea of moving an election has already received the support of the mayor of Saskatchewan’s largest city. Charlie Clark, mayor of Saskatoon, has voiced support for moving the provincial election, instead of local elections, to 2021.
“In my view, I would prefer that our municipal election stays the same. I got elected on a four-year mandate. That was what the citizens expect,” said Clark to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix on Aug. 16.
When asked about his views on the measure, Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler was not worried.
“It wouldn’t bother me one way or the other,” he said, adding that he would be ready to represent whatever stance council chooses to take on the matter.
“I go with the majority. It depends on how my council feels. If they’re against it, then that opinion will be taken forward.”
