Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler and several councillors attended the annual Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention from Feb. 4-7 in Regina.
The convention brings representatives from municipalities and groups across Saskatchewan together, and often includes discussions with provincial political figures and cabinet ministers.
Fidler said that the recent nomination of Scott Moe as Saskatchewan’s newest Premier and recent cabinet changes were hurdles, but the meeting was productive.
“As expected, the new premier had only been in place for a few days and some of the cabinet changes made there, there wasn’t a whole lot of announcements made,” said Fidler.
While in Regina for the meeting, Fidler and several other municipal officials met with cabinet ministers as part of the regional umbrella group New North.
“It’s always good education, good networking,” he said.
“There was a lot of good information sessions, things like that.”
It is unknown if any changes are coming to the provincial municipalities revenue sharing program, through which the Town of Creighton receives a significant chunk of government funding. Last year revenue sharing to communities was cut, leaving several towns and municipalities with less money than originally forecast.
Fidler said the current state of the revenue sharing method was under provincial review.
“There’s a bunch of programs out there that they’re going to review. We’ll just have to see when the budget comes. It’s been extended a couple of weeks, and so Apr. 10 will be the provincial budget release.”
