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Health, economy talks on agenda at SUMA meet

Creighton officials voiced their concerns with cabinet ministers at a recent provincial meeting of municipal leaders from across Saskatchewan.
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Creighton officials voiced their concerns with cabinet ministers at a recent provincial meeting of municipal leaders from across Saskatchewan.

A group of councillors and other professionals representing the Town of Creighton has returned from the annual Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention.

Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler said the delegation met with the provincial ministers of economy and rural and remote health, and had a shorter discussion with the minister of government relations.

The meeting with the Minister of Economy Jeremy Harrison, a former northern Saskatchewan MP, included a discussion of economic possibilities and options for the region.

“Considering what we’re going through and diversifying our economic development and attracting industry and stuff like that, broadening our economy base, touching base with them and possibly getting their assistance on getting other business and working together. That’s what those discussions were about,” said Fidler.

“He committed to having a couple of people on staff working with us. Any assistance we need, we can always get in touch with them. Hopefully, that works out.”

Another meeting with Minister of Rural and Remote Health Greg Ottenbreit was a follow-up to a meeting held last month in Creighton. Ottenbreit came to Creighton in January with an entourage of provincial government and Saskatchewan Health Authority officials to talk about health-related issues – specifically, the impact of the recent Flin Flon obstetrics closure on northern Saskatchewan communities.

“[Ottenbreit] has had some discussions with his Manitoba counterparts and they’re going to follow up with it. Anything that he can do or thinks that we can do, he’s going to follow up with me on,” Fidler said.

While few concrete policy announcements are typically made at SUMA before the release of the Saskatchewan provincial budget, one thing was announced; the formula for how provincial revenues will be shared with Saskatchewan municipalities.

“There’s going to be an increase in that, approximately four per cent. That’s good. It’s better than the last couple years have been,” said Fidler.

In the past two years, revenue sharing for communities has seen smaller increases.

Fidler said few announcements of note specifically related to the north were made at the convention.

“There wasn’t a whole lot that was strictly dedicated just for the north. I expect that stuff will come out closer to budget time, those different programs. The only real announcement was the revenue sharing breakdown,” he said.

“SUMA is always really good. We have the opportunity to network with everybody, talk to other councillors, other mayors, other communities, but you also have the opportunity to sit, make appointments and talk with ministers one-on-one to get your issues across and for them to listen to you. It’s always good and this one was no different. I thought it was alright.”

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