The CEO of New North is hoping to get some feedback on a few new ideas the organization is pitching at the upcoming Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association convention in Regina.
Al Loke says one resolution calls for the provincial government to pass legislation requiring people running for municipal office in the north to take a training course before they’re eligible to run.
Loke says the reason for this is because sometimes when people become councillors of a hamlet, village or town they don’t always know what they’re in for.
“Sometimes individuals get elected and some of them don’t fully understand what they’re getting into and when they get in there they’re really baffled or bewildered,” he says.
Loke adds the idea is to prepare them for the tasks “they’ve been elected to do.”
He adds much of the training would revolve around fiscal management.
“Provide them an idea of financial management of the municipal accounts within their community and also understand how they can go about moving projects within their community forward, and also how the funding works.”
With infrastructure lacking in many communities, Loke says it’s important that people who are voted in understand all the ins and outs of the system they’re going to manage.
He says another resolution is from the community of Air Ronge.
This resolution calls for the provincial government to provide each community with a back-up generator for power outages.
Loke notes brown-outs are common in the north and infrastructure often pays the price. “SaskPower is responsible for the power grid in northern Saskatchewan and if they can’t maintain them on a regular basis, then they should put these generators in to these water treatment plants and lift stations throughout northern Saskatchewan.”
This year’s SUMA convention is set to take place in Regina on Feb. 2.
Motions that are passed at convention are presented to the provincial government.