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Issue No. 17-26

Dec  18, 2017
Convention 2018: Last Chance for Early-Bird Rates
 
Don't miss out on Convention 2018 early-bird pricing: These rates are only available until Thursday, December 21! All the details are in the invitation to register that went to the main email contact for your  municipality. The initial email went out November 6, and reminders went out earlier this month. 

If you haven't  received an email about registering for Convention 2018, please email registration@suma.org . For more information on Convention 2018, visit the   convention page on our website

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Capacity Building: Pre-Convention MLDP Sessions

Register now for a Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDP) course happening before the SUMA and SARM conventions. Each of the five day-long workshops is offered the day before the conventions open in Regina:
This is the perfect chance to work toward your MLDP certificate while making the most of a trip to Regina for Convention 2018. 

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The Value of Convention
 
SUMA has been bringing members together for an annual convention since 1906. It's our biggest event of the year, and one of Saskatchewan's biggest conventions. 

When you join about 1,000 delegates in February, SUMA brings you Access, Inspiration, and Education. Find out more about the common themes you'll find in every SUMA convention.

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Volunteer Firefighter Insurance
 
It's once again time to renew insurance for volunteer firefighters and first responders (VFF for short). We sent out invoices to subscribing municipalities this month, but welcome new subscribers, too.

Renewals are due February 28, 2018. If you have any questions, want to change your plan, or are looking for a quote, contact the SUMA Group Benefits team at 306-525-4390 or gis@suma.org.

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Convention 2018: Welcome Reception at Mosaic Stadium 
 
While you're securing early-bird Convention rates, make sure you get tickets to kick off your SUMA Convention experience in the AGT Lounge at the new Mosaic Stadium. 

Celebrate Super Bowl Sunday while you network with SUMA's Board of Directors and your fellow delegates. You'll also get a chance to buy Riders gear at the store, enjoy some light appetizers and a cash bar, take photos in Rider equipment, get a tour of the dressing room, and much more! 

Once the Super Bowl has wrapped up, brush off your dance moves when FOGDOG makes its return to the SUMA convention for the remainder of the night. Show your team pride by sporting your favourite football team's colours.  

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Cannabis Taxation Revenue

Last week, the federal government announced that 75 per cent of taxation revenues from the sale of recreational cannabis will flow to provincial governments. Prime Minister Trudeau specifically noted cities and towns among the most important partners in legalization, and cited the increase as intended for municipalities

SUMA wrote the provincial government after this announcement to express our hope that our members' work on public safety and health will be supported, and that taxation revenues will be distributed fairly. We continue to work with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on this issue. You can check their website for more details, including a  letter to federal Minister of Finance Bill Morneau

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New Education Property Tax Legislation

The Education Property Tax Act and its regulations will come into force on January 1, 2018. The December issue of Municipalities Today from the Ministry of Government Relations covers some of the changes that will affect municipalities. 

Most notably, municipalities must now remit education property taxes to the provincial government, rather than school divisions. There are also changes to exemption and abatement rules, and penalties and interest. 

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New Building Standards

The 2015 building, fire, and energy codes have been adopted. Most will be in force beginning January 1, 2018. The Ministry of Government Relations has provided an advisory on the code adoption, a letter to stakeholders, and further information on the changes

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Provincial Climate Change Strategy
 
The provincial government introduced its climate change strategy earlier this month. This issue has been a high priority for SUMA for several years, as we adopted a policy on adaptation in 2015 and members adopted a resolution on carbon taxes and urban municipal climate change leadership at Convention 2017. As we noted in our media release, we look forward to consultations which are expected to begin in early 2018.

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Rental Development Program
 
The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) has a request for proposal (RFP) out for modest affordable housing for clients who are hard to house. The RFP is open until January 31, 2018. Communities in the Northern Administrative District, and communities with a population over 5,000 in southern Saskatchewan are eligible. 

The program provides a forgivable loan to sponsors
(owners/developers) that want to build affordable rental
housing and provide supports to low-income households
in communities with a demonstrated need. For more
information, visit the program page on the Government of
Saskatchewan website or contact SHC at 1-866-245-5758.

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Incineration Guidance
 
In the SUMA Urban Solid Waste Management Policy, a key recommendation is to innovate in waste reduction and respond to complex waste disposal issues. A potential response to reduce waste and meet complex disposal issues is incineration.

SUMA has communicated member interest in studying incineration to the Environment Minister and Ministry of Environment. The ministry has responded to this interest by releasing this document on Waste Incineration to help show how to create and manage a waste incineration project.

For more information, contact Steven Dribnenki or the ministry's Client Service Office.
In This Issue

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Holiday Hours

The SUMA office will be closed for the three statutory holidays over the next two weeks:
  • Monday, December 25
  • Tuesday, December 26
  • Monday, January 1
See you in 2018!

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Save on Courier Services with Purolator
 
We've negotiated discounts of up to  60 per cent with Purolator to help your municipality save on shipping. Purolator uses a convenient  e-Ship Online service that lets you to create courier shipments online, provide proactive notifications to customers, create reports, and track and trace your shipments. 

To get started, retrieve your account number by phoning  Alexis Muirhead at 1-403-516-6200. Then visit the Purolator Registration Page  and create your login  credentials by selecting the "Register your existing Purolator Business Account number" option.  

You will need to provide your Purolator courier account number to activate your online service. 

Purolator also offers a  Quick Start Guide to help with registration and general functions. 

Visit  SUMAdvantage online  for a complete list of member programs or email  Lisa Rawlings  at SUMA with any questions.

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Classifieds

POSITIONS AVAILABLE





FOR SALE


Backhoe (January 15)

Find the latest listings by visiting the SUMA Classifieds  section of our website, under the Programs and Services tab.

Have a position to fill or an item to sell? Submit your ad  on our website.

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Grants 

Upcoming Deadlines
For a full listing of grants, check the   Grants   section of our website under the Resources tab.

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Urban Voice Ads

Do you have a product, service, or program that is of interest to SUMA members? Consider advertising in our quarterly magazine, Urban Voice.

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2018 Membership

We sent members all the information you need to renew your membership for 2018. Please be sure to have your payment and updated information to us by Wednesday, January 31, 2018. We wouldn't want you to miss out on any membership benefits!

Renewing your membership for another year gives you access to group benefits, SUMAssure, and SUMAdvantage to help you save money. It also supports our advocacy and capacity-building work. We appreciate your support all year long. 

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About Us

Thank you for reading the Urban Update this week. We welcome your comments.
  

SUMA

200 2222 13th Ave.

Regina, SK  S4P 3M7

suma@suma.org

www.suma.org