February 6, 2024

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2024 SARM Annual Convention & Trade Show Registration

Registration for the 2024 SARM Annual Convention & Trade Show is now open. The deadline to register and/or make any revisions to your registration is February 28, 2024.

SARM members received a separate email on January 11, 2024, with registration instructions. Please note that registration is not required for any RM employees who will only be attending the trade show.

Learn More / Register

SARM Elections,

Call for Nominations

Divisions 1, 3, & 5

Pursuant to the SARM bylaws, the deadline for nominations to be received for Division Directors in Divisions 1, 3, and 5 is 5:00 PM, February 16, 2024. This date is 28 days prior to the date of the election. The date for Division Director elections is March 15, 2024.

All elected positions are two-year terms.
The two-year terms of office for the six Directors are staggered, with the two-year term for the Directors of Divisions 1, 3, and 5 from the election at the annual convention in an even year and continuing until the completion of the election for those positions at the annual convention two years henceforth.
The two-year terms for the Directors of Divisions 2, 4, and 6 are from the election at the annual convention in an odd year and continuing until the completion of the election for those positions at the annual convention two years henceforth.

Nominations may be submitted by mail, by fax (306.565.2141), or by email. If sent by email, a scanned copy of the nomination is to be submitted to jmeyer@sarm.ca. The candidate’s acceptance form must be filed by the same deadline in the same manner.

Once a nomination form has been submitted you must contact the SARM office at 306.757.3577 to ensure the nomination has been received.

Please see the SARM Governance Bylaw as well as the Board Election Nomination and Acceptance Form below.

SARM Governance Bylaw

Nomination & Acceptance Form

Information & Resources

Research and Knowledge Initiative (RKI)

Call for Proposals

The R esearch and Knowledge Initiative (RKI) is Infrastructure Canada’s national merit-based contribution funding program that funds projects focused on key Government of Canada research and data priorities related to housing, infrastructure and communities. The second phase is prioritizing funding in applied research that includes or examines specific interventions and that contributes to solutions for addressing Canadian housing and infrastructure needs.

The RKI can support projects from legal entities registered in Canada such as:

Non-governmental (not for profit) organizations including:
Industry, research and professional associations;
National Indigenous organizations and Indigenous communities;
Community and regional organizations;
Canadian academic institutions;
Provincial, territorial, regional municipal or Indigenous governments;
Private (for profit organizations); and,
International non-profits.

The application deadline is February 9, 2024. If you have any further questions, please visit the RKI webpage linked below or contact the RKI mailbox at RKI-IRC@infc.gc.ca.

Learn More / Apply

Lifelong Learning: What's the DIG Deal?

Presented by: Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance (SCGA)

Did you know, that digging can be carried out by just about anyone, including homeowners, farmers, contractors, home builders, equipment operators, landscapers, land surveyors, and developers? It occurs every day all around us. From installing fence posts and sprinklers to pipelines and fibre optic cables, everyone and anyone that is involved in excavation or digging needs to be aware of the risks that could be associated and the best practices for safe ground disturbance.

Throughout our province, there are thousands of kilometres of underground infrastructure. These utilities may carry natural gas or oil, electricity, communication lines, or water. Any one of these utilities struck during digging can cause dangerous consequences for you, your family, and your community.

The Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance (SCGA) works with industry stakeholders and the digging community to promote effective damage prevention and safe excavation/digging practices, with the goal of reducing damages to buried utilities.

In this presentation, we will review why safe digging practices are important and also provide you with an overview of Sask 1st Call, the change that has occurred, and why your RMs could benefit from subscribing.

Date: February 22, 2024

Time: 10-11:00 a.m.

Cost: Free

Disclaimer: The following RMs have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service.

Looking to Hire:

RM of Glen McPherson No. 46, Seasonal Equipment Operator, Feb 7 - Close

RM of Glen McPherson No. 46, Seasonal Utility Operator, Feb 7 - Close

RM of Montmarte No. 126, Seasonal Full-time Equipment Operator, Feb 9 - Close

RM of Frenchamn Butte No. 501, Grader, Feb 11 - Close

RM of Marquis No. 191, Office Assistant, Feb 11 - Close

RM of Newcombe No.260, Heavy Equipment Operator, Feb 11 - Close

RM of Arlington No 79, Utility Person, Feb 11 - Close

RM of Rosemount No. 378, Grader Operator, Feb 11 - Close

RM of Progress No. 351, Grader Operator, Feb 14 - Close

Town of St. Walburg, CAO, Feb 14 - Close

RM of McCraney No. 282, Seasonal Equipment Operator, Feb 14 - Close

RM of Caledonia No. 99, Seasonal Mower & General Labourer, Feb 21 - Close

RM of Caledonia No. 99, Seasonal Grader Operator, Feb 21 - Close

Town of Whitecourt, Alberta, Director of Infrastructure, Feb 23 - Close

RM of Barrier Valley No. 97, General Maintenance Personnel, Feb 29 - Close

RM of Waverley No 44 Full Time Administrator, Feb 13 - Close

RM of Langenburg No 181, Full-time Working Foreman, Feb 15 - Close

RM of Langenburg No 181, Full-time Administrator, Feb 15 - Close

RM of Lost River No 313, Administrator, Feb 16 - Close

RM of Mount Hope No. 279, Mower Operators (2) Grader Operator (1), Feb 23 - Close

RM of Buchanan No 304, Administrator, Feb 28, - Close

RM of Kindersley, No. 290, Administrator, Feb 29 - Close

RM of Maryfield No. 91, Seasonal Operator, Mar 6 - Close

Town of Delisle, Administrator, Mar 1 - Close

RM of Blaine Lake No. 434, Seasonal Grader Operator, Mar 2 - Close

RM of Waverley No 44, Full Time Seasonal Grader/Equipment Operator, Mar 8 - Close

RM of Coteau No 255, Grader Operator, Mar 12 - Close

RM of Maryfield No. 91, Summer Student Employment Opportunity, April 10 - Close

Looking to Buy/Sell:

RM of Brock No. 64, For Sale Large Diameter Oval Culvert, Feb 29 - Close

RM of Elfros No. 307, For Sale by Tender 2017 CAT 160K Motor Grader, Mar 1 - Close

RM of Cut Knife No. 439, For Sale Fenders for CAT 150 Grader, Mar 2 - Close

If you have questions or would like to post in the SARM Classifieds contact: 306.757.3577 or sarm@sarm.ca

Please send your advertisement in a Word Document.

SARM Classifieds

Saskatchewan Small Flock Poultry and Small Holder Swine Health Surveillance Program

Did you know the Government of Saskatchewan has a program to help small flock and backyard poultry producers and small holders and backyard swine producers test deceased poultry and swine for diseases?

Animals with access to the outdoors have a higher likelihood of encountering wild animals that may carry diseases, or through contact with contaminated environments. Postmortem examinations are a key part in identifying diseases and helping keep your animals protected. These programs cover the costs of testing, while owners are responsible for delivering samples to Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon.

If you have any questions, please contact the Government of Saskatchewan’s Veterinary Unit at 306-787-2150.

The Government of Saskatchewan is applying to intervene in legal challenges to the federal firearms ban currently before the Federal Court of Appeal

The original challenges were heard in Ottawa in April 2023 by the Federal Court of Canada, which dismissed them on October 30 (Parker v Canada (Attorney General). In November, four of the applicants, including the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, filed appeals.

Saskatchewan Doctors Ratify New Four-Year Contract

Today, Health Minister Everett Hindley and Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) President Dr. Annette Epp were pleased to announce that Saskatchewan physicians have ratified a new four-year contract with the Government of Saskatchewan. Ninety-three percent of physicians who cast ballots voted in favour of the agreement.

Eligibility Area Expansion and Deadline Extension for 2023 Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program

Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC) Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit announced updates to Saskatchewan's 2023 Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program, administered by the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC).

A total of 10 additional designated Rural Municipalities (RMs) are now added to the area eligible for full cost-shared funding of an initial payment up to $150 per head. This expansion responds to the dry conditions that further impacted livestock producers throughout the later months this past fall.

The application deadline is extended to March 15, 2024. The submitted application must indicate the number of breeding animals on hand as of August 21, 2023 and kept until January 31, 2024. This deadline extension allows Saskatchewan producers additional time to review and finalize applications with actual extraordinary costs and breeding animal inventory.

Map of Eligibility

A reminder producers will need to submit their receipts or appropriate documents for the extraordinary expenses. Eligible extraordinary expenses include purchased feed, self-hauling or transportation costs for feed or breeding animals, and/or land rented for additional grazing acres or additional feed production. Eligible animal species include beef cattle and other grazing animals, limited to bison, elk, deer, sheep, goats and horses. A Saskatchewan Premises Identification (PID) is required to be eligible for the Program. This Program covers 70 per cent of extraordinary costs related to feed and freight incurred after May 1, 2023, now through to March 15, 2024.

An online application form is available at scic.ca. A user guide is available to assist producers in completing their application. If producers require guidance or have any questions, they can contact SCIC's dedicated team by phone or email.

2023 Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program

Email SCIC

Federal Funding Programs for Freshwater Water Ecosystem Improvement Projects

Throughout the summer, fall and winter of 2023 and 2024, many of you attended introductory information sessions on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) intent to implement the Framework to Identify Fish Habitat Restoration Priorities (publications.gc.ca). Feedback received in sessions have included enquiries on funding available to organizations that intended to conduct aquatic habitat restoration work.

We want to let you know about a funding program recently announced by Environment and Climate Change Canada: Federal Government opens the door to projects that help keep Canadian fresh water clean and healthy - Canada.ca. For more information on the call for applications, including eligibility criteria and how to apply for funding, please go to the ECCC Funding Programs webpage (26 programs are listed). In particular, we invite you consider the Lake Winnipeg Basin Funding Program (application deadline February 15, 2024). The Lake Winnipeg Basin stretches all the way across the Prairie and projects have been funded as far West as the East Slopes of the Rockies.

DFO is working to improve coordination with other federal departments on a range of funding programs that could support organizations working on aquatic ecosystem restoration and enhancement project that also benefit fish and fish habitat. Funding programs like this may support actions from partners also interested in contributing to DFO’s initiative Identification of Restoration Priorities in Saskatchewan that we introduced to you last year.

Further information sessions on our DFO restoration priority initiative will be occurring in this upcoming year. We look forward to continuing this discussion and collaboration.

Integrated Planning

Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program / Ontario and Prairie Region / Fisheries and Oceans Canada /Government of Canada

Email for more information

To view past issues of the Rural Dart, visit the Publications page on the SARM website.

Rural Dart Archive