Most of us are familiar with these Saskatchewan SELF-GOVERNING COMMUNITIES:

Our  16 cities

Our 147 towns

Our  42 resort villages

Our 238 regular villages

A total of: 443 self-governing URBAN communities in Saskatchewan.

Plus the : 460 self-governing RURAL municipalities [RMs] in Sask.

Many of us may be less familiar with the 144 organized hamlets which are part of and governed by the rural municipality in which they are located. To be an organized hamlet, they must contain at least 5 homes and 10 subdivided lots. 

Of this total of 144 organized hamlets, many Saskatchewan residents might be surprised to learn that 60 of those organized hamlets are cottage communities! These 60 organized hamlet cottage communities are each located (individually or in small groups - see fotnote) within one of the 22 rural municipalities whose role it is to work with their organized hamlet cottage community boards to accommodate the needs of these cottage communities.

Let’s begin by EXAMINING THE HISTORY OF HOW PARCS AND THE MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS have worked together in an attempt to facilitate these partnerships:

• On Sept. 10, 2022 (and again on Sept. 28, 2022), PARCS WROTE TO ANDREA ULRICH (the Director of Legislation and Regulations for the Policy and Planning Branch in the Ministry of Government Relations) TO CONFIRM her acceptance of PARCS’ invitation to speak at the PARCS’ ANNUAL CONVENTION on Oct. 14, 2022 about “clarifying rotes and responsibilities between the organized hamlet board and the RM council so that everyone knows who is responsible for what, and will know their obligations”.
• On October 14th, the 2022 PARCS ANNUAL CONVENTION, included Andrea Ulrich sharing her DESCRIPTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS FOR REVISING CURRENT REGULATIONS REGARDING THE PROCESS FOR ORGANIZED HAMLETS AND RM COUNCILS PLANNING TOGETHER.
• On Nov.14, 2022, PARCS President Garry Dixon met with Andrea Ulrich (Director of Legislation and Regulations) and Chelsea Lehner (Senior Legislative Analyst) to go over the Ministry’s new Overview of the Regulatory Framework for the balance of power between the RM Council and the Organized Hamlet Board. The new model:
• Proposed a board-like structure,
• Required RM policies regarding processes for OHs,
• Asked for a written agreement between the OH board and the RM council,
• Asked for an improved dispute resolution process, including mediation, and
•  Included conflict of interest requirements for OH board members. 
• On Nov. 20, 2022, PARCS Update #217 stated that the Ministry of Government Relations was seeking feedback from stakeholders on their proposed model.  
• On February 13, 2023, PARCS President (Garry Dixon) and our Coordinator of Members Services (Lynne Saas) met on-line with representative from the Ministry of Government Relations to discuss possible changes to The Municipal Regulations regarding organized hamlets.  At the meeting, PARCS presented the following points for either clarification or as concerns regarding the new 23 proposed amendments. 

The proposed provisions that PARCS questioned were:

1. Part 22.1(1)(b) – Definition of resident

PARCS Response: Is the definition of resident even required since OH meetings are open to the public?

2. Part 27.2(1)(c ) – To be eligible to vote in at least one municipalities

PARCS Response: What kind of municipality? A village, town, city, RM?

3. Part 27(2) – OH Board to hold at least 4 meetings per year and not more

                      than 90 days apart.

PARCS Response: Is there a minimum of days that should occur between meetings?

4. Part 31.1 – A board member has a conflict of interest.

PARCS Response: How is the matter to be dealt with? What is the complaint process? Who reviews? Who has the authority to discipline or disqualify?

5. Part 34 – The RM cannot download administrative fees to the OH, except as covered by the percentage of taxes withheld.

PARCS Response: What fees can be down loaded to the OH? Could these be boat launch maintenance fees, fire fees, policing fees, etc.?

6. Part 35(2) – An OH board member cannot be appointed to the appeal board.

PARCS Response: Can the board member from one OH be appointed to the appeal board of another OH?

7. Part 35(3) – In the event that an appeal board loses a member, a replacement is appointed in a timely manner.

PARCS Response: The words “timely manner” need a defined time.

8. Part 36(1) – Costs of an appeal must be split 50/50 and the OH board must be able to access its account.

PARCS Response: The OH budget should then include lawyer fees and the RM should approve this item.

Why should the OH pay 50% of potential RM appointed solicitor costs?

Only certain costs, such as meeting rooms, should be split. Each part should cover their own appointee costs. 

STAY TUNED AS WE KEEP YOU UPDATED ABOUT THE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A NEW DIFFERENT ROLE FOR ORGANIZED HAMLETS WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THEIR RM.

[1] Except for the following RMs with more OH cottage communities: RM of Grayson (4), RM of McKillop (9), Rm of Mervin (10) and the RM of Meota (12) - the remaining 26 RMs each have one or two cottage community organized hamlets.

[2] For the Policy and Planning Branch of the Ministry of Government Affairs

[3] Included in PARCS UPDATE #217, CONSTANT CONTACT