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December 10, 2024


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SARM's Holiday Schedule


This holiday season, the SARM office will be closed to the public from December 24th at 3:00pm until January 2nd at 8:30am. A reduced complement of SARM staff will be available on December 27th, December 30th, and December 31st to meet the needs of our members.

Call for Potential Amendments

Municipal Legislation


Municipalities are where Saskatchewan people live and work. The decisions and actions of local governments have a profound effect on people’s everyday lives, such as how their communities look and function, which services are provided, and how tax revenue pays for services and infrastructure.


The Municipalities ActThe Cities Act and The Northern Municipalities Act, 2010 provide the basic legislative framework for all of the province's municipalities. This legislation provides powers and authority for council decisions, policies and bylaws, and outlines the responsibilities of municipalities.


The Ministry of Government Relations is looking for suggestions from the public on how this legislation could be improved and changed to meet the evolving needs of municipalities.


From now until December 11, 2024, the ministry is asking for input on issues that may be considered for potential amendments.

View Position Papers / Complete Surveys

Notice of Planned Procurement Posting on SaskTenders

Effective January 1, 2025


The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) requires any municipality interested in participating in a buying group to publish a declaration of its intent to participate in a buying group. Participating in SARM’s buying group includes purchases from SARM’s Member Purchasing, Canoe Procurement Group of Canada and Sourcewell.


Effective January 1, 2025, SARM’s legal counsel has advised that the provisions of the CFTA requiring a procuring entity to publish a notice of participation with the buying group applies to each of SARM’s members individually. The legal advice that we received is that the RM is the procuring entity and it is the RM’s responsibility to make this annual posting. 


SARM is advising its members to individually post a notice of their participation with the SARM buying group on SaskTenders before making purchases from the SARM buying group’s offerings. This posting is only required to remain active for two weeks. You will need to repeat this posting annually if purchases are planned for the year.

Notices of planned procurement for 2025 should not be posted on SaskTenders until January 1, 2025. Please see below for further details.


To create your municipality’s declaration, copy and paste the paragraph below onto a document with your municipality’s letterhead and attach to your Notice of Planned Procurement posting on SaskTenders.

 

(Insert Municipality Name) intends to participate in one or more procurements offered through the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), between (insert one year period including month/year). For further information and access to SARM’s Request for Proposal (RFP) notices, please review the Government of Saskatchewan website at sasktenders.ca/content/public/Search.aspx


Please contact Amanda Kozak, SARM's Procurement Advisor, if you have any questions at 306.761.3722 or akozak@sarm.ca.

SARM Calendar for Outlook

 

Similar to last year, in conjunction with the online calendar on our website, we have created an email calendar through Outlook for SARM members looking for an easier and more efficient way to keep track of important municipal deadlines and reminders. Please note this calendar is only compatible with Outlook.

 

If you are an Outlook user and wish to gain access to the '2025 SARM Member Calendar’, please click the link below to download the file. Once the calendar has finished downloading, double click the file in your Downloads folder to import the contents into your Outlook calendar.

Download Outlook Calendar

SARM Resolutions Committee

Expression of Interest


Looking for Rural Representatives from SARM Divisions 1, 3, & 5


At the 2019 SARM Annual Convention, delegates passed two resolutions calling for the creation of a Resolutions Committee. As such, the SARM Board of Directors has approved a resolution process, which includes the creation of a Resolutions Committee with representation from each of the six SARM divisions. The SARM Resolutions Committee assists the Board of Directors and staff to carryout and improve the resolution policy and has the authority to:


  • Alter the wording, grammar, and format of resolutions to make them clear and distinct
  • Combine like resolutions
  • Recommend resolutions be withdrawn
  • Categorize resolutions
  • Amend background information that is deemed inaccurate or irrelevant in nature.


The Resolution Committee also evaluates and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for improvements to the current resolution policies and procedures.

We are contacting all members in Divisions 1, 3, and 5 for interest in a two year term.


The SARM Board will appoint interested members to the committee at their Board of Directors meeting. 


If anyone on your council wishes to be on the Resolutions Committee, please submit the online Expression of Interest form linked below by Tuesday, January 3, 2025.

Submit Expression of Interest
Resolutions Policy

Deadlines

Rat Control Program

Claim Deadline: December 31, 2024

To learn more about the Rat Control Program, scan the QR code or visit the SARM website.

Learn More

SCIC Program Deadlines

December 2024

 

The following are upcoming important deadlines for the SCIC's AgriStability and Crop Insurance programs in the month of December. Please see further details below.

AgriStability



The deadline to submit your AgriStability previous year's program forms without penalty and to pay this year's program fee with penalty is December 31, 2024. Learn more through the link below.

Learn More

Crop Insurance

 

Claims will not be accepted after December 31, 2024. Annual crop post-harvest claims submitted between November 16 and December 31 may have indemnities reduced by 25 per cent up to a maximum of $1,000.

Learn More

Information & Resources

Municipal Leadership Development

Program (MLDP)

Fall 2024 Modules

 

This is a series of modules developed exclusively for elected and appointed municipal leaders in Saskatchewan. Mayors, reeves, councillors, and municipal staff are able to benefit from this program this is designed to strengthen local government leadership.

Strategic and Financial Planning for Municipalities


Get to know how Council and staff plan for municipal success. Everything from setting strategic priorities and community engagement to developing action plans and the financial framework to achieve the desired outcomes.


This interactive and engaging session will see participants gaining insight into how to move from Thought to Action with tips and tools to make sure everyone is aligned and committed to common goals. This module will provide attendees with an overview of financial planning – the budget process, with a focus on where the money comes from. Learn about the relationship between assessment and taxation, tax tools, municipal borrowing and investments and an intro to asset management.


Date: December 16 & 17, 2024

Time: December 16: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.,

December 17: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual Session

Community and Land Use Planning


The Community and Land Use Planning module will cover a variety of topics including: the roles and responsibilities of council, administration and the public; the creation, adoption, and amendment process for Official Community Plans and Zoning Bylaws; the subdivision process; servicing agreements; the development permit process; the development appeal board process; enforcing bylaws; the building permit process as well as regional planning.


Date: Always Available - Learn More

Location: Online

*Dates are subject to change. Spaces are limited – register today!

Learn More / Register for Upcoming Modules

An Overview of the New Plant Health Act and Regulations

 

Join SARM and the Ministry of Agriculture for a webinar on The Plant Health Act and The Plant Health Regulations.


The Ministry of Agriculture has recently completed a full repeal of The Pest Control Act with accompanying regulations and replaced it with The Plant Health Act and The Plant Health Regulations.

This modernized legislation includes a revised list of declared pests, standardized measures to control pests and more. In this presentation we will explore what this means to rural municipalities and pest control officers who have authority to control declared pests and enforce The Act.


Date: December 12, 2024

Time: 10-11:00 a.m.

Speaker: Tayo Adegeye - Provincial Specialist, Pest Regulatory Crops and Irrigation Branch, Ministry of Agriculture

Register Now

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 Redburn No. 130, Foreman, Dec 13 - Close

RM of Mervin No. 499, Administrative Assistant, Dec 16 - Close

RM of Tullymet No. 216, Road Maintenance Operator, Dec 30 - Close

RM of Vanscoy No. 345, Office Assistant, Dec 31 - Close

RM of Fertile Valley No. 285, Grader Operator, Dec 31 - Close

RM of White Valley No. 49, Grader Operator, Jan 24 - Close


Looking to Buy/Sell:


There are no active buy/sell ads.

SARM Classifieds

SARM Classifieds Submissions


Ad postings for the SARM Classifieds can be submitted through the online submission forms. For questions, contact 306.757.3577 or sarm@sarm.ca.

Submit a Classifieds Ad

New This Week

New Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program Cohort Announced


The mentee and mentor pairing for the Saskatchewan Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program Cohort Six was announced in Regina. 


This 18-month experience creates leadership development opportunities for mentees and allows them to increase their involvement in decisions affecting the agriculture industry.

Learn More

Bernadette McIntyre Announced as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan


Premier Scott Moe offered his congratulations to Bernadette McIntyre on her appointment as Saskatchewan's 24th Lieutenant Governor. 

Learn More

Government Introduces New Public Spaces Act to Target Street Weapons


The Government of Saskatchewan introduced The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act to improve safety in Saskatchewan communities.


The Act will allow municipalities and First Nations to opt in to new rules that regulate the possession, transportation and storage of items that may be used as street weapons, such as large knives, machetes or bear spray.

Learn More

Sponsored Content

BEAT THE TAX! Pre-pay your Bulk Farm Fuel for 2025 before December 31, 2024, and receive up to $2,500 in Co-op gift cards.


BONUS: First 3 customers to pre-pay bulk farm fuel worth $100,000 will receive a $5,000 gift card.


Call your Saskatoon Co-op fuel team member today at 306.933.3833!

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

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