by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

We’re Heading Into an Election – Speak Up!

Shantel Lipp - Portrait

Interesting things are happening in Saskatchewan.  

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) joined with the SHCA to raise the volume on our message regarding provincial infrastructure funding. 

SARM has called on the provincial government to increase funding for rural roads and bridges. It said that without urgent attention, there will be significant economic and social consequences for Saskatchewan. 

Background 

Saskatchewan rural municipalities (RMs) are responsible for 164,000 kilometres of roads, Canada’s largest road network and 1280 bridge structures.  

Unfortunately, given the current level of provincial funding that’s dedicated to rural infrastructure, we have not been able to keep up: 

  • 60 per cent of rural bridges are at, or beyond, their expected service lifespan and need to be replaced to avoid safety hazards or a serious disruption in our export of products.
  • Our roads connect our rural population to each other and to urban centres – maintaining this connection is critical. 
  • Our province’s economic generators (mining, agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, ag tech, etc.) need connection to urban centres and to export markets. Healthy infrastructure is essential for exporting our goods and supporting jobs in the province.  
  • Without further aid, Saskatchewan’s economy will suffer, and we will face serious economic and social consequences. 

As we all know, this isn’t limited to rural infrastructure. Urban infrastructure is also in urgent need of investment.  

Saskatchewan’s Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) has numerous resolutions from its convention calling on more provincial support, especially for its urgent construction projects.  

Government funding is seriously lagging the great infrastructure needs in Saskatchewan. 

Our industry has been asking for a long-term, serious commitment to building and maintaining our provincial infrastructure, and our municipalities are saying that the situation is reaching near-crisis levels. 

Government Funding Ignores Inflation 

SARM points out that funding for the rural road program decreased from $25M in 2009-2014 to $15M from 2015-2023. While there was a modest increase in funding in the 2024/2025 program year (to $17.4M), this funding does not consider one of our members biggest problems – inflation. 

As it relates to rural infrastructure: 

  • The cost of building a bridge per square foot increased by 36 per cent between 2010 and 2020 and another 25 per cent between 2020 and 2022. 
  • Road construction costs also increased. Many members report stark increases in their costs (fuel, materials, labour, etc.). This has resulted in our members withdrawing from bidding on some municipal projects because government funding doesn’t support the actual costs of the project. 

Inflationary costs that our members reflect in their bid pricing isn’t adequately addressed in the funding that government provides to rural and urban municipalities.  

This leads to fewer projects being tendered and creates great uncertainty for our members as they can’t plan, and adequately provide for, projects in the future. 

The larger implications are that Saskatchewan people, who are working hard to produce fuel, fertilizer and food, are deeply concerned about how we will move our goods to the world markets.  

They are also concerned about their critical connections to urban centres. 

An Election Request 

So, I am asking that during this provincial election, if you come face-to-face with a candidate who is running to become a member of legislative assembly, please take the time to ask them for their help in giving our province’s infrastructure the attention it needs. 

Remind candidates that it is not only possible, but imperative, to build and support all the infrastructure required to help Saskatchewan remain competitive on the world stage.  

Tell them if we don’t keep up, our province’s growth plan and future prosperity is at risk. 

We need to look for government leaders who have the vision to build modern infrastructure that connects supply chains, moves goods, supports job creation and ensures our economy will continue to grow.  

We also need government leaders who will preserve and enhance the quality of life we enjoy in Saskatchewan that often requires connectivity between rural and urban Saskatchewan. 

During this campaign, we are hearing all politicians, regardless of their political stripe, painting a picture of how their leadership will improve our quality of life.  

But that requires infrastructure investment – please take the time to remind them of this.

Close Up on Red Hard Hat with Blurred Injured Factory Workers as a Background
by SHCA SHCA

Workplace Injury Results in $65,000 Fine

On July 22, 2024, Bourgault Industries Ltd. o/a Highline Manufacturing Ltd. pleaded guilty in Saskatoon provincial court to one violation of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.

Bourgault Industries Ltd. o/a Highline Manufacturing Ltd. was fined for contravening clause 3-1 (a) of the regulations (being an employer, failure to comply with the duties of an employer at a place of employment including the provision and maintenance of a plant, systems of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of the employers workers, resulting in the serious injury of a worker). Two other charges were withdrawn.

The court imposed a fine of $46,428.57 with a $18,571.43 surcharge, for a total amount of $65,000. The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 22, 2022, in Vonda, Sask., when a worker was seriously injured while flushing highly flammable solvent through an electrostatic paint gun.

bulldozer on a building site at sunset
by SHCA SHCA

Have You Checked Out the FREE Made-in-Saskatchewan Safety Videos from the SCGA?

The Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance (SCGA) often hears, “What can I share at a safety meeting?” or “What is a good topic to discuss during our tailgate meetings?”

The SCGA has many made-in-Saskatchewan videos prepared for anyone’s use, why not check out the SCGA YouTube channel and choose a playlist! There is great content for any safety related meetings.

The SCGA and its 109 members, which include the province’s pipeline and utility companies, continue to advocate for Click Before You Dig and Dig Safe Best Practices.

The SCGA wants to be sure those frontline workers, safety managers, emergency personnel and the public are aware of the importance of working safely around underground and overhead infrastructure.   

The YouTube playlists include: 

  • Training
  • What happens when you hit underground facilities?
  • Locating underground infrastructure
  • Safe working around overhead powerlines

If you are interested in finding out more about the SCGA and its member benefits, go to scga.ca. You can find the SCGA on its socials at –  SCGA (@SaskCGA) / Twitter – SK Common Ground Alliance | Facebook – Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance: Overview | LinkedIn)

Portrait of asian engineer standing in the factory
by SHCA SHCA

Village Of Laird Fined $150,000 For Violating Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

On July 10, 2024, the Village of Laird pleaded guilty in Rosthern provincial court to two violations of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.

The village was fined for contravening subsection 3-6(1) of the regulations (being an employer, failure to ensure that all work at a place of employment is sufficiently and competently supervised, resulting in the serious injury of a worker), as well as contravening clause 11-4(b) of the regulations (being an employer, failure to ensure that if a defect or unsafe condition that may create a hazard to a worker is identified in the powered mobile equipment, steps are taken immediately to protect the health and safety of any worker who may be at risk until the defect is repaired or the unsafe condition is corrected and as soon as is reasonably practicable, the defect is repaired or the unsafe condition is corrected, resulting in the serious injury of a worker).

The court imposed a fine of $53,571.43 with a surcharge of $21,428.57 for each violation, for a total amount of $150,000.

Two other charges were withdrawn.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on July 19, 2022, in Laird, Sask., when a worker was seriously injured after they were ejected from the seat of a mower and became trapped beneath it

by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

Advocating for Project Extensions Amid Heavy Rains

Shantel Lipp - Portrait

Did you almost float away? With so many days of rain this spring and early summer, I would not be surprised if you felt like it was time to build an ark when I know you would rather be building highways.  

While farmers love getting rain – especially after dry years – to boost their productivity, we know that in heavy construction, you find yourself in the opposite position. Days of rain mean you can’t be as productive as you would be during a string of sunny or overcast days. That puts you behind on your progress as your completion date on your highway project creeps closer. 

I am making sure the government understands the ripple effect of a delay caused by days of rain. While you are trying to plan carefully, find efficiency and manage your resources among the rain, I know your costs start adding up. With employees waiting around in hotel rooms for the intense rain to pass (sometimes over long weekends and holidays), and traffic lights and equipment waiting to be installed, with your teams being unable to do so, I know this is just the tip of the iceberg.  

My job is to advocate for you. With the provincial election coming this fall, we can’t afford to wait to see what the Ministry of Highways might offer in this situation. Pushing for this conversation now puts us in a better position than if we waited until after the election, when we are in November.  

I requested an in-person meeting in mid-July to discuss the requests our association has on behalf of the whole industry. In advance of that meeting, I requested that the ministry grant an extension on some project completion dates without imposing penalties on contractors to help contractors make up for lost time.  

For extreme cases, I requested an extension of up to 90 days. For all other projects, I requested 30 to 60 days. Exactly how long each project’s completion would be delayed by would be negotiated between the contractor and the ministry. This is a recommendation I have requested be put into policy to set a precedent for future extreme weather-related delays.  

I pointed out that these have been unforeseen weather challenges, and that a practical and compassionate approach to managing project timelines this season would provide you much needed flexibility to complete projects to the required standards without compromising safety or quality. Allowing for additional time would enable you to plan more effectively around future unpredictable weather patterns, ensuring your work can proceed smoothly during periods of favourable conditions. 

I asked the ministry to suspend cold weather paving restrictions in October and to waive the 14-day requirement for preliminary notice for weather related claims for 2024.  

Another request I made was for the ministry to prorate site occupancy based on an agreed percentage. This would mean that we arrive at a percentage using the number of rainy days that are more than typical weather for the season. Then, the site occupancy bid days would be increased by that percentage.  

Then there is the Contractor Performance Evaluation guide. It is time for adjustments to be made to the guide and the scoring system. I have reviewed it closely and proposed a series of changes to the wording to clarify what is being stated. I am also monitoring the impact of weather delays on the current construction season’s budget, as well as any potential impact on next year’s budget if there is a significant amount of carry-over due to the weather delays. Each opportunity I get, I raise the industry’s capacity.  

It would great if the fall tenders could be released earlier to give contractors some certainty of work. This being an election year, I know there is valuable time lost when the writ drops, which is expected to happen in September. The election is to be held on or before Oct. 28, 2024 (this is also another reason why we as an association persist in asking the ministry to release infrastructure timelines that are at least three years into the future). 

Members of the SHCA’s board joined me for that meeting. So far, what we heard is that ministry officials would like to monitor progress on projects as well as the weather. They also shared that currently, they are overbudget on projects, but that is on tendered work, not awarded, so we will see how it all sorts out in time. While we were unable to secure commitments on that day, I provided our written recommendations to the ministry for future consideration and discussion. We will meet with ministry officials again this month to discuss this further. I will keep you up to date on those developments as I have more to share.

Blur image of traffic jam in the city
by SHCA SHCA

55 New Projects Receive Funding Through Provincial Traffic Safety Fund

Blur image of traffic jam in the city

Grants totalling more than $1.3 million have been awarded to 55 projects that will improve traffic safety in 49 communities across Saskatchewan.

The grants are coming from the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund, helping to fund projects that focus on different aspects of traffic and pedestrian safety, including:

  • Installation of artwork by youth on Cote First Nation as an effort to prevent impaired driving;
  • Addition of speed display signs, speed bumps and signage to improve traffic safety around intersections in Arcola; and
  • Installation of pedestrian crossing signs in Moose Jaw to improve safety for vulnerable road users.

“I am thrilled to see communities benefit from the Traffic Safety Fund with projects that will make Saskatchewan streets safer,” Minister responsible for SGI Dustin Duncan said. “I would like to thank those who submitted applications and encourage all municipalities to consider applying for traffic safety projects in their communities.”

Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants range from $1,148 to $100,000. The maximum amount of funding municipalities and Indigenous lands or territories can apply for is $100,000. Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants are awarded to communities twice a year, using proceeds from Photo Speed Enforcement. With this latest round of grants, $11.5 million has been provided through the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund since its establishment in 2019.

Applications are currently being accepted for the next round of funding. The application deadline is Sept. 30, 2024. Eligible traffic safety initiatives must focus on one of the following priority areas: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, vulnerable road users, medically-at-risk drivers, occupant protection and intersection safety. 

Applications are reviewed by a committee made up of representatives from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Prince Albert Grand Council, the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Highways and SGI.

River Landing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
by SHCA SHCA

SaskWater Infrastructure Projects in 2023-24 Bolster Economic Growth and Development in Saskatchewan

SaskWater finished the 2023-24 fiscal year with solid financial results, including $8.7 million in net income, up from $8.6 million the previous year.

Of the Crown corporation’s $87 million investment in capital projects, the most significant initiative was the Regina regional non-potable water supply system. SaskWater and its local contractor completed installation of 65 kilometres of pipeline between Regina and Belle Plaine in 2023, joining the new transmission system to existing water supply infrastructure. 

“Our government is committed to growing Saskatchewan’s economy, and SaskWater has furthered this goal by significantly expanding the type of infrastructure that fuels investment,” Minister responsible for SaskWater Dustin Duncan said. “Supporting industry will help us grow our population, create more jobs and establish a better quality of life for all Saskatchewan people.”

The pipeline is positioned to serve several value-added agriculture projects announced for the Regina area. The system’s phased construction design allows additional capacity to be added as customer demand grows, helping SaskWater provide timely and competitive services. 

SaskWater also contributed to the province’s goal to expand irrigation in Saskatchewan. SaskWater collaborated with the Water Security Agency to expand irrigation service along its Saskatoon southeast water supply system. The canal system currently serves three potash mines and provides irrigation to 20,000 acres of land. In 2023-24, SaskWater expanded its irrigated acres by 3,000 and gained approval to grow that number to 7,700, with a total of 15,000 acres identified for irrigation expansion by 2026-27. SaskWater also looks forward to providing service to SaskPower’s new Aspen gas-fired power plant, set to come online in 2027. 

In partnership with a start-up Saskatchewan tech company, SaskWater implemented a new service offering for communities that require occasional or temporary assistance with troubleshooting or staffing of their water and wastewater facilities. Through this partnership, SaskWater is well positioned to help smaller communities that could benefit from its experience and expertise.

“We look forward to building relationships and trust with municipalities across Saskatchewan,” SaskWater President and CEO Doug Matthies said. “In doing so, we hope that these new partners will look to SaskWater should they need broader solutions down the road, particularly in terms of potential regional benefits.”

SaskWater recorded its highest ever customer satisfaction rating in 2023-24, with a score of 8.5 out of ten. A total of 92.5 per cent of customers surveyed reported satisfaction with SaskWater services with several significant customer water supply agreements being renewed and extended over the long-term.

In order to maintain and improve these standards of service delivery, SaskWater implemented innovations in technology in the areas of customer sales and service, GIS mapping and safety. An added emphasis on operator training with tools such as drones and remotely operated vehicles also expands the services SaskWater can provide to its customers.

SaskWater owns nine water treatment plants, three wastewater facilities, 136.94 kilometres of canal and 1,055 kilometres of pipeline currently in service.

Drop, To appreciate the value of water.
by SHCA SHCA

After Calgary’s Water Crisis, a Globe Analysis Finds Trouble Brewing in Canada’s Pipes

“We’ve got really aging infrastructure in all of our cities that is 50 to 100 years old that needs replacement – and we put it off,” said Robert Haller, executive director of the Canadian Water & Wastewater Association, which advocates the federal government on behalf of municipal water agencies.

“It’s almost like gambling. Each year, you roll the dice, and you hope you’ll get another year out of your infrastructure. But at some point, you have to replace it. It’s always cheaper to plan a replacement than to let it collapse.”

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