by SHCA SHCA

SARM Responds to the 2025-26 Provincial Budget Announcement

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), alongside its member rural municipalities (RMs), highlights both the positive aspects and concerns regarding rural communities across the province in this year’s provincial budget.

“Today’s budget includes several priorities that our members have been advocating for, although there is still room for improvement. We believe that these initiatives will significantly support our RMs and the people living in rural Saskatchewan,” said Bill Huber, SARM president.

Budget Highlights

Municipal Revenue Sharing

SARM is pleased with the increase, recognizing that RMs are a key component in driving the economy. “The increase of 6.3 per cent from last year is always welcome; RMs have a major responsibility to provide the infrastructure that drives the major sectors of Saskatchewan’s economy,” said Huber. The municipal revenue sharing model is unique to Saskatchewan. The model provides a more consistent flow of dollars to rural municipalities, which is greatly appreciated by our members. Recognizing that RMs are a key component in driving our economy will be imperative as the province works towards achieving its 2030 growth plan goals. RMs will need continued and increased support going forward.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the backbone of rural Saskatchewan and SARM is pleased with the investment in the Ministry of Agriculture this year. SARM supports the direction the province is taking, with Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership receiving a $89.4M investment this year. The program is in its third year; it has been a strong program to date. Changes to the grazing formula will provide relief for producers renting crown land. The calculation will be more straightforward, and there will be a 20 per cent cap on rental fees. There will also be a $37 million investment in agricultural research to help producers stay competitive in other markets. These are all positives to note for this year.

Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG)

Funding for rural road and bridge infrastructure is imperative for RMs to continue to provide key economic sectors with a strategic transportation network that is effective and well maintained. While SARM appreciates the increase in RIRG funding, the rising costs and challenges of maintaining rural infrastructure remain a pressing concern. SARM will continue to advocate for additional funding to ensure that RMs can adequately maintain and upgrade rural roads and bridges. “While we recognize the challenges in balancing various priorities within budget constraints, we urge the government to ensure RMs have sufficient funding to maintain critical rural infrastructure across the province,” Huber said.

Health Care

The need for increased support of rural health care is increasingly apparent. Ensuring that all residents have access to quality health care is not just a matter of convenience, but a fundamental necessity that impacts the well-being and future of these communities. The virtual ER physician program and increases to EMS will improve response times and stabilize services across the province. The announced supports for 65 new and enhanced permanent full-time nursing positions in 30 rural and northern locations is also a welcomed opportunity for rural healthcare providers and our members. The health care file is always a top priority for SARM, and members see these as positive changes in improving rural health care in the province.

Policing and Public Safety

The bylaw court hub model announcement is a positive step towards SARM members being able to enforce local bylaws. SARM has been asking the province for increased measures to aid in bylaw enforcement, and the increase in courts will go a long way to providing that. Increases to the Sask. Marshals program and the RCMP are welcome sights. SARM will continue to advocate for larger investment in rural policing and safety, and supports all policing options available to rural Saskatchewan.

Moreover, SARM emphasizes the need for continued collaboration between the provincial government and RMs to address ongoing issues such as agricultural sustainability, health care, rural policing and rural infrastructure investments. As Saskatchewan’s association of rural municipalities, SARM remains committed to advocating for the interests and concerns of its members, working alongside the government to foster the development and prosperity of rural Saskatchewan.

Shantel Lipp
by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

Budget 2025-26

Shantel Lipp - Portrait

Spring is finally here, according to the calendar. Meanwhile, most of us are waiting for the weather to catch up. Spring is the season that brings us renewal. When the snow finally melts, we see what has been hidden from us for the past four to five months and start to plan our outdoor work for the summer. 

For our industry, it is no different. We look for signs of renewed growth every spring when our provincial government releases its budget. On March 19, the Saskatchewan government delivered the 2025-26 budget. From our perspective, there were some encouraging signs. The 2025-26 highways budget was set at $777 million, with $421 million dedicated to capital projects.  

While this budget is going in the right direction by increasing slightly over last year’s budget, we still have a ways to go to get where we need to be. Our industry will continue to advocate for long-term planning for budget commitments that provides stability and growth for our members’ businesses. 

The current political climate surrounding the trade issue, while challenging for our industry, is also an opportunity for us to rethink how we build our industry to meet the challenge posed to our province. Due to the tariff issues created by the United States and China that are impacting our economy, Saskatchewan is busy exploring other trade partners. The status quo on getting our goods to market is no longer a viable option and we must be creative with how we get our products to our new trade partners. 

While we need to maintain our existing infrastructure, we should also look at resurrecting dormant routes along with the possibility of planning and building new ones. Diversifying our trade portfolio must include the best logistics to successfully deliver our products to our new trading partners. Our infrastructure is the backbone of our provincial trade. 

The SHCA is also encouraged by the announcement from the provincial government to hold construction roundtable discussions with partner groups. This will be an opportunity for our industry to advocate with other industries on the importance of government committing to issues such as long-term planning, removing interprovincial barriers and building a resilient workforce. 

Every year, we look forward to the renewal and growth that spring brings us. This year will be no exception for the heavy construction industry. Even though the province faces uncertainty with the looming tariffs, our industry remains optimistic facing the challenges ahead.