
Our Saskatchewan election is almost over.
When the government convenes this fall, whoever they may be, I will be working to ensure Saskatchewan’s urgent infrastructure issues are top of mind.
Here are some specific things I will be immediately communicating to all MLAs, ensuring they understand our issues as they put together their new legislative agenda:
- Last month, the SHCA joined Insightrix Research, a Saskatchewan research company, to gauge where issues impacting the heavy construction industry register in the minds of Saskatchewan residents.
- Healthcare, education, cost of living and the economy are the top priorities for most Saskatchewan residents. However, right behind these, infrastructure and road safety improvements are major concerns – especially because they are directly linked to economic growth.
- Saskatchewan residents know that robust infrastructure fuels a thriving economy by ensuring safe and efficient transportation and that our residents need to safely travel across the province.
- Most agree that the provincial highway system has gotten worse over the past 10 years and 63 per cent believe the government must increase its investment in road repairs.
- Research also indicates that 53 per cent of Saskatchewan residents support increasing spending to improve northern roads. Other findings of the research included:
- 79 per cent agree Saskatchewan based companies should be given preference to work on provincial and municipal infrastructure projects.
- 72 per cent agree road construction should be 24-hour projects due to our limited construction season.
- 89 per cent agree that unused funds for construction projects should be carried over to be used in the next construction year.
Our research also indicated that Saskatchewan residents believe municipalities should be committing more resources to local infrastructure projects:
- SARM, representing rural municipalities, puts infrastructure at the top of its list of priorities for the next government.
- SARM represents rural municipalities who are responsible for 164,000 kilometres of roads and 1,280 bridges, 60 per cent of which are at, or beyond, their lifespan.
- The organization says bridge building costs increased by 36 per cent per square foot between 2010 and 2020 and increased another 25 per cent between 2020 and 2022.
- As SARM and the SHCA know, government funding is not keeping up with the needs or inflation.
Without adequate rural infrastructure our oil and gas, agriculture, mining and other natural resource sectors will suffer bringing our economy significant consequences.
The consequences of rural residents not being able to safely travel are also dire.
SUMA, representing urban municipalities, says increasing infrastructure spending is critical:
- SUMA is responsible for over 60 per cent of public infrastructure.
- Considering inflation, there isn’t enough revenue coming in for municipalities to maintain this infrastructure.
- SUMA wants to see government go increase and create new revenue streams for urban municipalities to maintain infrastructure.
- SUMA would also like property assessments simplified, with more frequent assessments, so municipalities can properly fund infrastructure.
Our main messages for the new government are:
- SHCA members continue to see escalating costs for fuel, materials and labour, while the base spending for urban and rural infrastructure remains relatively unchanged. This can’t continue.
- Inflationary costs reflected in bid pricing that isn’t adequately addressed through realistic infrastructure funding leads to less projects tendered, which creates further financial uncertainty for the industry and impacts the health of the Saskatchewan economy.
- Our research shows Saskatchewan people support increased government funding for infrastructure. Our municipalities say it is critical.