By Jeff Labine

Premier’s address leaves impression on P.A. mayor

Mar 16, 2017 | 12:00 PM

For Prince Albert’s mayor, hearing the premier treat Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) members the same as everyone else in the province became the highlight of this year’s convention.

Mayor Greg Dionne said it was such a big take away that it even beat out meeting Conservative leadership candidate Kevin O’Leary who also attended the conference.

Dionne made his way to Saskatoon on Wednesday, March 15, to attend the annual convention and to hear Brad Wall speak. The premier repeated earlier promises about nothing being ruled out as the provincial government tries to find ways to bring down the projected $1.2-billion deficit.

Wall first made these comments during the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention last month.

Dionne said what was important for him was Wall treating rural members the same as their urban counterparts.

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“I really liked his presentation and his speech this time because it was more equal and fair and it was talking about the province as a whole,” he said. “The premier made it quite clear to the SARM members that everything is on the table. That has been the concern in the past of course with SUMA that they would treat SARN differently.”

Dionne decided to skip the SUMA convention to take a holiday in the Dominican Republic. He said the city had plenty of representation with six members of council at the convention and he had recently attended an all mayor’s meeting. He explained he needed a vacation after what he described as a rough election campaign and budget cycle.

But he said he wasn’t going to miss the SARM convention.

In addition to hearing the premier speak, Dionne said he was able to meet face-to-face with a number of cabinet ministers including those for highways and economic development.

“I go to get educated,” he said. “As the mayor, I believe I should go to both but unfortunately, I chose not to go to SUMA and to have a holiday.”

One of the more important agenda items that came out of the convention was the push to have more power given to rural residents to protect their property. Many brought up concerns that crime in rural areas is on the rise.

Dionne said with so many people spread out across the province, policing can be a challenge so new ways to address the problem is needed.

“Some people have suggested municipal police forces play a more important part in policing the R.M.s,” he said. “The province continues to look at the communities’ safety officer program where there are special constables so they can do a lot more duties like traffic enforcement and bylaw. For me, it has been a work in progress.”

Dionne added O’Leary was an interesting man to speak and listen to.

“Of course there he wasn’t confrontational,” he said. “He was very nice, very polite. He’s an interesting man to listen to because he brings a different perspective on what he thinks government should be and how government should operate.”

Jeff.labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter