By Andrew de Souza

Mayors want more money for city infrastructure

Oct 22, 2010 | 4:58 PM

Larger cities in Saskatchewan need more cooperation from the province to fund ailing infrastructure, said Mayor Jim Scarrow.
Scarrow returned this week from a meeting of mayors in Regina, where issues affecting communities throughout the province were discussed.
He said the two biggest recurring issues at such meetings are the need for a bigger a share of revenue from the province and higher funding for the increasing infrastructure deficit in the province.
“We are in discussion with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Province of Saskatchewan to work towards an infrastructure program which would be predictable and sustainable,” said Scarrow.
“Right now, that infrastructure deficit is in the billions and it’s well known across Canada and it’s affecting cities and their ability to budget in the future.”
In the past, Scarrow had pointed to infrastructure assets such as the Diefenbaker Bridge. He said assets like that were incredibly expense for cities to maintain and that provinces should pitch in since they were important to province-wide transportation as well.
Scarrow said the conversations between the mayors group and the province were quite productive and he thought more solid resolutions would be reached between the two.
The mayor’s caucus, as it is known meets twice a year at different locations throughout the province. In the spring of 2011, it will be held in Prince Albert.
adesouza@rawlco.com