The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is encouraging rural residents to step up and join their local council to help make decisions on behalf of their ratepayers. The role of rural governance dates back nearly 120 years to a time when Saskatchewan was just getting started. When the province was founded in 1905, it created the Spencer Commission to find a way to develop local municipalities and handle the pressures of an increasing population in rural Saskatchewan. This report led to the Rural Municipality Act in 1907, creating and outlining the responsibilities of rural governance.
“As a rural elected official, I think it’s one of the most important things that people out in rural areas realize first of all, the responsibilities, but also, I think some of the opportunities,” highlighted Ray Orb, President of SARM.
As another municipal election year looms, SARM is sounding the alarm about the number of vacancies on several councils in rural Saskatchewan and encouraging local residents to consider running. Orb says there are some time commitments associated with council, but stresses that many councils strive to make meetings as accommodating as possible for farmers and those who are working other jobs. He says members will structure meetings in the evenings or on rainy days during seeding and harvest.
“They’re farming. They’re in a farming community. They might be helping someone on the farm or something like that and we realize it’s a busy season,” Orb explained.” Those are the kind of people you want. They always say the busy people are the ones you want on council because they get things done.”
For those who may be concerned about how municipal government operates and what the role of a councilor or reeve is, there is help out there for those who feel apprehensive about the task.
“We offer training programs, we offer a lot of webinars, there are mentorship groups that are available for people who need advice, and we have great training programs for people who get on to council,” outlined Orb.
SARM has also created a video to explain the the importance of municipal government:.
“I think this is a really great message to get out to rural Saskatchewan that municipal councils are really important. If you think about it, really, the backbone of our rural economy are the municipal councils, the agriculture production, and all the other resources that are out in rural Saskatchewan,” Orb concluded.
Pictured: SARM President Ray Orb at SARM’s annual convention.
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