Northern Municipal Governance, Property Assessment, and Municipal Waterworks

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The Saskatchewan Regulations 58/2024, officially titled The Northern Municipalities Amendment Regulations, 2024 under the authority of The Northern Municipalities Act, 2010 introduces several changes to the existing regulations concerning municipal governance, property assessment, and municipal waterworks. The regulations are cited as The Northern Municipalities Amendment Regulations, 2024, and include various updates to the Northern Municipalities Regulations.

One significant change is found in Section 7, where the required notice period for electronic meetings is extended from 30 to 60 days, aiming to improve transparency and public participation in municipal governance. Additionally, a new Section 8.5 exempts municipalities from providing a physical location for public participation in electronic meetings during emergencies, severe weather, or when public health orders prevent assembly.

In terms of property assessment, Part V has been revised to focus more clearly on property-related matters, with new Sections 32.5 and 32.6 establishing prescribed amounts for direct appeals regarding commercial and industrial properties at $1 million and for simplified appeals at $750,000. Section 32.7 further specifies a deadline for withdrawing an appeal, requiring written notice to be submitted 72 hours before the scheduled hearing.

The amendments also address municipal waterworks, with refinements made to Section 40 to specify that ‘expenses’ refer to total annual expenses related to municipal waterworks. References to The Water Regulations, 2002, have been updated to The Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations, and Section 41 has been narrowed to apply only to municipal waterworks connected to distribution systems intended for human consumption. Additionally, Section 42 has been clarified to remove unnecessary terms.

Reporting requirements have been improved, with amendments to Section 44 clarifying the need for municipalities to include specific financial data and engineering assessments in their reports. Revised Section 45 mandates municipal councils to provide detailed reports of revenues and expenses, including ratios comparing these two figures. New clauses require councils to submit annual declarations to the minister and provide additional information as requested.

The regulations also include modifications to forms, extending the time period for criminal record checks from 30 to 60 days and adjusting financial thresholds in municipal forms from $250,000 to $750,000. The new regulations take effect on the day they are filed, while specific sections regarding notice periods and appeal amounts will come into force on January 1, 2025.

By enacting these amendments, the Saskatchewan government seeks to address contemporary challenges faced by northern municipalities, thereby facilitating more efficient operations and stronger community engagement.

Saskatchewan (58/2024) July 19, 2024