Achi news desk-
The Saskatchewan Conference of Municipalities (SUMA) concluded Wednesday with morning educational sessions, followed by a bear pit session for delegates to speak directly to the provincial government.
The hour and a half bear pit session allowed SUMA delegates an opportunity to speak directly with the district representatives on the last day of the conference.
“It is so good to see the provincial government here and answer the questions for some of the decisions they may have made, but also to understand what the needs are in our communities so we are very satisfied with the last four days”, said Randy Golden, president of SUMA.
According to Golden, the top three issues she heard about this week include infrastructure funding, mental health and addictions, as well as community safety.
“They’re very, very happy with the discussions they’ve had, the engagement they’ve had with SUMA, with our board, but also with the county government and the leaders who took the time to come and have these discussions with them,” she said.
Another topic that was mentioned more than once was the truth and reconciliation efforts. Multiple representatives, including Prince Albert City Councilor Tony Head, spoke about the need for greater consultation with Indigenous leaders when it comes to issues affecting their communities.
“I have asked the government to take a closer look at some of the services that are lacking in our province, and to also consider the TRC’s recommendations regarding government actions,” Rush said.
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Government Relations Minister Don McMorris spoke to the media following the meeting.
“We are quite proud of our track record on truth and reconciliation and the involvement of First Nations in the economy. We have several programs, record revenue sharing in terms of gaming profits that go to First Nations organizations, FSIN and First Nations organizations, Metis organizations as well,” McMorris said.
With mental health and addictions another prominent issue, many highlighted the urgent need for more resources as rural communities struggle to keep up with the demand for addiction treatment; An issue that disproportionately affects the natives.
“They highlighted some of the strong and growing economy, but to me I felt they were missing some of the social services that are required in our community to create a strong thriving community. I hope they refocus some of their attention on these much needed areas. You know, we’ve seen a lot of struggles and no improvements so the biggest hope Mine is that they will improve the system,” Head said.
Delegates are now returning to their home communities across Saskatchewan until next year’s conference in Saskatoon.
