Mayor of Nipawin, Rennie Harper. (File Photo/northeastNOW Staff)
SUMA Convention

Nipawin mayor happy with ideas discussed at annual municipalities convention

Apr 6, 2022 | 8:00 AM

This year’s gathering of urban municipalities includes a lot of resolutions that will have a positive impact on the province’s towns.

That’s according to Rennie Harper, Nipawin Mayor and Vice-President of Towns for the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), who’s attending the five-day convention in Regina.

The resolution committee ended up passing all 24 motions brought forward by different communities with the next step being to advocate for these changes with the provincial and federal governments.

Harper told northeastNOW there were several ideas she believes benefits everyone which include helping fund the disposal of asbestos and supporting today’s homeless.

“They don’t affect just one municipality; they affect a whole lot of us.”

Some of the other resolutions include having the province stop making any changes to the Local Government Elections Act and Regulations within one year of an election, adding more resources to end internet child exploitation, and that the federal government cover the salary increases for RCMP officers and their body-worn cameras.

One resolution was brought forward by the Town of Nipawin.

They specifically want the province to update the Municipalities Act to allow a judge to pass all costs related to impounding a dangerous animal onto the owner.

Right now, taxpayers have to pay the fees.

“We’ve had instances where it’s cost the Town of Nipawin six, seven thousand dollars,” added Harper.

Nipawin gave one example to the resolution committee where the town had to pay approximately $6,270 after an animal was impounded for 209 days before a court ordered it to be euthanized.

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

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