Premier Scott Moe (second from left) with Mayor Greg Dionne (second from right) with Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte and Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave when the hospital expansion was announced in 2020. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

2024 Sask. budget

Mayor pleased with what provincial budget means for Prince Albert

Mar 20, 2024 | 5:00 PM

Mayor Greg Dionne said he is happy with the provincial budget announced this afternoon, which included increased revenue sharing for municipalities although details are still scarce.

“I’ve been pleased. Most of them go in our direction, so that makes me happy. There is some clarity that we need,” he said.

READ MORE: Budgets carries old promises and plans for future.

A week ago, the province said it would increase the shared amount by 14 per cent, but the city is waiting for specifics on the formula.

According to a statement from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) the increase is welcomed, but it’s not enough to close the gap.

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“Municipalities are responsible for over 60 per cent of infrastructure and collect less than 10 cents of every tax dollar,” said the group.

At the same time, the costs of building the infrastructure continues to grow. SUMA said all governments, including federal, will be needed to solve the problem.

Dionne is also watching federal announcements, specifically the new Canadian Infrastructure Fund.

The city has four or five projects ready to go and will be applying for any funding that matches their needs as soon as possible.

One of those will be a sewage treatment plant and another is the second phase of the development at The Yard – a 4,500 seat events centre that would also be home to the Prince Albert Raiders once constructed.

Just months ago, the city said the project was shovel-ready but needed a large source of grant money to proceed.

Dionne was not surprised to see no new large-scale projects announced for Prince Albert as the province is just getting ready to break ground on a major expansion of the Victoria Hospital that will cost about $900 million.

“The budget is positive. You know, the problem is it’s the same thing with council. Everyone wants more money and the pie’s just so big. And it’s as I said, it’s hard for me to argue when I’m getting $900 million for a new hospital that’s going to bring economic development to us,” he said.

With the expansion, another 500 jobs will be added to the local market.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com