Local leaders understand what their communities need and other levels of government can and should be important partners in that work, and if responsibility is downloaded, then the right funding and the right support should come with it. That was the message from the provincial NDP to delegates attending the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association convention. Leader Carla Beck had to cancel, so Matt Love, the Critic for Rural and Remote Health, Education and Seniors spoke in her stead.

He cited the SUMA report on the PST on construction, which states that 24 to 39 per cent of municipal revenue sharing grants are spent on PST for infrastructure projects. Love suggested that because of that cost, local leaders may then have to raise taxes. The NDP is advocating for the PST on construction to be removed.

Love told the crowd that local leaders know best what their communities need and should be consulted when decisions affect them. He believes the governments in Ottawa and Regina are out of touch at the grass roots level, which happens when any government is in power too long. Love says during his visits around the province he has heard many say that this is a real challenge, because these governments are making decisions “for you, but without you”.