2023 May
Municipalities Today is a web-based newsletter published monthly by the Ministry of Government Relations. It lists deadlines, training opportunities, services and programs that may interest Saskatchewan municipal administrators.
View past editions of Municipalities Today by visiting the Publications Centre.
1. Provide Input for a New Environmental Code Chapter for Compost Facilities
Based on previous feedback, the Ministry of Environment recommends developing an Environmental Code chapter for compost facilities. The proposed chapter would provide more detail regarding their construction, operation and closure.
This May and June, Environment will engage municipalities and other stakeholders to hear feedback and understand how these proposed changes may impact them or their communities. To participate:
- Review the draft code and the summary of proposed changes.
- Provide your feedback by:
- Completing the code chapter summary survey by June 30, 2023.
- Discussing the proposed code at a virtual engagement session the ministry is hosting on May 29 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Register for this session.)
- Providing your feedback to waste.management@gov.sk.ca by June 30, 2023.
If you require more information, visit the Ministry of Environment’s Composting Facilities page, call their toll-free number at 1-800-567-4224 or email them at waste.management@gov.sk.ca.
2. Municipalities Can Provide Input About Subdivision Regulations
The Ministry of Government Relations reminds stakeholders they can provide feedback as part of a regulatory review of the current provincial subdivision regulations.
Work on this review of The Subdivision Regulations, 2014 to reduce red tape and make them more efficient began in the spring and will continue throughout the summer.
These regulations establish the process and framework for the subdivision of land in the province and fall under The Planning and Development Act, 2007 of Saskatchewan.
For more information about how to provide input, email communityplanning@gov.sk.ca or call 306-787-2725 or 306-933-6937.
After hearing and examining initial feedback, the ministry will re-engage with stakeholders in early 2024.
3. Construction Codes
Saskatchewan adopts the following national model construction codes as the minimum standard for the construction and renovation of buildings throughout the province:
- The National Building Code (NBC);
- The National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB); and
- The National Plumbing Code (NPC).
The NBC, NECB and NPC are adopted by regulation by the Ministry of Government Relations under provisions of The Construction Codes Act. The National Fire Code (NFC), a companion document to the above model codes, is adopted by regulation by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency in our province under The Fire Safety Act.
After a delay of 16 months due to the pandemic and challenges in developing some technical code provisions, the National Research Council of Canada published NBC 2020, NECB 2020, NPC 2020 and NFC 2020 in March 2022. (Download them for free from the National Research Council of Canada.) Saskatchewan’s review of these codes resulted in several proposed code amendments. They include accessibility, alternative family care homes, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, alignment with gas and electrical standards, and energy efficiency. Stakeholder consultations on national code adoption and proposed amendments ended March 31, 2023. Comments received from the consultations inform regulatory amendments in the code adoption process.
Saskatchewan’s implementation of the NBC 2020, NECB 2020, NPC 2020 and NFC 2020 is proposed for January 1, 2024. Building owners, industry, municipalities and code users will be able to learn about the new codes through in-person and online workshops, advisories and guides planned for this fall.
Please contact Building and Technical Standards at btstandards@gov.sk.ca or 306-787-4113 if you have any questions.
4. Updated Exemptions and Abatement Request Forms
Municipalities must use the new request forms if they want to seek approval from the province to exempt or abate Education Property Tax (EPT) revenue over the $25,000 threshold or more than 5 per cent of the total EPT levy. The changes made to the request forms are to justify the municipal percentage of the forgone property tax. The municipal council must choose to exempt/abate EPT taxes in the same percentage as the municipal tax annually.
Here is an outline of the changes that were made to the forms:
- A municipality can indicate if the EPT forgiveness being requested is either Actual or an Estimate.
- A municipality can indicate if the EPT percentage requested is either for a single year or multiple years.
- A new field to enter the total dollar of forgone municipal tax.
- A new field to enter the forgone municipal tax percentage.
- The detailed property listing table for the request to exempt/abate 5 per cent or more of the total EPT levy now includes the amount of municipal property tax column.
These new forms will let municipalities provide the information needed to approve their requests on time. It will also reduce the timeframe Education Policy Analysts require to complete the review of the requests. Click on each name of the new forms to download and save them to your computer:
- EPT Exemption/Abatement for Properties ($25,000 or more)
- EPT Exemption/Abatement for a Parcel ($25,000)
- Additional Details Request Form (5%) or more of the Total EPT Levy
- EPT Abatement or Exemption for 5% or more of Total EPT Levy
For further information about EPT, please search “education property tax” online at saskatchewan.ca or send an email to ept@gov.sk.ca.
5. New Education Property Tax Mill Rates
As announced with the Government of Saskatchewan’s 2023-24 Budget, the 2023 education property tax (EPT) mill rates will remain the same as 2022 at:
2023 Mill Rates | |
Agricultural | 1.42 |
Residential | 4.54 |
Commercial/Industrial | 6.86 |
Resource | 9.88 |
For more information about EPT mill rates, please read the March 22 media release or visit the Education Property Tax Mill Rates.
6. Attend Webinars About The Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, 2023
The Ministry of Environment is offering two information sessions to highlight the key changes to The Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, 2023. The new regulations, which came into effect March 31, 2023, will impact Saskatchewan businesses, organizations, municipalities, First Nation communities and entities that are responsible for waste management.
Please register for either session in advance by choosing one of the dates below:
The new regulations and program plan guidelines are now available through Saskatchewan’s Publications Centre and by visiting the Household Packaging and Paper Recycling page.
For questions about the new regulations, please contact the Ministry of Environment by emailing centre.inquiry@gov.sk.ca or by calling toll-free at 1-800-567-4224.
7. Arbor Week in Saskatchewan – Celebrating Our Trees!
When was the last time you noticed the trees in your neighbourhood? For most of us, we’re so busy and the trees in our communities become such a part of the everyday landscape that it’s easy to pass by them without really seeing them. Sometimes, it’s worth appreciating them.
Arbor Week, May 21-27 this year, is a perfect time to celebrate the trees that grace our yards, line our streets, and shade our parks and all the ways they make our lives better. This year’s theme, Healthy Trees, Healthy People, highlights the important connection between a community’s trees and the mental and physical health of those who live there. Urban trees do so many things for us, including:
- producing oxygen and cleaning the air
- reducing heating and cooling costs
- providing habitat for birds and other wildlife
- capturing and storing carbon
- producing food
- providing beautiful settings for outdoor recreation and reflection
Saskatchewan people love their trees! That’s why the Government of Saskatchewan officially proclaims the last full week in May as Arbor Week each year, with the Friday observed as Arbor Day. Since the early 1900s, Saskatchewan residents have been joining people all over North America in this spring observance with activities like tree planting, a spring clean-up of streets and yards, or simply taking a moment to reflect on the urban forest that adds so much to the places we call home.
Many towns and cities continue this tradition. Also, organizations like SOS Trees Coalition in Saskatoon and the Provincial Capital Commission in Regina invite the public to events throughout the week to have fun while learning more about trees and all they do.
How will you celebrate?
Kinsmen Park in Prince Albert (Photo Credit: Ministry of Environment)