Released on July 16, 2008
Northern Saskatchewan communities will receive more than $3 million from the provincial government through the Northern Residential Subdivision Program (NRSD) to provide serviced lots to meet higher demands for housing as the province's economy continues to surge.
La Loche will receive $2 million and La Ronge will receive $1 million to build subdivisions with serviced lots. Under the NRSD agreement, communities repay the program when the lots are sold.
"It is important that we build a solid foundation for sustained growth in our province," Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Hutchinson said. "What we're seeing in the Northern part of our province is that the economy is growing rapidly, largely through resource exploration and development, causing housing demands to rise. This program helps communities in the north fund new subdivisions, and ultimately helps enhance the quality of life for Saskatchewan people."
"The money from this program is greatly needed in the North," La Loche Mayor Georgina Jolibois said. "We need the lots from this program to help keep pace with our growth as a community."
The Northern Revenue Sharing Trust Account (NRSTA) Management Board recommended the subdivision program to the province because northern communities face high land development costs mainly due to terrain that is difficult to work on and a lack of contractor availability. In some cases, communities also struggle with the lack of a sufficient tax base or other sources of revenue to make subdivision development feasible.
Communities apply to the program through a process that evaluates the housing needs of the community, estimates costs of lot development and considers current funding available through the NRSD.
The NRSTA is a special account established by the province and managed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to support the growth and development of northern communities. The management board provides guidance and recommendations to Municipal Affairs after consulting northern leaders on Northern Capital Grants, Northern Water and Sewer Grants, Northern Revenue Sharing Grants, the Northern Residential Subdivision Program, and Northern Emergency Water and Sewer Program.
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For more information, contact:
Greg Urbanoski
Municipal Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2155
Email: gurbanoski@gov.sk.ca