The 2008 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention passed a resolution asking for the term for urban municipal councillors to be extended from three to four years. The resolution stated the current term of three years for an elected municipal official insufficient to effectively govern and that most other provinces have four-year terms. Amendments to The Local Government Election Act are planned for fall 2008 when the proposed resolution could be considered and the legislation amended. If the term of urban municipal councillors and mayors is increased to four years, the term of school board officials and northern municipalities will also increase to four years. This would preserve the cost efficiency of holding elections at the same time, be more transparent, and encourage higher voter turnout. Rural municipalities will maintain two-year terms at their request. School boards and northern municipal associations support the change. The current three-year terms for urban municipal councillors in Saskatchewan were instituted in 1980 by the Urban Law Review Committee. Seven provinces have a four-year term (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba). British Columbia and Alberta have three-year terms. Saskatchewan has a three-year term for urban and northern municipalities and school divisions, and a two-year term for rural municipalities. Yukon has a three-year term but is consulting on legislative amendments to increase the term to four years. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut have two-year or three-year terms based on the size of the community. Elections are held every year in Saskatchewan rural municipalities and elected officials hold office for two years. In odd-numbered years even-numbered divisions hold elections and in even-numbered years odd-numbered divisions hold elections. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) has indicated its preference to continue with this practice. Have Your Say You are invited to provide your feedback and opinions to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs by September 1, 2008. You can submit your comments electronically below or in writing to:
Attention: Policy Development (LGEA)
Saskatchewan Ministry of Municipal Affairs
1540 - 1855 Victoria Ave.
Regina, SK
S4P 3T2 Please note you may be contacted about your submission if additional information is required. Should the Government of Saskatchewan amend the Local Government Election Act to extend the terms of elected urban and northern municipal officials, as well as school board officials, from three years to four?
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