YORKTON — Yorkton’s Mayor Aaron Kienle gave a brief verbal report, and circulated a report, on his recent trip to Ottawa with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations, SUMA and SARM.
The presentation was part of the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
Kienle said the purpose of the trip was to advocate for the infrastructure needs of Saskatchewan municipalities.
“This topic, as you know has been a prime focus for us in Yorkton, as we face continual challenges with upkeep of aging infrastructure. Council has spent many hours meeting with members of the provincial government any chance we were given in our first year of the term, building relationships, and voicing the needs of the people to upper levels of government. So this invitation was welcome to us,” he detailed in his written report.
“The message from the delegation was clear: we need broad, flexible, long-term funding. We are all in a deficit when it comes to infrastructure. It is aging faster than we can replace it, and costs continue to inflate. Essential infrastructure that our citizens need to have a safe, healthy and fulfilling life are in dire need of better funding from the upper levels of government, to build and sustain.”
The delegation spent two full meeting days in Ottawa with the purpose of presenting Saskatchewan’s priorities to federal representatives and advocating for a broad, flexible federal infrastructure funding program.
The trip had the Saskatchewan delegation meeting with various federal ministers and officials.
In his report Kienle stated he was generally satisfied with the reception the delegation received.
“While the Conservative caucus meeting was disappointing, nearly all other meetings were constructive and respectful and demonstrated Ottawa’s recognition of Saskatchewan’s importance,” noted the report.
But, Kienle said he also felt relationships were established.
“Building relationships is critical. Our presence was noticed, and multiple ministers encouraged us to continue returning to Ottawa.
The trip also highlighted how housing, recreation, and infrastructure investment are intertwined with mental health, economic development, and community resilience. It was an excellent opportunity to showcase Saskatchewan municipal leadership and capacity,” the written report noted.
And the message was a common one from the delegates.
“The meetings solidified the need for a flexible program that addresses local priorities. The focus on housing presents opportunities to align housing and infrastructure asks. It was stressed that Saskatchewan needs stronger representation in Ottawa. Collaboration was strengthened through valuable time spent among Saskatchewan mayors, presenting a united front. The presence of provincial ministers and officials enhanced the credibility of our delegation, highlighting municipal capacity,” detailed the Mayor’s report.
“This trip was incredibly beneficial on many levels . . .
“Saskatchewan municipalities—urban and rural—showed that we can work together toward a common goal. Our advocacy in Ottawa was timely, united, and strong, and my hope is that this was only the beginning.”
The trip was paid for by the City of Yorkton. The expenses included transportation, meals, and miscellaneous costs totalling $653, and flights and accommodations costing approximately $2,500.
