On May 6, 2020, the government of Saskatchewan announced a $320 million capital injection for municipal infrastructure projects. This announcement comes as part of a larger $7.5 billion economic stimulus package in response to the impacts of COVID-19 on the provincial economy.
The funding will be distributed through the following:
- $150 million Municipal Economic Enhancement Program ("MEEP");
- $130 million Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program ("ICIP"); and
- $46 million in targeted funding through the Ministry of Highways for municipal roads and airports.
The funding will be provided on top of Municipal Revenue Sharing and other municipal transfers highlighted in the 2020-2021 estimates.
MEEP funding will be available to all Saskatchewan municipalities for "shovel ready" infrastructure projects over the next two years. It is a grant-based program that will distribute funding to municipalities on a per capita basis, based on the municipality's 2016 Census population. Funding is available for 14 broad infrastructure project categories:
- Connectivity
- Disaster Mitigation
- Drinking Water
- Engineering and Feasibility Studies
- Green Energy
- Local Roads and Bridges
- Municipal Equipment
- Municipally-Owned Buildings and Assets
- Planning and Development
- Protective Services
- Public Health
- Solid Waste
- Recreation, Culture, Tourism and Sport
- Wastewater and Storm Water
MEEP funding is limited to these categories of infrastructure project and cannot be used to pay down debt, purchase land, lease property or finance administration costs.
Applications packages were emailed to all municipalities on May 19 and the distribution of the funds can begin as early as mid-July. Project plans will be reviewed by the Ministry of Government Relations and approval will be provided by letter. Once approved, all MEEP funding must be used by March 31, 2022.
ICIP is the result of a bilateral agreement between Canada and Saskatchewan in 2018. The program already provides $896 million in federal funding for numerous Saskatchewan infrastructure projects. ICIP funding is divided into four streams, each with their own allocations, eligible projects and defined outcomes:
- Public Transit Infrastructure;
- Green Infrastructure;
- Community, Culture and Recreation; and
- Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure.
Details on the allocation of funding between the four streams have not yet been released.
The funding announcement reflects the government's commitment to municipalities and recognizes the important role municipalities have in contributing to economic growth. The funding can be used to reduce projected deficits and prevent the deferral of capital projects.
Originally published 8 May, 2020
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