RM's calling for tax relief at the gas pump

Jun 07, 2022

Rising fuel costs are putting RMs in a financial pinch

Ray Orb, President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities says the increase in gas prices is having a big impact on RM's as they try to maintain roads with heavy equipment that use substantial amounts of fuel.

"The cost of fuel has never been higher, and the ripple effect of high prices is exceptionally frustrating for rural municipalities, the increased cost of fuel directly impacts a municipalities' day-to-day operations as well as their budgets."

He notes an additional concern is that contracted jobs like road construction, gravel haulers, etc are now coming back to RM's trying to recoup their increased fuel costs through surcharges tied to cost escalation.

SARM is lobbying the Province and Ottawa to take action by providing tax relief at the gas pumps, something that is already being done in Alberta.

The topic is just one of many being discussed this week during SARM district meetings.

Other key issues remain the drought, rural crime, rural healthcare, broadband issues, agricultural drainage and more.

Monday's meeting was held in North Battleford, Tuesday meetings are set for Division 2 in Moose Jaw and Division 3 in Swift Current, Wednesday's meeting for Division 1 is in Kipling, Thursday is the Division 4 meeting in Kelvington.

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Video: Alberta Honey: A Day at Molenkamp Honey Farms

When was the last time you read the label on your honey?

We spent a day at Molenkamp Honey Farms with Michael Molenkamp, who has been keeping bees for 17 seasons and runs three to four thousand hives. In mid-September, he was finishing treatments and getting his bees ready for winter, and he walked us through how Alberta honey gets made.

Alberta has just 150 commercial beekeepers running 300,000 colonies, and together they produce 40% of Canada’s honey. Long summer days and golden canola fields give Alberta honey a light flavour that’s hard to match anywhere else.

Molenkamp calls Alberta beekeepers some of the most resilient farmers he knows. There’s plenty of Alberta honey to go around, but a lot on our shelves isn’t from here, so his ask is simple. Give the label a second look and choose honey made by Alberta beekeepers, or buy straight from a beekeeper near you.