SARM shares priorities for Sask. election

Rural broadband, rural crime and policing, and funding to support RMs top SARM’s list

As the province gears up for the Oct. 26 election, representatives of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) are sharing their priorities.

SARM representatives listed rural broadband, rural crime and policing, and funding to support RMs as the top issues.

“Rural broadband has been a really important issue for us for the last five or six years,” said Ray Orb, president of SARM. “We have a large area of the province that's underserved in both Internet and cellphone coverage.”

The poor cellphone service also affects the challenge of rural crime to an extent, said Orb.

“In some areas of the province, people might not be able to connect as quickly as they need to with law enforcement. So, we believe having better cellphone coverage will help to reduce rural crime,” he told Farms.com.

RMs also need continued support, especially in the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the provincial economy, stated the release.

SARM representatives will ask political candidates to address these issues and the organization’s leadership encourage rural residents to do the same, said Orb.

“We're asking our members to ask their local candidates these questions. (For example,) how could your party reduce rural crime?” he said.

SARM representatives will also ask candidates about the federal carbon tax.

“Farmers should be rewarded, rather than penalized, for sequestering carbon into the soil. So, that's something we're going to ask all the parties. What's your position on that (issue)?” said Orb.