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2013 A FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON CONVENTION 2022

PARCS UPDATE #211 - October 21, 2022

A FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON CONVENTION 2022 

SESSION 1 (10:00 am - noon) - WETLANDS TOMORROW PANEL

Panelists: 

  • Alice Davies: Mgr, Lower Qu'Appelle Watershed Stewards
  • Dr. Peter Leavitt: U of Regina         
  • Colin Whitfield, Helen Baulch: Global Institute for Water Security
  • Michael Champion: Ducks Unlimited Canada

Reply from Water Security Agency

  • Shawn Jaques, President and CEO 

Number of attendees - 104

Average rating given by attendees - 89.9 %

Comments and questions from attendees - 

  • Why is the Water Security Agency only now designing an Ag drainage policy rather than a comprehensive wetland policy that we were led to believe was the purpose of all our inputs in 2019 consultations? Both Alberta and Manitoba have wetland policies...why not Sask?
  • Who is the policy lead for WSA? What are the performance indicators that balance safer reliable water with economic growth? Is the policy agriculture biased?
  • Could Alice give a definition of the point-source nutrient loading and non-point source loading for the listeners.
  • Ag drainage has been unregulated for years. If we wait til the fall of 2023 and your mitigation policy, there will be few wetlands left, at the rate drainage is going. Will you seriously begin regulating drainage now?
  • Thank you for all the very valuable information provided this morning. We have a significant area of lakeside development for recreation purposes. We do not have a significant agriculture component. We're looking at ways to reduce the stress of recreation on our lakes. Have you heard of Haven Floating Islands and do you know the results of their impacts? thank you (not sure who this question should be directed to.)
  • Can Helen or someone expand on why cover cropping and perennial forage is bad for water quality? I think back to pre-colonization where perennial native grasslands would have dominated the landscape, from what I can tell there is no concern with nutrient transfer downstream from that landscape so why is there concern about converting marginal agricultural land to perennial coverage to get it back to a pre-colonization state?
  • Ag drainage has been unregulated for years. If we wait till the fall of 2023 and your mitigation policy, there will be fewer wetlands left, at the rate drainage is going. Will you seriously begin regulating illegal drainage now?
  • Thank you for the very valuable information provided this morning. We have significant area of lakeside development for recreation purposes. We do not have a significant agricultural component. We are looking at ways to reduce the stress of recreation on our lakes. Have you heard of Haven Floating Islands and do you know the results of their impacts?  
  • Why is WSA only now designing an AG drainage policy rather than a comprehensive wetland policy that we were led to believe was the purpose of our inputs in the 2019 consultation? Both Alberta and Manitoba have wetland policies, ... why not Sask?
  • We heard from MLAs Travis King and Don McMOrris that lakes in the Qu'Appelle have always been green. According to Dr. Leavitt's presentation, this statement by these MLAs is not correct. WSA's mandate is to protect water quality in this province. Statements that are not based on science do not set this province up for success. Do you agree with Dr. Peter Leavitt that the degredation of the lakes is due to increased nutrient loading and that a wetland policy would in fact help reduct the loading to the rivers, streams, and lakes in the province?
  • Who is the policy lead for WSA?  What are the performance indicator that balance reliable water with economic growth? Is the policy agricultura biased? Please explain what you mean by mitigation? Are you all about water or all about agriculture? 
  • Question for Helen Baulch, panelist: Can you expand on wh cover crepping and perennial forage is bad for water quality?  I think back to pre-colonixation when perennial native grasslands would have dominated the landscape and from what I can tell, there is no concern with nutrient transfer downstream from that landscape. So why is there conven about converting marginal agricultural land to perennial coverage to get back to a pre-colonial state?

SESSION 1 RECORDINGS:  Wetlands Panel: https://youtu.be/bU9AX4g8gTY

                                              WSA Policy Update: https://youtu.be/U9pDB_eOVew

SESSION 2 (1:00 - 2:30 pm) - MEMBERS FAIR

Presenters:

  • OH of Pasqua Lake
  • RV of Coteau Beach
  • RV of Lumsden Beach
  • RV of Island View
  • RM of District of Lakeland
  • RV of Manitou Beach
  • RV of Sask Beach
  • RM of McKillop

Number of attendees - 46

Average rating given by attendees - 83.7 %

Comments from attendees - 

  • The Couteau presentation was very impressive! How big is your RV? (permanent and seasonal population)?

SESSION 2 RECORDING: Members Fair: https://youtu.be/PKaAC-UEOmk

SESSION 3 (3:00 - 4:00 pm) - A PROPOSED NEW RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN ORGANIZED HAMLETS AND THEIR RM

Presenters - Andrea Ulrich and Tobi Duck, Ministry of Government Relations

Number of attendees - 68

Average rating given by attendees - 84.7 %

Comments from attendees - none

SESSION 3 RECORDING:  Government Relations: https://youtu.be/og_V5TGjrCw

Questions directed to particular panelists will be forwarded.

PARCS SETS DATES FOR CONVENTION 2014

December 6, 2013

  • The 2014 PARCS Convention will be a full two-day conventions, held on Friday and Saturday, October 17/18.
  • PARCS is planning to establish a tradition of conventions on the weekend following Thanksgiving.
  • Watch this site for news about location and speakers.
PARCS ADOPTS A POSITION ABOUT SCHOOL TAXES IN 2014

December 6, 2013

  • PARCS members’ undertook a successful letter writing campaign to the government in 2013 about the heavy burden of school taxes on residential property.
  • PARCS has once again adopted a 2014 Position Paper regarding School Taxes. The PARCS 2014 Position Paper was presented to the Ministry on December 20th.
  • Watch for the next PARCS newsletter with more details about this important issue.
Saskatchewan school tax to be held at current level

March 13, 2013

CBC News: The Saskatchewan government says it will not boost the education portion of property taxes this year. 2013 is a reassessment year, which potentially could have meant whopping tax increases for homeowners and businesses — assuming property values went up and the mill rate stayed the same. In fact, property values went up 67 per cent from 2009 to 2013. Earlier this year, the province was not ruling out 2013 tax bills that might go up by double digits. However, Premier Brad Wall announced today that educational mill rates will be dropped to compensate, and overall taxes won't go up. Some property owners will pay more taxes and some will pay less, depending on how their own individual assessments fared, but overall the effect will be revenue neutral, he said. "Despite some significant pressures on our provincial budget, we will hold the line on education property taxes in 2013," Wall said in a news release. However, with a growing population and increasing enrollments, tax increases may be needed in future, Wall added.

PARCS voices about School Taxes were heard

March 10, 2013

  • Over the past six weeks PARCS members have conducted an intensive letter-writing campaign asking the province to maintain a revenue neutral position regarding 2013 school taxes.
  • Prior to your letters, PARCS directors met with Minister Reiter to present the PARCS position regarding the 2013 school taxes. Then the PARCS position was sent to you in PARCS Update #32. News releases were sent to daily and weekly newspapers across the province.
  • This morning Premier Wall issued a press release (see the CBC posting below). At first reading, this sounds like a significant affirmation of the work done by PARCS and its members!
  • A word of caution however. Even if school tax dollars are maintained at a revenue neutral position, because resort property assessments increased much more than other assessments, cottage owners will likely be paying a larger percentage of the total 2013 school tax bill.
  • On March 20th, at the request of PARCS Board of Directors, I will be attending the pre-budget informational meeting on behalf of PARCS. Immediately thereafter, a newsletter will go out explaining our analysis of the new 2013 school mill rates and their impact for cottage owners. Watch for PARCS Update #33.
  • On March 24th your Board of Directors will meet again and likely begin discussion on the next step toward moving the dependence of school taxes away from the province’s property base.
  • Meanwhile – Hurrah to all of you who took the PARCS message to the steps of the legislature with your letters to the Premier, to Cabinet members and to your MLAs!