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2014 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 RELEASES AGENDA FOR CONVENTION 2014

July 2, 2014

The Agenda for the October 17/18 PARCS Annual Convention promises to be an exciting one.  The keynote address will be delivered by a representative from the Alberta Lake Management Association.  The speaker at the President's Banquet will be the Weather Lady.  The convention will be held at the Willows Golf Course just south of Saskatoon.

PARCS APPLAUDS 2014 BUDGET

March 23, 2014

The PARCS Board of Directors applauds the government’s decision to forego increases to educational taxes.  As the consistent voice on behalf of residential property owners, PARCS will continue to lobby this government to enact long term measures to make education taxes fair for owners of residential property.  In particular, we feel that that ALL owners of residential property should be charged education property tax, including residences on farms and residences in provincial parks.    

PARCS DIRECTORS MEET WITH MINISTER REITER

March 15, 2014

On March 7 2014, executive memebers John Quinn and Garry Dixon, along with co-ordinator Lynne Saas, were finally able to meet with Minister Reiter.  They argued the case for a minimum tax on all residences (including those on farms and in provincial parks).  The meeting was courteous but we did not feel that we had a sympathetic audience.  Stay tuned for the budget announcements on March 19.

PREMIER CONSIDERING RAISING EDUCATION PROPERTY TAXES TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

February 16, 2014

The Star Phoenix reports that Premier Wall “isn’t ruling our dedicating a revenue stream – potentially education property taxes – to infrastructure projects.”

To read more, click on this link.

PARCS SENDS LETTER TO PREMIER WALL ABOUT 2014 SCHOOL TAXES

January 14, 2014

After an initial December 20th consultation meeting with the Ministry of Government Relations, the PARCS Board of Directors decided that the next step was to take their message directly to Premier Wall.

Realizing that student numbers in Saskatchewan schools had increased to 170,000 students in the fall of 2013 and therefore anticipating possible increases in 2014 school taxes, the PARCS Board felt it was time to “urge this government to collect school taxes from those property owners who have been paying less than their fair share before looking to those home owners who have already been contributing heavily to the school tax bill”.

Check out our newsletter PARCS UPDATE #40 for more details.

PARCS ASKS PROVINCE TO INVESTIGATE TAX DEFFERAL PROGRAM FOR SENIORS

January 14, 2014

PARCS has asked the province to investigate the possibility of implementing a program for the deferral of school taxes on property by seniors similar to those in other provinces.  To learn more about such programs, select the site and then Ctrl + Click to follow the links

  • The government of Alberta will pay residential property taxes on behalf of eligible seniors (age 65 or over with at 25% equity in their home). The loans are repaid, with interest, when the seniors sell the home, or sooner if they choose.(www.health.alberta.ca)
  • The province of British Columbia offers a similar property tax deferment plan for homeowners age 55 or over, surviving spouses or homeowners with a disability. (www2.gov.bc.ca)

Check out our newsletter, PARCS UPDATE #40 for more details.