Norm Nordgulen won his fourth consecutive term by a huge majority as Division 2 director of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) on March 16.
Nordgulen, who is the reeve of RM 72 surrounding Assiniboia, secured a resounding victory at the 112th annual SARM convention, held in Saskatoon from March 13 to 16. The convention attracted 2,500 registered delegates and guests and was one of its best attended. In addition to association business, the event included workshops, guest speakers and the largest ever trade show with 260 exhibitors.
A highlight of the four-day meeting included Premier Brad Wall鈥檚 address to delegates as well as the bear pit session with the Cabinet. Wall hinted that the upcoming provincial budget involves belt-tightening, something SARM members have been expecting.
The carbon tax issue was a major issue for SARM members and the membership supported the government 100 per cent in the fight against the carbon tax. Two resolutions on rural crime made waves in the media. One resolution passed with 92 per cent support 鈥渢o lobby the federal government to expand the rights and justification for an individual to defend or protect himself, herself and person under their care and property.鈥�
It was suggested in the media this resolution may have been connected to the farm shooting near Biggar last summer.
A second resolution called for SARM to 鈥渓ead a joint lobbying effort, along with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, the Saskatchewan Cattlemen鈥檚 Association and Livestock Services of Saskatchewan, to lobby the RCMP to dedicate resources to deal with agricultural related thefts.鈥�
The RCMP stressed that their job is to enforce existing laws. They ask property owners to first prevent crime by locking property and vehicles, and by getting involved in Rural Crime Watch.
