Bill 43: The Municipalities Modernization and Red Tape Reduction Act

This bill primarily affects businesses and property owners in Saskatchewan who interact with municipal governments — particularly those in the oil and gas, mining, and resource extraction industries, who now face new annual reporting requirements to municipal assessors about their equipment and operations, and who may be subject to updated tax collection enforcement if they purchase oil or gas from operators with unpaid municipal taxes. Property owners across the province who file assessment appeals will find new procedural changes affecting how and when they must submit documents, discuss matters with assessors, and attend hearings. Animal owners, including those running kennels or farms, face updated dangerous animal rules that can follow an animal to any new municipality in Saskatchewan. Businesses of all sizes operating within any Saskatchewan municipality will benefit from improved online access to bylaws, council minutes, financial statements, and contracts, which may make due diligence and regulatory research easier and less costly.