Municipal Governance

Why is Municipal Government Important?

There is no level of government that affects our day-to-day lives more than municipal government or as some people refer to it as "local government". You don't have to leave your home to utilize municipal services such as treated water, electricity, sewage, and garbage pickup, not to mention other important services like police, fire, recreation, roads, libraries, and art galleries.

When the ward system was introduced, it brought local government representation virtually into our neighbourhoods. It is as close as the voter comes to interacting with their ward representative who sits on city council.

Participating in the democratic process is a responsibility we all have at any level of government. However, in a local government election, it is truly a grassroots experience. A low voter turnout sends a very negative message to a council which requires the confidence and mandate to make important decisions on critical issues and expenditures facing the city.

Saskatoon is fast becoming a sophisticated city that interacts with players on the international stage. Selecting our best leaders to perform this task is up to the electorate.