What is the Municipal Government Board and what is its role in an annexation?

The Saskatchewan Municipal Board (SMB) hears and decides intermunicipal disputes that arise from the alteration or restructuring of municipalities.

The Municipal Boundary Committee of the SMB reviews applications to alter municipal boundaries and amalgamate municipalities when there is no complementary resolution from the affected municipality(s) or when requested by the Minister. The committee is composed of full-time members of the board as well as part-time members who are nominated by the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities.

When the SMB receives an application directly the committee may decide to hold a public hearing to hear and decide the matter in dispute. If the SMB receives the application from the Minister it must conduct a hearing.

The committee’s role is to:

• hear and decide applications within four months from the time an application is complete;
• provide information for municipalities and the public regarding the application process and the policies and procedures of the committee.