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“This work will help guide us in discussions with partners and stakeholders going forward.”

Saskatoon city council unanimously endorsed sending a message to the provincial government in June that urged the province to maintain its funding for the agency.

The MVA was established in 1979 as an independent agency funded by the province, city and U of S to help guide development and conservation in the South Saskatchewan River valley in Saskatoon.

Supporters have argued that the MVA’s independent status allows it to attract private donations for trail maintenance and expansion that would disappear if it became another branch of Saskatoon’s municipal government.

The provincial government cut funding to five urban parks in its June budget and Finance Minister Kevin Doherty said the province will review its funding for the remaining two parks.

In addition to the MVA, the province helps fund the Wascana Centre Authority in Regina, which operates using a similar funding model.

Cheveldayoff will meet with representatives of the city and university “in the near future to continue the discussion and review,” according to Webb. She added there is no “precise timeline” for the review.

Lloyd Isaak, the MVA’s chief executive officer, said he had not heard from the province on how the review will proceed.

The province duplicated its funding from the 2015-16 budget with $740,000 in this year’s budget. However, even with the maintained funding, the MVA was forced to close its interpretative centre on July 1 because its $3.5-million budget could not cover all of its growing expenses.

ptank@postmedia.com

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