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The association representing Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities continues to oppose amalgamation, even as rural populations dwindle and its members work to save money in the face of an expected decline in provincial revenue sharing funds next year.

Voluntary collaboration on infrastructure and maintenance projects remains a more effective tool than forced amalgamation in terms of reducing costs, said Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) president Ray Orb.

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“A number of years ago there was a big push from the previous government to force (amalgamation), and I think rural people just simply weren’t able to stand for that, and I don’t think that our members would stand for that now,” Orb said.

SARM does not expect the provincial government to bring up amalgamation at its annual convention, which opens Tuesday in Saskatoon, Orb said. However, Saskatchewan’s financial situation will be top of mind for many of the roughly 2,000 attendees, he said.