Emergency Services Telecommunication Program Regulations, G-5.1 Reg 82

1 EMERGENCY SERVICES TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM G-5.1 REG 82 The Emergency Services Telecommunication Program Regulations being Chapter G-5.1 Reg 82 (effective December 18, 1997) as amended by the Statutes of Saskatchewan, 2000, c.50. NOTE: This consolidation is not official. Amendments have been incorporated for convenience of reference and the original statutes and regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpretation and application of the law. In order to preserve the integrity of the original statutes and regulations, errors that may have appeared are reproduced in this consolidation. 2 EMERGENCY SERVICES G-5.1 REG 82 TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM Table of Contents 1 Title 10 Link with existing trunked communication systems 2 Interpretation 11 Centralized telecommunication equipment 3 Program established 12 Non-participating municipalities 4 Planning grant 13 Records and information 5 Approval of plan 14 Payment 6 Equipment grants 15 Overpayment 7 Towns, villages, rural municipalities, etc. 16 Reasonable costs 8 Small cities 17 Repealed 9 Transfer of equipment grants 3 EMERGENCY SERVICES TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM G-5.1 REG 82 CHAPTER G-5.1 REG 82 The Government Organization Act Title 1 These regulations may be cited as The Emergency Services Telecommunication Program Regulations. Interpretation 2 In these regulations: (a) “approved” means approved by the minister; (b) “area-wide telecommunication plan” means a plan to develop a telecommunication system to enhance the delivery of emergency response services on an area-wide or regional basis in Saskatchewan; (c) “centralized telecommunication equipment” means the communication equipment necessary to establish a fixed installation control console from which command and control of a telecommunication system is maintained; (d) “eligible costs” means the costs incurred by a municipality in implementing an approved area-wide telecommunication plan, including the costs of: (i) purchasing telecommunication equipment; and (ii) linking an existing communication system to telecommunication equipment; but does not include any costs incurred by a municipality before an area-wide telecommunication plan is approved, except with the approval of the minister; (e) “emergency response services” includes emergency response services provided by police services, ambulance services, fire departments and co- operatives, and other emergency response operations; (f) “equipment grant” means a grant made pursuant to sections 6 to 10 for the purpose of purchasing telecommunication equipment to implement an approved area-wide telecommunication plan; (g) “grant” means financial assistance in the form of a grant provided pursuant to these regulations; (h) “lead municipality” means the municipality that: (i) applies pursuant to section 4 for a planning grant on behalf of a group of participating municipalities for the purpose of preparing an area-wide telecommunication plan; and (ii) is identified in the application as the municipality designated to receive correspondence with respect to the program and planning grant payments from the minister on behalf of the participating municipalities; 4 EMERGENCY SERVICES G-5.1 REG 82 TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM (i) “minister” means the member of the Executive Council to whom for the time being the administration of these regulations is assigned; (j) “municipality” includes the portion of the City of Lloydminster that is located within Saskatchewan; (k) “participating municipality” means a municipality that is participating in an area-wide telecommunication plan; (l) “planning grant” means a grant made pursuant to section 4 for the purpose of preparing an area-wide telecommunication plan; (m) “program” means the Emergency Services Telecommunication Program established pursuant to section 3; (n) “population” means, unless otherwise determined by the minister, the population determined by the most recent census taken pursuant to the Statistics Act (Canada) that is available to the minister; (o) “purchasing” includes installing; (p) “telecommunication equipment” means: (i) the FleetNet 800 telecommunication system provided by SaskTel Mobility; or (ii) any other telecommunication system: (A) identified in an area-wide telecommunication plan; and (B) approved by the minister. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s2. Program established 3(1) The Emergency Services Telecommunication Program is established for the purpose of assisting municipalities in developing telecommunication systems to enhance the delivery of emergency response services in Saskatchewan. (2) The fiscal year of the program is the period commencing on April 1 in one year and ending on March 31 in the following year. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s3. Planning grant 4(1) A lead municipality may apply to the minister on behalf of a group of participating municipalities for a planning grant for the purpose of preparing an area-wide telecommunication plan. (2) Every application for a planning grant must: (a) be in a form acceptable to the minister; (b) be accompanied by: (i) a resolution of the council of each participating municipality to participate in developing an area-wide telecommunication plan; and (ii) an estimate of the total costs to prepare the area-wide telecommunication plan; and 5 EMERGENCY SERVICES TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM G-5.1 REG 82 (c) identify the lead municipality as the municipality designated, on behalf of the participating municipalities, to receive correspondence with respect to the program and planning grant payments from the minister. (3) On receipt of an application for a planning grant, the minister may request any additional information that the minister considers necessary to consider the application. (4) Subject to subsection (5), the minister may approve the payment of a planning grant where: (a) an applicant has: (i) applied in accordance with subsection (2); and (ii) provided any additional information requested pursuant to subsection (3); and (b) the minister is satisfied that the area represented by the participating municipalities is suitable for the implementation of an area-wide telecommunication plan. (5) The maximum amount of a planning grant is $10,000. (6) After an area-wide telecommunication plan has been prepared, the lead municipality shall submit to the minister: (a) a copy of the plan; and (b) a final statement of costs in a form acceptable to the minister, detailing the costs incurred by the participating municipalities in preparing the plan. (7) If the amount of a planning grant paid pursuant to this section is greater than the actual costs of preparing the area-wide telecommunication plan, the minister may declare the excess amount to be an overpayment to be recovered in accordance with subsection 15(1). 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s4. Approval of plan 5(1) On receipt of a copy of an area-wide telecommunication plan pursuant to subsection 4(6), the minister may approve the plan if, in the minister’s opinion: (a) the implementation of the plan will enhance the delivery of emergency response services in the area or region covered by the plan; and (b) the plan is an appropriate one to receive financial assistance. (2) Before approving an area-wide telecommunication plan, the minister may request any additional information that the minister considers necessary to consider the plan. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s5. Equipment grants 6(1) Every participating municipality may apply to the minister for an equipment grant in accordance with sections 7 to 10 for the purpose of purchasing telecommunication equipment to implement an approved area-wide telecommunication plan. 6 EMERGENCY SERVICES G-5.1 REG 82 TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM (2) Every application for an equipment grant must: (a) be in a form acceptable to the minister; and (b) be accompanied by an estimate of the total eligible costs to purchase the telecommunication equipment. (3) On receipt of an application for an equipment grant, the minister may request any additional information that the minister considers necessary to consider the application. (4) The minister may approve an equipment grant in the amount outlined in section 7, 8, 10 or 11, as the case may be. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s6. Towns, villages, rural municipalities, etc. 7 Every rural municipality, northern municipality, town, village and resort village that is participating in an approved area-wide telecommunication plan may apply for an equipment grant equal to the lesser of: (a) $3 per capita; and (b) 75% of the eligible costs of the rural municipality, northern municipality, town, village or resort village, as the case may be. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s7. Small cities 8 Every city with a population of 20,000 or less that is participating in an approved area-wide telecommunication plan may apply for an equipment grant equal to the lesser of: (a) $2 per capita; and (b) 75% of the city’s eligible costs. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s8. Transfer of equipment grants 9(1) Subject to subsection (3), on written notice to the minister, a rural municipality, northern municipality, town, village or resort village mentioned in section 7, or a city mentioned in section 8, may transfer all or any part of the equipment grant that it is eligible to receive pursuant to those sections to another participating municipality where emergency response services are shared with, co-ordinated by or provided by that other municipality. (2) Subject to subsection (3) but notwithstanding any other provision in these regulations, where the minister considers it appropriate to do so, the minister may transfer all or any part of an equipment grant mentioned in section 7 or 8 from one participating municipality to another participating municipality. (3) The total amount of an equipment grant payable to a municipality mentioned in section 7 or 8, including the amount of any grant transferred to the municipality pursuant to this section, is not to exceed 75% of the municipality’s eligible costs. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s9. 7 EMERGENCY SERVICES TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM G-5.1 REG 82 Link with existing trunked communication systems 10 Every participating municipality that has an existing trunked communication system may apply for an equipment grant in an approved amount to facilitate the linking of the existing system with the telecommunication equipment identified in the area-wide telecommunication plan, where a link between the two: (a) is required; and (b) can be accomplished at a cost that the minister considers reasonable. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s10. Centralized telecommunication equipment 11(1) Every participating municipality may apply for a grant in an approved amount to purchase centralized telecommunication equipment where the purchase of the equipment: (a) has been identified in the area-wide telecommunication plan; and (b) has been approved by the minister. (2) Section 6 applies to an application made pursuant to this section, with any necessary modification. (3) Nothing in sections 7 to 10 limits a participating municipality’s eligibility for a grant pursuant to this section. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s11. Non-participating municipalities 12 Notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations, where the minister considers it appropriate to do so, the minister may make a grant, in an approved amount, to a municipality that is not participating in an area-wide telecommunication plan for the purpose of purchasing telecommunication equipment. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s12. Records and information 13 Every municipality that receives a grant pursuant to the program shall: (a) maintain financial records that, in the opinion of the minister, represent a clear and accurate account of eligible costs; (b) at the request of the minister, provide progress reports, receipts and audited financial statements related to the area-wide telecommunication plan; (c) permit any person designated by the minister to have access to financial records to verify costs of the area-wide telecommunication plan, including all equipment purchases; (d) notify the minister of any changes in circumstances that might affect: (i) the municipality’s continued eligibility for the grant; or (ii) the amount of the grant; and (e) submit a final statement of costs in a form acceptable to the minister. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s13. 8 EMERGENCY SERVICES G-5.1 REG 82 TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM Payment 14 The minister may make a grant payment pursuant to the program in the manner and at the time determined by the minister. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s14. Overpayment 15(1) Where, for any reason, a municipality receives an overpayment pursuant to the program, the amount of the overpayment is a debt due to the Crown in right of Saskatchewan and may be recovered: (a) in any manner authorized by The Financial Administration Act, 1993; or (b) in any other manner authorized by law. (2) The minister may declare all or any part of a grant to be an overpayment where a municipality: (a) uses the grant or any part of it for a purpose other than the purpose for which it was approved; (b) does not use the grant for the purpose for which it was approved within three years of receiving the grant; or (c) contravenes a provision of these regulations. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s15. Reasonable costs 16 Notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations, no grant is payable pursuant to the program unless the minister is satisfied that the costs claimed by a municipality are reasonable. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s16. 17 Repealed. 2000, c.50, s.40. Coming into force 18 These regulations come to force on the day on which they are filed with the Registrar of Regulations. 2 Jan 98 cG-5.1 Reg 82 s18. REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN Printed by the authority of THE QUEEN’S PRINTER Copyright©2000