The City of Prince Albert is weighing its legal options after losing $2.4 million in government funding.

On March 22, the provincial government discontinued the SaskPower and SaskEnergy grants in lieu of taxes to municipalities, but city councillors say the government has a legal obligation to continue the program.

“When you have a hit given to us the way we did, for $2.4 million, I think it’s necessary that we take some action,” said Ward 4 Coun. Don Cody. “I think it was only reasonable that we bring it to the attention of our taxpayers that we have had a bomb dropped on us.”

During Monday’s city council meeting, Cody brought forward a motion calling on city administrators to “pursue appropriate legal measures, in coordination with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) and others affected in the municipal sector.”

The motion passed unanimously.

There is no timeline for when the city will begin legal action, if at all, but Mayor Greg Dionne said they wanted to begin as soon as possible.

For the rest of this story, please see the March 29 online or print edition of the Daily Herald.