A new partnership between the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy will allow for the hiring of a researcher with a background in municipal governance and finance.

The two parties are signing a Memorandum of Understanding today. Through the agreement, the goal is to create a larger pool of sustainability-based research from which both organizations can benefit from, as well as equip municipalities with knowledge founded in data.

SUMA intends to hire Dr. Stephanie Ortynsky for the role. She will start her term with SUMA and JSGS by identifying best practices in inter-municipal cooperation to advance sustainability in the province.

The post-doctoral position is funded by Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization that aims to help Canadian economies grow through innovation.