A new strategy by the federal government to protect the woodland caribou was a hot topic at this week’s SUMA meeting in Regina.

The strategy has been panned by mining groups as one that could effectively shut down economic and social development in northern Saskatchewan.

La Ronge mayor Thomas Sierzycki says he received assurances that the provincial government is lobbying to have the strategy changed.

Sierzycki says cabinet ministers told him not to be concerned about the issue, and that the province has a plan to deal with the proposed recovery strategy.

He says he also talked with other mayors about the current freeze on lake property leases.

Sierzycki raised that issue at last year’s meeting, and says he was told the government is still looking at it.