Strong and Steady Saskatchewan 

As the New Year dawns across Canada, a country dealing with the uncertainty of a very serious world economic downturn, we in Saskatchewan can look back on perhaps the greatest year of growth in our province’s history and look forward to a future that I believe can be described as strong and steady.  Certainly that is our vision for the future of Saskatchewan.  We can and we must continue to make steady progress and yes - even continued growth in times of economic uncertainty. 

We are not immune to the travails of a world-wide recession.  We are not exempt from the real impacts on our energy and resource sector of dramatically reduced commodity prices and a reduced world-wide demand for Saskatchewan resources.  Lay-off notices in some Saskatchewan industries have already been issued.  We are not an exception to what is going on but we are an “asterisk.” Our economic story even during these last few tumultuous months is a different story. 
 

Consider Saskatchewan’s economic report card:

 
 
 
 

Consider the most recent job numbers from just last week.  The number of people working in Saskatchewan increased by 16,900 from December 2007 to December 2008, which is an increase of 3.4%, about seven times above the national average of 0.5%.   
 

I believe the actions our government took in the fall when I released our four point economic plan are going to help provide the stimulus and the responsible budgeting that will see us through current uncertainty, and ensure that we emerge from these times stronger than we have ever been.  Our plan includes: 

1. The largest ever single year tax reduction (retroactive to last year so both your refund and your take-home paycheque will be larger in 2009);
2. $1 billion in further debt reduction that will reduce our provincial debt by 40% in our first full budget year since becoming the government;
3. An additional $500 million in infrastructure investment on top of the historic $1 billion Ready for Growth infrastructure initiative that we will renew in the budget;
4. The maintenance of a strong balance - a rainy day fund in the Growth and Financial Security Fund that is actually a cash balance - not a line of credit as it has been in past years.

 

However, I believe we must continue to be vigilant.  That is why our government is looking at ways to accelerate investing the infrastructure commitment we have made.  The sooner municipalities, school boards and health regions can begin the work on important capital projects the sooner we will make still more progress on the infrastructure deficit in Saskatchewan.  Importantly, these projects create jobs and economic activity to help continue our economic momentum. 

Local Priorities 

Here in Swift Current, my office continues to field concerns about health care.  Health care issues in our city and across the southwest remain a priority for me as does the school capital needs of our community. 

We have begun to make progress on some important projects that were previously neglected including the Highway 1 and 4 interchange, and the real need for programming and group homes for those in our community with physical and intellectual disabilities.  However, more needs to be done in these and other areas. 

As always, I am honoured to serve as your MLA.  Please feel free to contact my office with any concerns, suggestions or requests for assistance. 

As we look towards 2009, I simply cannot conceive of a place I would rather be right now than our Saskatchewan.  We are so well-positioned to meet the challenges that will come but also to continue to pursue new opportunities that make us “the place to be in Canada”.