With MLA Everett Hindley to discuss key items from the October 27 Throne Speech

In attendance: Kara Thompson, Stacey Wiens, Chief Executive Officer, Brent White, Travis Cuthbert, David Keast, Blair Clark, Kimi Duzan, Everett Hindley, Nathan MacDonald, Chad MacLeod, Jackie Schlamp, Al Bridal, Ryan Switzer

Throne speech comes out to kick off the Legislature in the fall, sets the tone for Government work going forward. 25 page document available on the Government of Sask website.

Sitting until December 9/10 – much debate recently has been over COVID management.

Economic highlights

1. Sask Value-Added Agriculture incentive
2. Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation
3. Sustainable Sask brand – promote what it is that we grow and raise and do in this province. As the previous legislative secretary for Trade & Export Development, Everett had direct involvement in spearheading this initiative. This will promote us further internationally. Trade offices soon to be numbered at 6, for years we relied on the Feds to promote our “brand”.

Crime reduction

Particularly focused on rural areas

Mental Health & Addictions

458 million investment to a number of initiatives, 150 new addictions spaces over the next 3 years

Independence of Sask

Fed equalization trigger changes, autonomous items such as collecting Corp. taxes and creation of provincial police force. Questions posed to Mr. Hindley:

1. How is the Gov. of SK looking at streamlining approval processes? Red Tape reduction committee has a number of MLAs to review. Goal is to identify common themes for various organizations. We have lost major projects due to excessive reg’s, want to be able to compete. Website available: Red Tape Reduction. The competitive environment is increasing.
2. Does the Fed Gov’t have a red tape reduction committee? Unsure, but they should.
3. Trade & Export reps in various countries, is this a STEP initiative? No, they do many on their own. This is a direct Ministry of Trade & Export development initiative. Until recently only 1 trade office in Shanghai in 2009. Rep in China F/T, next year expanding to Japan, India and Singapore.
4. What is the Gov of SK response to Liberal language re: GOP 2026. We have huge numbers of oil & gas workers and GDP generated here. Our standards in the energy industry for western Can are the best in the world. Gov of SK will continue to support our energy industry, which is becoming more difficult. As options continue to be limited (we do not have hydro here like Quebec) our best shot may be small modular reactors (SMR’s) along with some wind, solar. Aggressively pursuing more SMR options. Plans for re-skilling energy workers – funding set aside for transition training. Still many questions re: # of reactors, how to shift SK and that portion of the workforce?
5. RCMP costs – huge increase coming. City of SC will have major cost increase coming, which will flow down to the taxpayer. What is the Gov of SK doing to alleviate? Budget wise how much will the backpay cost taxpayers? Going forward, in the past a provincial force did not make sense. Is it starting to now? Investigation is underway. This is still early on in the discussions, but it is definitely time to have them.
6. Supply chains being broken, food costs increasing, inflation increasing…for next year is there a lot of lending on the horizon for the province? Mid-term financial report comes out mid- November. The Ag side is looking terrible. Overall, we are looking good compared to other provinces. Gov of SK wants to avoid debt as much as possible, and focus on improvement. Potash, oil prices are all looking positive and part of our growth plan is value added within Saskatchewan. Economically we are still in pretty good shape, and will watch spending.
7. COVID reg’s – Why have some industries been singled out and not others? For example: restaurants mandated to provide proof of vaccination/negative test but not retail or others for entry? Recommendations from Chief Medical Officer – trying to balance recommendations with balance needed from general/business community. Basics of transmission – point back to highest spread is when gathering to eat/drink. No decisions are perfect, trying to find a balance 80% vaccination rate in SK now Numbers are not known at this point what % vax is needed to lift reg’s. Wind down plan? Don’t’ expect restrictions to lift over the winter. Plan will be put together. It will be determined by ICU beds. Pandemic to endemic transition– Gov is working on how to handle going forward. ICU beds under heavy scrutiny, how many more beds AND staff needed??
8. Workforce – where do people get staff? Where are they? Collecting CERB? Some are CERB, some healthcare and other workers going b/c of Vax mandates, some are retiring and throwing hands in the air – not enough young people to fill the gap. Many took early retirement. How to increase number of training seats, however this is not an immediate solution. Recruiting missions considered to “import” trained workers to Saskatchewan.
9. Mental Health/wellbeing – hugely important and many thanks to Gov of SK. Appreciation extended. This is tough for all – prevention is key and providing supports in a timely fashion. Record investments being made into mental health and addictions supports, more harm reduction initiatives, more treatment spaces, more programming aimed at early intervention to help

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In attendance: Shaun Hanna, Vim Parmar, Chief Executive Officer, Al Bridal, Marty Salberg

1. Ambassador program – designed to assist and expand economic development for the City of SC and our region. We can all champion the benefits of investing in our community, and Marty has packages ready to send to interested parties. There have been many recent land inquiries as of late. Please forward any and all inquiries to Marty Salberg m.salberg@swiftcurrent.ca
2. Kudo’s to the City of SC – sale of the G3 Grain terminal site to generate some revenue, and also the plan to address the land around Catholic Church will be very welcome by the taxpayers of Swift Current. The City of SC and RM of SC have developed a strong working relationship to benefit all parties.
3. $990,000 COVID-19 Re-start funding has been distributed to several local organizations – SC Ag & Ex, The Lyric, etc. The pathway paving program in the City and the Creek stabilization projects are also underway.
4. Property assessment – Mayor Bridal plans to ask City admin to add previous year assessment on the notices for easier comparison. If assessment goes up, it is likely property taxes will too.
5. The intersection by Home Hardware and Bumper to Bumper is scheduled for completion next week, power lines are also being buried.
6. Overpass at Highway #4 heading south – will not be completed with City funds, this would be a Ministry of Highways funded project. City of SC residents have an overpass on 2nd Avenue to utilize. Ministry of Highways transportation study is in the works, has not been done for many years.
7. St. Joseph’s school site – Syd Tams is the developer building 20 single family dwelling and 4 – 4plex units. The goal is to provide affordable housing. Sale price of < $300,000 results in $8000 rebate to Syd. Sale price of > $300,000 results in a tax incentive program provided to the purchaser.
8. When new projects are proposed, a list of local suppliers for: fabricating, welding, plumbing, construction, etc. etc. to be provided. Karla will provide list of Chamber members.
9. Newcomer Orientation and Small Business Checklists have been developed by the Chamber and translated to 8 languages. Will provide to City of SC in electronic format to utilize.

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1. COVID-19 Vaccines – 2 new approved recently in Canada, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson

• – Feds expect an increase in Pfizer/Moderna shipments to Canada
• – Delay between 1st and 2nd doses approved (4 months between 1st and 2nd dose)
• – Target date of June for all Saskatchewan residents to have received 1st dose
• – Online booking system to be launched soon for vaccinations
• – Pharmacies coming online soon and will book appointments

2. Restrictions – Premier Moe indicated household to be relaxed next week likely

• – Soon need to make decisions on long term care as they will soon have had 2nd vaccination doses

3. Testing clinics – recent call by SHA for employees indicated 2 year time frame. Perhaps due to new variants and increased transmission rates testing will continue this long.

4. VIDO-Intervac – Gov’t of SK has some funds set aside to ramp up to Level 4 facility to manufacture vaccines locally. Federal funding requested. COVID vaccinations could be annual/semi-annual going forward, the provincial government is focused on domestic supply.

5. Rapid testing – why has this not been used as perhaps it could have been? Delays primarily due to resources: lab capacity, training for proper usage, legislation required. Kits and testing have been focused primarily on outbreak locations with care homes being priority to protect most vulnerable to the virus. The expansion of rapid testing will ramp up soon.

6. Re-opening the economy – Saskatchewan has the worst case counts in Canada per 100,000 but regionally we are doing very well. Potential for soft re-open except in “hot spots”. If SK has 1st vaccine dose by June 1 there is a very big appetite for large events to commence.

7. April 6 is Provincial Budget day

8. SCCHS – end of March opening 5 days/week. This is not province wide and is at discretion of local school divisions. After spring break parents and students indicated desire to return to school full time.

9. Sports teams – WHL bubble in progress. What about minor sports programs? Outdoor sports have decreased rates of transmission (soccer, ball, etc.). Conversations started with 57’s and will look to expand.

10. Online Health Services – the pandemic forced virtual/phone options, and it is beneficial to keep going for some requirements such as prescription refills. Ministry of Health traditionally is cautious to make changes which creates delays. Virtual billing codes are in place, and some federal funding is expected to promote/support virtual care going forward.

11.Sponsorship – how to encourage small business going forward. Perhaps an enhanced tax credit? Everett will put forth the idea.

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1. Discussed the February e-newsletter items briefly
2. CEBA – better now that eligibility requirements have been straightened out
3. CEWS – extended until June 2021, CERB doesnt have a specific deadline.
4. SWSask – service industry hit very hard by the pandemic. Federal aid programs have been good to keep business going.
5. Ongoing discussions re: Firearms, Criminal Code, Bill C-7
6. AstraZeneca briefing occurring this afternoon – this vaccine appropriate for younger age groups
7. Federal program wrap up dates – most September 2021. If programs are extended this requires vote in parliament, which means there may be some type of summer session to accommodate.
8. Question raised re: protection of French language for Federal businesses (ie: Banks). What are the details and implications for Western Canada? The Fed Government intends to guarantee the right to work in French in all federally regulated private businesses with more than 50 employees in Quebec, and in predominantly French-speaking communities across Canada. So wouldn’t have implications for banks in rural SK.
9. NAV Canada review of Regina Airport Authority – this was not based on COVID-19 and decreased traffic but has certainly been amp’d up. Chambers across the province signed letters of support to retain the air traffic control tower and submitted to Ottawa, we will do our best to spread the word. Far reaching implication for South Sask business to lose that at our International airport.
10. Rapid testing – Fed gov’t gave to the provinces and not great uptake, why? Some provinces flat out do not want to use rapid test kits and prefer PCR, it is disappointing when people in positions of power say no to available options.
11. Ivermectin – potentially preventative treatment to decrease death rate. Therapeutics being researched in addition to vaccines.
12. Canada-US relations committee – newly formed 2 weeks ago by the Conservatives. The goal is to decrease red tape, and focus on energy and trade
13. Supply issues – in some industries when the retailers are failing, causes the manufacturers to produce less, which in turn causes less supply.
14. More focus on support local/Canadian made
15. Reasoning for decisions made thus far – reports coming soon as to the WHY
16. Parliament – when back to normal sitting? Hopefully this fall. Currently facial recognition system to cast votes. Canada by far is one of the most restricted countries for #’s sitting in person in parliament. Jeremy put forth an excellent suggestion to lead by example – rapid test all MP’s prior to entering the House of Commons.
17. VIDO-Intervac – more federal funding requested. By 2022 – 40 million doses/year capacity increase approved which should have been prioritized spring of 2020

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