Sask. gov’t launches new growth plan, targets population, jobs and exports

Premier Scott Moe has a blueprint for the province over the next decade.

On Thursday, his government released Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan: The Next Decade of Growth 2020.

“Our province has seen unprecedented growth since 2007 and this plan sets the stage for a strong, innovative economy that will drive that growth over the next decade,” Moe said in a media release accompanying the plan.

“Our government has always maintained that growth itself is not the goal; rather, growth will afford the ability to invest in a better quality of life for Saskatchewan families and communities. That is the purpose of growth.”

The road map includes 30 goals for 2030, including key targets of a population of 1.4 million people, 100,000 new jobs, increasing the value of exports by 50 per cent and increasing agriculture value-added revenue to $10 billion.

In addition, other goals for 2030 include:

• Growing agri-food exports to $20 billion;
• Annual private capital investment of $16 billion;
• $9 billion in potash sales;
• Increase oil production to 600,000 barrels per day;
• Tripling the growth of Saskatchewan’s technology sector;
• Building and upgrading 10,000 kilometres of highways;
• Supporting communities through $2.5 billion in revenue sharing; and
• Reducing surgical wait times to a three-month target.

“There are some aggressive targets in here,” Moe told reporters after delivering his speech.

The government is also putting its focus outside Saskatchewan’s borders.

It plans to establish three new international trade and investment offices in Japan, India and Singapore. It is hoped these offices will increase exports, attract more investment to the province and strengthen key trading partners.

“We can have an impact on our trade relationships with the 150-plus countries that we work with each and every year,” Moe said when discussing the trade offices.

“We can have an impact on them buying some more products from Saskatchewan. That is why you see in this plan a very targeted initiative in expanding our opportunity to expand those trade relationships.”

To assist it, the government has hired global affairs firm Harper and Associates, operated by former prime minister Stephen Harper.

“He’ll be providing us with guidance on how to engage in some of the markets, most particularly the Asian market,” Moe said.

The value of the contract is $240,000.

Two new tax changes are built into the growth plan. One is an agricultural technology incentive that is hoped will spur the application of what the government calls “emerging digital technologies” and attract such companies to the province.

The other incentive is aimed at encouraging investment in Saskatchewan’s chemical fertilizer sector.

The government also plans to reinstate the Provincial Sales Tax exemption for exploratory and downhole drilling activity.

“We need to keep (taxes) competitive with other jurisdictions so that we’re able to attract investment here, attract investment into our industry so that we can provide jobs here,” Moe said. “That is a relative factor, not only to other provinces but to other areas around the world.”

Infrastructure also gets a nod with the government planning to invest $30 billion over the next decade. Specifically, the money is targeted for transportation infrastructure, investing in cellular and broadband infrastructure and building Saskatchewan’s export infrastructure.

The new Growth Plan includes 20 actions for the 2020s to ensure the province remains on track to accomplish the goals listed.

These include:

• Keeping the province’s finance’s strong and the budget balanced;
• Growing the population by keeping more young people and increasing immigration to the province;
• Maintaining a competitive tax environment;
• Delivering on Saskatchewan’s climate change plan to reduce carbon emissions;
• Reducing carbon emissions in electrical production and advancing the development of zero-emission small modular reactor technology using Saskatchewan uranium;
• Growing Indigenous participation in the economy through the growth of Saskatchewan’s natural resource industries and labour market development; and,
• Building strong communities by investing in infrastructure.

“Our province is blessed with the abundant natural resources, innovative industries and hard-working people necessary to continue our growth to 2030 and beyond,” Moe said in the release. “Through this plan we will build a stronger Saskatchewan that is home to a strong economy, strong communities and strong families.”

You can see the government’s plan for growth here.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker