Shellbrook www.shellbrookchronicle.com VOLUME 101
Chronicle
The Voice Of The Parkland Since 1912 SHELLBROOK, SASKATCHEWAN
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012
PMR #40007604 No. 12
Government tables balanced budget
Nearly six months after being elected to a second term, the Sask Party government tabled a budget featuring a slight increase in spending, a transfer to the provinces rainy day fund along with a few areas where funding was cut. Finance Minister Ken Krawetz tabled the budget Wednesday stating that it improves access to health care and makes life more affordable for Saskatchewan citizens while ensuring spending on government services remains affordable and sustainable. Krawetz said the budget keeps government promises made in the recent provincial election campaign and focuses on keeping the Saskatchewan Advantage of sound fiscal management, sustainable spending and a strong economy. “The Saskatchewan Advantage is real,” Krawetz said. “The people of Saskatchewan have worked hard to make the gains that have made life better for everyone, and we want to ensure that they keep those benefits.” The 2012-13 Budget posts a pretransfer surplus of $95 million in the General Revenue Fund and a surplus of $15 million in the Summary Financial Statements, which take into account all government operations, including the Crown corporations. The Growth and Financial Security Fund is forecasted to finish the year with a balance of $756.4 million – money that can be used to deal with emergencies and unforeseen expenses, if necessary. Revenue for 2012-13 is forecasted to be $11.29 billion, while expense is expected to be $11.2 billion, up by 4.7 per cent over last year. This is consistent with the plan outlined in the 2011-12 budget and in the government’s recent election platform. “This budget provides funding for health care, education, highways, assistance to those in need and many other services to improve our quality of life in Saskatchewan,” Krawetz said. “While government has a responsibility to provide these important services, it also has a responsibility to live within its means, to balance the budget and to ensure our programs for people are sustainable. Meanwhile, as previously announced, funding for the provincial Enterprise Regions is winding down and as a result Enterprise Saskatchewan will save $4.0 million in this current budget year. The Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations is also ending its $800,000 in funding for the Northern Enterprise Region program. Once the programs are fully phased out, the approximate savings for taxpayers will be a total of $6.8 million. Continued on page 2
Rosthern Shellbrook MLA Scott Moe and Sask Rivers MLA Nadine Wilson flank Premier Brad Wall at a fund raising dinner at Prince Alberrt’s Art Hausr Centre March 15.
Former Shellbrook Ec Dev consultant speaks at Chamber of Commerce luncheon Former Shellbrook Economic Development consultant Doug Eddy was the keynote speaker at the March 15 Shellbrook Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Eddy is currently on his third stint with the Buffalo Narrows Economic Development Corporation (BNEDC) after attempting to retire twice. He said that economic development is an important part of community building, both of which require serious planning. “It is silly to build a house half way and then walk away from it because the plan is to complete a house and to live in it,” said Eddy. “In a community, you plan to build it and make it grow and live in it.” The key is to take stock of the region’s assets and shortcomings and develop a strategy based on that. From that, a community can plan where they want to be in a year, five years or 25 years. “It depends on the emphasis you place on where you want to take your community,” said Eddy
Through the presentation he outlined the projects undertaken by BNEDC and their subsequent benefits. Over the last 10 year, the for profit corporation has forged partnerships to become shareholders of companies like Northern Resource Trucking, Northwest Communities Wood Products and North West Fabricators. With profits made through their various dealings the corporation was able to construct an $8.5 million town centre that houses the Keewatin Yathe Health District offices, an Innovation Credit Union Branch a Northern store and a Tim Hortons franchise. A key to the growth of the BNEDC has been identifying what the community and the region has to offer industry and turning that into partnerships that have resulted in multiple streams of revenue. Through their Mamawi Partnership, which includes nine other northern communities, the corporation is able to create partnerships with southern companies looking for preferred bidding status on
jobs in the mining sector. Because some companies operating in the north will give preferred bidding status to companies from the north, southern companies are forming partnerships with Mamawi in an effort to help themselves get these jobs. With no capital input, Mamawi gets a 51% share in the newly formed company and is able to provide jobs to northern residents. Getting the ball rolling on a partnership can be as simple as owning a piece of land that may be of use or being able to provide a service that others may not be able to provide. He noted that many northern communities have full time economic development officers but there are many different scales of economic development. “Everything from putting in a small convenience store to putting in a 500 job manufacturing plant is economic development,” said Eddy. “Not everything is powered by industry it can be that small little needed item like a barber or a hair dresser that is economic development.”