BATTLEFORDS — Whether it's the high cost of inflation, taxation or workforce needs, the Battlefords and District Chamber of Commerce says there are many issues candidates will need to grapple with in the upcoming provincial election for the northwest region, and also for the province as a whole.
Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak said it will be critical for the new government to look at what efforts help everyone, most of all.
"Prioritizing investments in health care, in education, and in infrastructure - things that help all of us, in this case, help the region," she said. "That's important. If we are going to bring in a new workforce or more people, you have to have all of those things - health care, education, infrastructure - all in place for that to happen. It's an important thing to have any new government prioritize what's important."
Machniak also stressed the need to attract more people to work in the region, and in the province generally.
"Many of the businesses in town are looking for people," she said. "Most anybody we talk to. The chamber, locally, we put in an application earlier in the summer for some additional supports in immigration specifically in the Battlefords. We know there are certain professions, we know there are key jobs that need perhaps some extra help and promotion to get some folks here. I think that's important that we help our members, and help the business community ensure that there is the workforce for them going forward. And you can talk also in the workforce about training the next generation of workforce. What needs to be done in that regard."
Machniak said there are a few issues to look at to stimulate the economy and support local businesses. But she did point out that Saskatchewan's economy is faring quite well, and is more robust than some other provinces.
"I know that the provincial chamber in their tax proposal has highlighted a couple of things specific to the economy. One is related to competitive taxes and affordable living," she said. "So, there is going to be nobody that says they haven't been impacted by the cost of inflation, the cost of goods, the affordability crisis that's happening. They talk about competitive taxes. But there are also things for the future. Investing in a better tomorrow. For food, fuel and fertilizer, and critical minerals the province has lots of.
"The challenge for any government is there are a million places for probably what are limited funds to go," Machniak added. "So, it really will be a matter of prioritizing their biggest bang for their buck to get the most done for the people in the province."
The advocate noted the chamber plans to conduct interviews with candidates for the Battlefords riding in the upcoming provincial election that will be posted online for the public to view at their convenience, to weigh in on their answers.
"The idea is we'll ask the same questions to the series of candidates, and they can answer them. The chamber is identifying those questions that they think are the most important for this riding, and that we will ask the candidates when we do that event with them," she said.
To help businesses stay competitive, Machniak believes red tape in policies and regulations can be a real roadblock. So, she'd like to see that changed.
"Any business would always tell you: There is too much red tape," she said. "Any lessening of red tape or removal of red tape, and making it easier for business to do business is probably a good thing. The government has touted their red tape reduction progress over the last number of years, but certainly, the red tape reduction can never stop."
Machniak noted the provincial chamber has stated that making improvements to transportation and infrastructure should be among the priorities for the next government, to facilitate the transportation of Saskatchewan products to market.
"Let's face it - we are land-locked," she said. "So, our farmers need to have a transportation system for the ag sector in particular for this area. There are other products across the province - people need potash moved or they need oil moved, [etc.]. But prioritizing improvements to transportation and infrastructure would be one, no doubt ... That's probably a really big one in this area. Certainly, being able to get rail, and to get our products and services to market would be something that impacts any part of the province for sure."
To respond to workforce challenges for the region, Machniak recommends the new government provide more of what's needed to bring people in.
"There [needs to be a strategy] to ensure there is training for people who want to either get into the workforce or who want to move up in the workforce," she said. "There is a whole foundational piece for education. Then, there's bringing newcomers to the province. That doesn't necessarily mean it's newcomers to Canada, it could be newcomers from other provinces. It could be facilitating people moving and ensuring there's jobs, services, housing - all of those things for people when they arrive."
For small businesses, to help give them a boost, once again Machniak said removing some of the red tape in regulations would be a help to them.
"The cost of doing business has gone up, no doubt," she said. "That certainly hurts small business. I know that the Saskatoon chamber put forward a proposal some time ago for a small- and medium-sized enterprise investment tax credit to help small businesses scale up. So, there are several things that government can do to facilitate assisting small business with hands up [looking for support]. The other thing [is] coming out of COVID, the government supported local communities in encouraging people to shop locally, at their local stores. So, that's always something that the government can do to help."
Machniak said the provincial chamber of commerce has in the past offered programs to the local chambers to get information out to people. So, she added that that's important also.
"On the workforce front, there are a whole plethora of things that could be done to support people coming," she said. "But again, there has to be a government-wide support effort, so that if you have more people coming, you have houses for them, you have health-care facilities, doctors, and educational opportunities for their children if they have children. There has to be the whole gamut there."
