Food delivery company Skip the Dishes was supposed to receive $3 million from the provincial government to create jobs, but that’s not the case anymore.
During a follow up on the agreement, officials from the Ministry of the Economy found the company wasn’t meeting hiring and space acquisition conditions set out in the contract. This caused Minister Jeremy Harrison to cancel the agreement.
The plan was for Skip the Dishes to set up a corporate office in Saskatoon and create 300 technology sector jobs.
“There was not one cent that was transferred,” Harrison said.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan to pick up $3 million tab for Skip The Dishes job training
The company did receive a $750,000 cheque from the province as an advance to help secure property, but it was never cashed according to Harrison.
The $3 million now goes back into the province’s general revenue fund.
Back in April, when the initial announcement was made, Premier Brad Wall said the government would no longer be able to give the same kind of training allowances due to provincial finance constraints.
Harrison said that is still the case, and pointed to the Canada Job Grant as a program that can provide a similar service.
Part of the government’s reasoning in their initial agreement with Skip the Dishes was to establish jobs in Saskatchewan for a growing tech sector. Despite the contract cancellation, Harrison said the province is still interested in helping that sector grow.
“We’ve been doing some work at Innovation Saskatchewan in terms of how we can partner with start-ups particularly. I think there is real opportunity there,” he said.
Skip The Dishes allows users to order take-out from local restaurants via their website or app, and the company provides drivers to deliver the orders.
Comments