Premier Scott Moe delivered a speech to business leaders in Saskatoon today.
Moe spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce at Prairieland Park, saying the province’s resource industry, including potash and uranium, is proving essential in Saskatchewan and abroad.
His comments come ahead of Wednesday’s speech from the throne, when the Saskatchewan Party government is to lay out its agenda as it predicts a balanced budget driven by a windfall of resource revenues.
The government plans to introduce legislation ensuring jurisdiction over Saskatchewan’s resources.
“We’re seeing investment poured into Saskatchewan in many numbers of industries and we’re appreciative of that,” said Moe.
“That does create jobs and we want to ensure that we as a province are fulfilling our right that we have within the constitution to develop the natural resources that we are so blessed with in Saskatchewan.”
Moe aims to increase immigration numbers to remedy the current labour demand.
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“Our employment rate in this province is now at 4.1%. That is the lowest in the nation of Canada, and the truth is in this province is we’re not short of jobs, we’re short of people.” Moe said in his speech.
Moe says the job vacancy rate is up 33% year-to-year and has increased for 24 consecutive months.
He also says the province has an immigration cap of about 6000 provincial applicants, under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Process.
“The provincial selection number should be closer to 13,000 nominees a year, that is what we’ve asked for.” said Moe
“I would say in addition to wanting a larger number, a larger cap, we’ve also noticed the process to bring people here and accredit them is simply taking too long.”
Moe also cited how climate change policies have impacted the European Union (EU), saying Saskatchewan should be developing and providing the product it has.
“In Europe what they did to replace those energy needs was they bought their natural gas, their oil, and their coal from Russia, and they continue too today. We are heading down that same policy path here in Canada and I’m putting forward that we shouldn’t.”
The event follows the official opposition’s convention this past weekend.
NDP Leader, Carla Beck, addressed her how party plans to address concern over jobs, affordability, and health care. The ladder being the number one priority.
A news-release from the Saskatchewan Government Monday morning says the Saskatchewan Health Human Resources Action Plan is already showing progress towards recruiting, training, incentivizing, and retaining stff in the health care industry.
It says the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has received more than 3,500 applications for the positions the province is looking to recruit to from the Philippines.
It also says as of September, 150 new training seats were introduced and successful implemented.
The release also states applications are now open for the new incentive program of up to $50,000 over three years for a return-of-service agreement to attract new employees to targeted positions in rural and remote areas which will benefit up to 115 new healthcare workers.
“By offering competitive incentive packages and focusing on key recruitment and retention practices, including for First Nations and Métis citizens, we will be able to attract more health professionals to practice in communities where they are most needed.” said Everett Hindley, the Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister.
Overall, the government plans to invest $60-million and add more than 1000 professionals into the health care system over the next few years.
“The only way that you can do that is by having a strong and growing economy so that you can re-invest not only in the infrastructure but ultimately the people that are offering our services.” said Moe.
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