REGINA - The provincial government is touting good news for the Saskatchewan economy in the latest numbers coming from Statistics Canada.
Numbers released Wednesday saw wholesale trade go up to $7.2 billion, a 70.5 per cent increase compared to June 2022 (seasonally adjusted).
A news release from the province pointed to these numbers building on 2022 numbers which saw exports to the U.S.A. hit a record $29.3 billion, while the province's GDP growth was up 5.7 per cent from 2021 to 2022, the highest in Canada that year.
"Wholesale trade growth is a key element to ensuring the province's economy continues to grow," Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a statement. "Today's increase is further proof that Saskatchewan has the food, fuel and fertilizer that the world needs."
The province also pointed to Stats Can numbers showing the value of housing starts in the province, increasing 50.7 per cent from July 2022 to July 2023. This was the second highest growth amoung provinces in the nation..
"When you look at Saskatchewan, you see a robust economy that inspires people from around the world to call our province home in record numbers," Harrison said in a statement. "These numbers are further proof that Saskatchewan remains the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
The news releases touting some positive economic numbers for Saskatchewan came out the same day that the opposition NDP sounded the alarm on the economic situation facing the province’s producers. They issued a news release calling on the provincial and federal governments to deliver drought relief.
“We’ve been listening to and working with producers whose herds will be decimated and might not survive this ongoing disaster unless both levels of government step up urgently,” Official Opposition Agriculture Critic Trent Wotherspoon said in a statement. “This is the worst drought in decades for those in the severe drought regions, and there’s no question that aid for livestock producers is needed now.”
