NORTH BATTLEFORD ‑ It was a more memorable than usual post-budget luncheon for Finance Minister Donna Harpauer in the Battlefords Friday.
It was the first time the Battlefords and District Chamber of Commerce has hosted the event in three years.
The last one was in late March, 2019, when Harpauer presented a balanced budget.
The province’s finances went downhill a year later, as the spending taps were turned on to deal with the impacts of COVID-19 in 2020. The 2020 budget presentation itself was delayed to later in the year due to the crisis.
With COVID-19 restrictions imposed, Harpauer curtailed public events surrounding the 2020 and 2021 budgets, resulting in the cancellation of the traditional post-budget luncheons in the Battlefords.
This year, with the lifting of restrictions, the event was back on with Harpauer speaking before about 40 guests at Porta Bella Restaurant.
“It was very refreshing to have an opportunity not only to have her in the Battlefords, but have a group of members there to engage with her and hear her message,” said Battlefords Chamber COO Linda Machniak.
Harpauer’s presentation focused on the government’s efforts to get back to balance by 2026-27. Machniak also noted the minister had come prepared with some facts and examples relevant to the Battlefords, such as twinning on Highway 4.
“She talked about how much additional monies in certain areas specific to the Battlefords (to) highlight some of those things,” Machniak said.
The minister also took questions, which Machniak said focused on health care, highway and other areas.
As for the chamber’s reaction to the budget, she noted the Saskatchewan Chamber has seen the potential for the province to balance the budget sooner than planned as positive news. There were also positives seen in the overall economic numbers.
“Our net debt to GDP is the second lowest in the country, our credit rating remains the second highest. Our job growth rate is the highest, I think, in Canada right now so there’s lots of really positive signs.”
Machniak noted that one item Harpauer spoke about was the boost of an additional $8 million to Creative Saskatchewan.
“To be able to get access to that money the groups have to hire Saskatchewan people. That is a requirement to have a Saskatchewan connection to that to be able to access those funds so that’s positive,” said Machniak.
Machniak also was happy with the news that the soundstage in Regina is going to be named for one of her colleagues, John Hopkins, the longtime CEO of Regina and District Chamber of Commerce who died of cancer recently.
“I know for all of us who know and loved John, we are really proud to see that for all his efforts in Regina and across the province to make us better.”
