Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill was one of the guest speakers at the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce online event this week. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Encouragement for business

Local MLAs give update on vaccines, state of economy at Battlefords chamber ceremony

Feb 11, 2021 | 11:12 AM

The keynote speakers at the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce chair’s induction held virtually this week offered some updates on the current state of the economy in the province, as well as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Looking at the economy, guest speaker and Battlefords MLA, Jeremy Cockrill, said based on the latest labour force numbers, while Canada lost over 200,000 jobs in January, in the same month Saskatchewan added just over 2,000 jobs.

Saskatchewan now has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, he said, and as of January 76 per cent of small businesses in Saskatchewan have reopened, the second-highest among the provinces. The national average is only 47 per cent.

“We know that for our neighbouring provinces, it’s a different picture in some of those communities than what we are seeing here in Saskatchewan,” Cockrill said. “There has no doubt been some criticism around our government’s decisions to keep the economy as open as possible. But we do believe that that is one of the factors that will allow us to emerge economically from COVID at a faster rate than other jurisdictions in Canada.”

Focusing on the Battlefords, he said over the last year, some businesses have closed or had to curtail operations due to the pandemic, but he hopes they can re-emerge at some point in the future. He said some businesses on the other hand had a record year, with many feeling “a little embarrassed by their success in a difficult year.” He encouraged the business community to celebrate its successes.

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“Having businesses in our community succeed is going to help attract entrepreneurs and new investments to the Battlefords,” Cockrill said. “As a community, we need to continue to sharpen our message about the Battlefords being both a great place to do business and a great place to live.”

Cockrill also addressed the difficulty of getting COVID-19 cases in the province under control recently. The supply of vaccines has unfortunately been, “rather disappointing thus far,” he said, but the Saskatchewan Health Authority has still done a “fantastic job” with the vaccine doses that were received. Plans are now being established so when there are vaccines available for larger numbers in Phase 2, the rollout is ready to go.

When he addressed the chamber in a pre-recorded message, Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan minister of trade and export development and minister of immigration and career training, took the opportunity to welcome the new chair Melanie Roberts of North West College. He also recognized outgoing chair Harris Sutherland of the Gold Eagle Casino for his service to his community.

“As we wish him well, we acknowledge the history he has made as the first Indigenous person to hold this important position,” he said.

On the province’s ongoing COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Harrison said even as the vaccines are becoming available “it will still take some time before enough of the general population has been vaccinated for us to return to normal life. I know that we are all looking forward to it.”

Various support programs are available for local businesses, he said, including the Strong Recovery Adaptation Rebate, the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment Program, and the Reopen Saskatchewan Training Subsidy. The Together We Stand campaign is also available to encourage people across the province to support their local businesses, he said.

“I know these supports have not solved all the challenges you have faced, but I do hope they have helped,” he said.

Looking ahead, Harrison said the province’s 2021-22 budget will be tabled in the spring, and “will be designed to see Saskatchewan through the rest of the pandemic and into a strong economic recovery as we get more of our population vaccinated and life begins to return to normal.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW