Tourism And Cultural Industries

One of the province's fastest-growing economic activities and opportunities

Tourist expenditures alone generate about $1-billion in revenue annually

The reputations of the artists, the advancements of the cultural institutions, and the charm and quality of the tourism attractions create rich opportunities for developments that draw people from around the world

In addition to the many parks and attractions, a complete range of facilities and venues:

a bustling, varied restaurant and hotel industry

large special-event venues, including Regina Exhibition Park, with the second largest exhibit space in Canada

performing arts facilities

Many friendly, small businesses offer unique vacation experiences such as:
- farm vacations
- fishing and hunting
- aboriginal and ethnic heritage
- western history
- family activities
- ecotourism

Starting a Business

Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is a key to job creation in Saskatchewan

Entrepreneurs, working alone or in co-operatives, create the small businesses that provide most of the jobs in the province

Entrepreneurship is being encouraged through a variety of initiatives, including:
- working with educational institutions, organizations and associations to improve education about private and co-operative enterprise as a career option

Small Business
Small businesses in Saskatchewan are defined as those with fewer than 50 employees or less than $5-million in annual sales

These are the most successful businesses in the province, and the life blood of the economy

Small businesses comprise more than 90 per cent of the total number of non-agricultural private firms in the province

They directly employ about one-third of Saskatchewan's labour force

They account for 40 per cent of total private sector employment

Small businesses created about 94 per cent of all new jobs in the province during the last decade

About 42 per cent of all Saskatchewan businesses are located in rural areas -- they have an average of six employees and account for 25 per cent of total employment in the province

Initiatives designed to support small business growth and development include:
- encouraging development of business networks, business mentoring programs and new business collaborations
- completing the "single window" initiative to co-ordinate regional business support networks with the services of the Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre

Co-operatives
Co-operatives are businesses in which people join together in a common cause to provide members with goods and/or services, usually at competitive prices

Co-ops are owned and democratically controlled by their members

Surpluses generated by co-ops are allocated to members in proportion to their purchases or use of the goods or services produced

Co-ops in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan's co-operative history began before the turn of the century with the development of co-operative creameries and grain growers' co-operatives

Saskatchewan now has more than 1,500 co-operatives operating in diverse areas including agriculture and resources, community development, financial services, education, child care, health care, recreation and retail

Approximately 900 co-ops, more than 60 per cent of the Saskatchewan total, are based in agriculture and resources, retail/wholesale, and finance

Twenty of Saskatchewan's top 100 businesses are co-operatives

Seven major co-operatives account for most of the sector's commercial activity in Saskatchewan: the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Dairy World Foods, Federated Co-operatives Limited, Credit Union Central, The Co-operators, Co-operative Trust and Co-op Hail Insurance

Credit unions operate as part of a large network of financial co-operatives that offer insurance, trust services, estate management and financial services

Credit unions were the first to introduce instant electronic banking transactions between retailers and credit unions, and the pilot for this was in Swift Current, Saskatchewan

Important to the Economy
In 1998, Saskatchewan co-ops generated revenues of nearly $7.8 billion and savings of $190 million

The co-ops employ more than 15,000 people and pay more than$440-million in wages annually

These employees account for 3.5 per cent of Saskatchewan's working labour force, and their wages represent four per cent of the provincial total

Saskatchewan co-operatives have approximately 1.2-million registered members

Many residents belong to more than one co-operative or credit union

Saskatchewan people have approximately $960-million in equity in co-operatives

New generation co-ops
Producer-owned co-ops with an innovative organizational and ownership structure

Focus on agricultural processing and value-added projects

Share the values and many of the key attributes of traditional co-ops, but have three unique qualities:
- the use of a tied contract that sets each member's delivery rights and obligations
restriction of membership to producers who purchase delivery rights
- higher equity investment by individual members

The future for co-ops
Saskatchewan recognizes the need to continue to build and strengthen the co-operative sector, by:
- supporting the development of new co-ops, new methods of capitalization and new models of co-operation, such as new generation co-ops
- promoting and developing strategic alliances among co-ops, and between co-ops and other enterprises
- supporting co-operative diversification projects and helping co-ops identify ways they and partners can invest in and support those projects
- working with educational institutions and organizations to nurture co-operative enterprise as a career option
- supporting partnerships with associations to improve co-operative education

Cost of Living
Saskatchewan is being called the best place in the world to live, and it's easy to see why. The quality of life is high, while the cost of living is low. That makes Saskatchewan a great place to live and raise a family, and a great place to locate or invest in a business.

- Housing costs are lower in Saskatchewan, and owning a home is affordable for most people
- The health system is second to none, and there are no health care premiums
- The provincial sales tax of six per cent is the lowest of any province that charges a sales tax
- It costs less to get to and from work because the maximum commute time is about 20 minutes

Source: Royal LePage Survey of Canadian House Prices, Fall 1999

Health Care
Saskatchewan has been a leader in health care for almost 50 years+

Saskatchewan pioneered universal hospital care insurance in the 1940s and comprehensive medical coverage in the 1960s

Saskatchewan is now concentrating on the "wellness" model, promoting preventive care and innovative service delivery with a system of health care districts across the province

Health care in Saskatchewan is funded by the provincial and federal governments

There are no personal premiums or personal charges for basic and needed health services

Employers do not pay premiums for provincial health care costs for their employees

Saskatchewan Health

Education
Saskatchewan people rank highest in Canada in literacy skills used in daily activities, third highest in numeracy skills and second highest in the rate of high school graduation

Saskatchewan's extensive education system includes a Kindergarten to Grade 12 public and separate (Catholic) school system throughout the province, with some schools offering French Immersion

Saskatchewan has top-notch universities in the province's two major cities -- the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and the University of Regina in Regina

The University of Regina is home to Canada's only Indian-run college, the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College

Skills training is provided by the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) at its four campuses in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert

Nine Regional colleges, as well as numerous private vocational schools and career colleges, also provide post-secondary education in all parts of the province

Saskatchewan has the country's largest interactive distance training network

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