The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed the first Saturday of every month as Buy Local Day.
The intent of the proclamation is to encourage provincial consumers to shop local – thereby supporting businesses and jobs in communities across the province, stated a government release.
“Local businesses contribute a great deal to our communities and are the foundation of our provincial economy,” said Immigration, Jobs, Skills and Training Minister Jeremy Harrison in the release. “By keeping taxes low, balancing budgets and reducing red tape, our government is ensuring that local businesses are able to grow, create jobs and continue to offer quality goods and services to Saskatchewan people.”
Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbriet said the new program is about raising awareness.
“With the modern trend of shopping online, often one can overlook accessibility and quality of products locally,” he said. “It is important to support those local businesses that provide exceptional personal customer service, make up for 98 per cent of enterprise in the province and employ 150,000 people. Local businesses play a major role in a strong Saskatchewan economy.”
Juanita Polegi, executive director of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce said the provincial initiative is about reminding people to look to local business first.
“It’s a great initiative. It reminds the consumer a strong business community means a strong community at large,” she told Yorkton This Week.
Polegi said support for local business flows into being supportive of many initiatives in a community.
“It’s the local businesses which support sporting events, and cultural events in a community,” she said, adding it is business which steps to the plate with donations for facilities such as the Parkland College expansion, and the plan for the new hospital.
The new Buy Local Day is also a good time to remind consumers in the city the “business in Yorkton has so much to offer … They offer so many goods and services.”
While Yorkton business hopes to attract patrons from smaller communities throughout the region, Polegi said all local business wants is a chance to compete. In that regard she said business just wants local consumers to look at home first.
While admitting it was somewhat cliched Polegi said it comes down to the old adage “keep your town in business by keeping business in town.”
Small businesses account for 98 per cent of all enterprises in Saskatchewan employing nearly 150,000 people, or 31.7 per cent, of Saskatchewan’s workers. The Government of Saskatchewan is dedicated to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in Saskatchewan, and to create a positive business climate with initiatives such as reducing the Small Business Income Tax rate.
The first Saturday to be proclaimed Buy Local Day will be June 6, 2015.
