Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.- Robert Frost
It was with the words of the famous Robert Frost poem Premier Brad Wall began his comments at the 12th Annual Yorkton Chamber Business Dinner held last Wednesday.
Wall suggested the words held relevance to Saskatchewan.
"I think a few years ago we decided in our province collectively to take a new road," he said. " A road we in Saskatchewan had not traveled on."
It was a case where a change was needed, said Wall.
"On the old road there was some potholes," he said.
The Premier said the people of the province, more than government, made the choice to travel a different road.
"The choices you made, I think, have made all the difference," he said.
As an example of the change in mindset, Wall started with Saskatchewan's population, which he suggested nobody believed could grow at the national average, but that is now the norm, with recent growth exceeding the national average for provinces.
The reason is economic strength in areas such as oil and gas, uranium and potash, which has meant more jobs, and an influx of people.
"Not only can our population grow at the national average, but it can exceed the national average year after year after year," said Wall.
The population growth is such that cities such as Yorkton and Swift Current are creating newcomer centres because "so many people are coming from around the world," he added.
Population growth is a major development because it means more students in schools, in local churches, volunteering in communities, and even cheering for the Roughriders, said Wall.
With population growth comes economic vibrancy, said Wall. In the past it was almost an expectation Saskatchewan would be on the receiving end of equalization payments.
Now Saskatchewan has become "a have province year after year after year," he said.
The have status comes as a result of Saskatchewan leading the country in a range of economic indicators, said Wall. He said, as an example, wholesale numbers are down everywhere in Canada, except here.
"Our job numbers are the best in the country, and we have some of the best retail sales in Canada," he added.
Wall said as a result various agencies are pegging Saskatchewan to lead the nation in economic growth in 2011.
In the past that was never seen as an expectation. He said no one would have thought "that we would beat Alberta, that we'd be ahead of Ontario But that's where we're at in Saskatchewan."
As for Wall's government, he said it continues to work toward goals set out in the last election, in particular in terms of health care, where they have added nurse positions, and additional doctors' residencies to help address shortages and the resulting wait times. That said, he admitted more is required.
"There still a challenge," he said. "There's still not enough doctors."
However, Wall said the attitude regarding the situation has changes,"Like never before we've stopped talking about it, and started acting on it," he said.
Wall said with an eye to action, the government is setting its sights on medical wait times.
"We're going to set a target," he said, suggesting within four years wait times will be "no more than three months."
Wall said to achieve the goal the system may include private clinics, within the contest of universal health. He said he has a neighbour awaiting back surgery, and suggested "it's more important for him to have back surgery than ideology."
In the past talk was often the main thrust of dealing with issues, said Wall.
"It used to be a lot of talk about education tax relief," he said, adding his government has chose action by creating a universal mill rate and reducing the tax burden.
"We have delivered step one of long term education tax reform," he said, adding step two will be in the next provincial budget.
In the process of change Wall said one principle they have maintained is equality.
"In this province rural and urban and northern Saskatchewan, everybody is walking down the road equally," he said.
Wall said ultimately people are responsible for the positive changes.
"It is a more hopeful future here, not because of the government, but because of all of you," he said. " I want to thank you for what you've done to transform this place."
And that has meant a change in attitude.
"If we suffer a setback people say this will never last," said Wall.
Wall said the new road is one he believes the province has long needed to be on.
"I like this road, and I for one am not going back to the old road," he said.
