With the writ being dropped on Tuesday for the April 4 provincial election, the Weyburn Chamber has joined the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce in promoting “OnTrack 2016”, a recommendations document which outlines 31 ideas within eight major categories which face business.
“The On Track Campaign is a great framework for discussion with our local candidates on issues that affect our business members,” said Rochelle Wendt, Weyburn Chamber General Manager.
“The recommendations are ones that we would like to see integrated into an election platform and is one tool that we can use to evaluate our local candidates.”
“The ideas within OnTrack 2016 affect the way that all the people in this province live, work and invest. As a province, we have seen very positive changes in our economy and our culture, but the work isn’t done. We want to see the next government continue the economic momentum, and believe it is imperative to stay on track with this progress – and so, we created these suggestions, and categorized them into eight general areas,” said Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber.
The eight categories, titled “Top 8 Opportunities for Continued Growth”, include recommendations for ways to strengthen the province’s taxation and fiscal framework, support infrastructure enhancement, build and utilize water resources, attract and grow investment, strengthen the education system, accelerate northern economic development, utilize alternative service delivery and enhance workforce skills training.
Items such as integration of entrepreneurship and business skills training in all levels of k-12 education, changing the assessment cycle for property value from four years to two years, moving to a dual-rate personal income tax structure of 9 per cent and 12 per cent, and the creation of a comprehensive Water Resource Strategic Plan into their political platforms are of importance both locally and provincially.
“We invite Saskatchewan voters to take a closer look at OnTrack 2016 to determine which of these issues they support most strongly, and speak to the candidates in their riding about the direction those candidates’ parties are going to take, if elected,” McLellan said.
“We encourage people to read the document, share it and use it as a basis to encourage the provincial government – whoever is elected on April 4 – to create an even stronger province.”
The full OnTrack 2016 document and additional background information on the 31 ideas it includes may be found on the Sask Chamber website at www.saskchamber.com.
McLellan will be the guest speaker at the Weyburn Chamber’s upcoming President’s Dinner and Annual Meeting, set for Wednesday, March 16 at the Weyburn Legion Hall, starting at 7 p.m. The evening will include the presentation of the Golden Spike Award, and Chamber’s annual meeting with a new board of directors.
