Floods, fires, storms, hurricanes, war, hunger, oppression... it's times like this that we have got to be appreciative of where we live and the lives that we have.
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the many more waves of destruction that have come before her, a person can't help but be grateful to be living in the province and the country that we do. Sure bad things happen here and there is no place that's perfect but in the grand scheme of things, we sure do have it good. While much of the rest of the world is in economic and social turmoil, we're actually sitting in a pretty good place.
I recently had the opportunity to hear our premier speak as he travels about the province sharing his plan for growth. Admittedly, I went to the event thinking it was going to be the same old, same old message we always hear - 'rah rah Saskatchewan' - but instead I actually walked away thinking we really ARE pretty fortunate to be where are. It's easy to become complacent. It's easy to look to the other side of the fence where the grass sometimes seems greener and opportunities appear more abundant but our premier is right, the opportunities are HERE and our time is NOW. There's no question there are challenges to be met and there is still work to be done but while other provinces struggle to stay afloat job numbers are increasing in Saskatchewan, natural resources are plentiful and people are moving in.
"As more people come to the province of Saskatchewan and bring with them investment, bring with them their energy, they help broaden our tax base. They build this province's capacity to invest in itself... Thats' what growth brings... We want growth for the dividends that it pays..." correctly says Brad Wall. We have work to do when it comes to health care. We need more doctors and nurses. Our highways need help. Our infrastructure needs updating. We have to build houses and make sure they are affordable enough for every resident to have a safe, warm place to call home. We HAVE challenges but we also have opportunity where others do not and we're on a good path.
"The great opportunity is where you are and in the last few years we've begun to realize that I think. The great opportunity is not some difficult, distant place. The opportunity is here. It's where we are today... We ought never to be complacent... We're very, very lucky to live here and I think we all owe something back... that we will keep growth happening because it builds the kind of province that we want to have, not just for today, but for tomorrow." - Brad Wall. Well said.
