Time for Sask NDP to be Euthanized?

Two different news headlines caught my attention today. However, they are essentially linked.

First, it was noted that Saskatchewan is considering whether or not to join a Western Canadian trade deal. While Alberta and British Columbia signed an agreement earlier this year that eliminated many barriers for businesses and workers between the two provinces, Saskatchewan was notably absent from the agreement. This agreement allows professionals with professional designations to work freely between provinces and lessens restrictions on companies doing business in both provinces. This would be a good thing for all of Western Canada. In particular, easing the restrictions that Alberta oil and gas companies might face when doing business in Saskatchewan would boost our economy and likely create jobs in the province. However, it is clearly a pro-business scheme and by know we’ve realized that Lorne Calvert and company are decidedly anti-business. After all, this could unfavourably affect unions and that just couldn’t happen in our socialist society. And, even if Saskatchewan is to join the deal, it won't be until next year. We should have been in on the agreement from the get-go, let alone waiting another year to contemplate the decision! We obvious lack vision, leadership and direction!

Second, Saskatchewan lost over 4,000 people last year! Big surprise! The lowest population in 24 years and the 9th year in the past 10 that the population has decreased. Yes, it is understandable that Alberta is an appealing lure for people of the province. I will give the NDP that. However, given the plethora of natural resources we have in this province, there should be some sort of vision for this province so that we can hold our own. After all, Manitoba still manages to grow its population – what does it have that Saskatchewan does not? I’m not saying there should necessarily be a population boom when we’re next door to Alberta but we should not be leading population declines either.

The common link between these two stories is that both illustrate that Calvert’s government lacks vision and leadership. They are a tired government that is in need of a good mercy killing. Indeed, next year’s provincial election cannot come too soon.

Another Promise Kept!

Upon release of the budget this Spring, Jim Flaherty stated that he would find $1 billion in savings for 2006-07 and 2007-08. Today that promise was fulfilled.

As John Baird stated, the government "trimmed the fat" today. So what was the fat? The Leader Post listed the following cuts:
- End to visitor-rebate program that gave tax refunds to tourists: savings, $78.8 million.
- Smaller cabinet announced last February: $46.8 million.
- Administrative reductions to Status of Women: $5 million.
- End to medical marijuana science funding: $4 million.
- Cuts to museums assistance: $4.6 million.
- `Efficiencies’ in Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.: $45 million.
- Removal of unused funds for mountain pine beetle initiative: $11.7 million
- Elimination of of Court Challenges Program: $5.6 million.
- Cancellation of National Defence radar project: $13.9 million.
- Consolidation of foreign missions: $4.5 million.
- Cuts to Law Commission of Canada: $4.2 million.

Yes, these cuts are small, roughly 1% of government spending, but they are symbolic. They symbolize that this government is catering to the average Canadian, their base of support, most of whom would either agree that many of the programs affected are not something for which they are getting their money's worth or support the tightening of the fiscal belt where savings were made. In particular, although it represents a relatively small saving of $46.8 million, the creation of a smaller cabinet means less money going to politicians and that money going to paying off our debt instead. I think one would be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees with that redirection of funds!

The $13.2 billion dollar surplus that has been redirected towards the federal debt marks the largest single debt reduction in history, also symbolic of the Conservatives' fiscal prudence. This also shows that the Conservatives are looking forward to a time when this payment will pay off by lessening the amount that is paid in interest to service the debt in the future. And, while hefty tax cuts would be great this is a trend that should continue.

Corporate Tax Cuts Paying Off?

Saskatchewan’s job numbers are increasing! Statistics Canada confirms that Saskatchewan has added 9,600 people to the labour force since one year ago. This pales in comparison to the nearly 100,000 added in Alberta but does out-do our neighbor to the East by almost 2,000.

It appears that the corporate tax cuts introduced in the last provincial budget may be paying off. It’s too bad they came years after the Saskatchewan Party began advocating for such cuts. Maybe if this had been done earlier, we wouldn’t have lost thousands of people to Alberta in the last year.

The Vanderhaeghe Prophesy

I was reading this week’s issue of Maclean’s Magazine and came across an article on Noah Richler’s (Modecai’s son) new book, This is My Country, What’s Yours?. For the book, Richler traveled across the country, interviewing 100 Canadian writers to create a “literary atlas” of Canada.

Among the authors that Richler interviewed is Saskatchewan’s own, Governor General’s Medal-winning Guy Vanderhaeghe. When asked why so much “great historical fiction has come out of Saskatchewan,” he replied: “Because we’ve got no f--cking future, that’s why.”

When I read Vanderhaeghe’s comments, my initial reaction was uncharacteristically taciturn. Then I wondered: do I agree with his statement? During the five years that I lived outside Saskatchewan, I spent considerable time and energy defending Saskatchewan as a great place to live with a formidable future. However, given my humdrum reaction to the obvious slight at the province, I’ve realized that I, like so many Saskatchewanians (perhaps Vanderhaeghe included) have already, may be falling victim to accepting mediocrity and not expecting more out of the province.

Have I really become disillusioned with the state of our province? Rather than holding out for better times ahead if the government changes, have I written off the possibility that even if the people if the people of Saskatchewan come to their senses and toss out Calvert and Company, there is just too much lost time to make up; so much so that we never could? Do I feel that the socialism that is so ingrained in our culture too much to overcome?

If my attitude has changed, it is not difficult to understand why. After traveling back to Calgary for the Labour Day long weekend and being reminded of the prosperity that abounds there, it is depressing for a young person to return to this slow and seemingly uninspired province. Sadly, years of socialist rule has crippled Saskatchewan’s ability to compete with the kind of entrepreneurial voracity that exists in Alberta. It is this edge that our neighbour to the West has over us that could interminably inhibit our potential growth unless a fundamental culture shift takes place in Saskatchewan; even the parts that profess to be unwaveringly supportive of free enterprise are inherently socialist. I fear that unless this radical shift happens, Mr. Vanderhaeghe’s prediction is destined for consummation. Sadly, at this point it seems more likely than not.