Can you imagine paying up to $19 for four litres of milk? That is the reality for residents in northern Saskatchewan communities like Fond du Lac. The high cost of groceries to the poor state of roads was the focus of a task force report by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. It is calling on the government to do more, while government officials say they are doing the best they can.
There are 12 recommendations in the chamber’s Northern Business Task Force report — all of them aimed at improving opportunities, employment, education and reducing the cost of living.
Chamber CEO Steve McLellan was part of the tour. He says he got a real sense of the potential for growth in the north, but he also learned first-hand the ongoing struggles just to get by.
He says while the provincial government is helping, it is not doing enough.
“I am not suggesting the government has ignored the north. But I am suggesting there is more that can be done for the benefit of all Saskatchewan people, not just those in the north. So is there a role to play for the government beyond what they have done, absolutely.”
Jim Reiter is the minister responsible for Government Relations and First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs. He has toured the north numerous times, both in his current role and before when he was the Minister of Highways.
He says there are many challenges in dealing with the north, but he says the government is doing its best to meet them.
“We gave significantly higher percentage increase to northern revenue sharing than we did to urban and rural, and the list sort of goes on. But I actually don’t believe that it is a case of ignoring. That is not it at all,” he says.
The chamber’s Northern Task Force was formed last year. Its mandate is to focus on finding creative solutions to accelerate northern Saskatchewan’s economic and social development.