Province resource-rich, people-poor

SASKATOON – Known for its grain fields, billiard-table flatness and sparse population, the Canadian Prairie province of Saskatchewan seems on the verge of transforming into an economic powerhouse, riding high on its vast stocks of uranium, potash and oil.

But while the riches beneath its surface are raising hopes of long-term prosperity in a province traditionally an economic laggard, Saskatchewan has yet to solve a long-standing problem – finding people willing to come and live there. Located smack in the middle of Canada’s sprawling Prairies, Saskatchewan has been long known as the country’s chief source of wheat and barley, and as a setting for jokes about the guy whose dog ran away last week …and he’s still watching it go.But since 2002, the province has found itself in the sweet spot of global market forces, as soaring energy prices have driven oil exploration, while a nuclear power generating boom has fired uranium prices through the roof.With an estimated 30 billion barrels of oil in the ground – a number seen by many as conservative – as well as the uranium and about two-thirds of the world’s recoverable supply of potash, officials have been aggressively pitching the province as a target for investment.”We’re not just throwing wheat in the ground and watching it grow, we’re breaking ground in other areas, too,” said Energy and Industry Ministry spokesman Roy Schneider.While the 30 billion barrels total is just an “in place” figure, or estimate of total resources, the Energy Ministry is quick to point out the province’s proven reserves of conventional oil are just 20 per cent less than those of top oil province Alberta.Economic growth has been tracking above the national average over the past few years, but on a per capita basis, the difference is even more pronounced, with Saskatchewan growing 14,3 per cent between 2001 and 2006, compared with 8,7 per cent overall for Canada.But while growth has been strong, the population has dwindled.The province boasts an area larger than France, but with a population of less than 1 million, it has about one sixtieth the density.”In terms of challenges, there’s certainly the one related to population,” said Marie-Christine Bernard, an analyst at the Conference Board of Canada, pointing to a lack of skilled labour, one underscored by Statistics Canada data showing the province had an unemployment rate of four per cent in February.It doesn’t help being located next to Alberta, where the billions flowing into the oil sands have spawned stories of truck drivers pulling down C$60 an hour – drawing workers from all parts of the country, including Saskatchewan.In Saskatoon, which goes by the somewhat cheeky sobriquet “Paris of the Prairies”, ostensibly due to the numerous bridges that cross the South Saskatchewan River, both the pluses and minuses of the boom are in evidence.The manager of a local travel agency, who didn’t want her name used, said she was pleased with increased business over the past few years, but that it had made hiring a problem.”You can’t just go grabbing people up off the street.It’s tough finding qualified people,” she said.The labour issue has prompted the province to launch a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign to lure people to the province, portraying it as full of opportunity.Nampa-ReutersLocated smack in the middle of Canada’s sprawling Prairies, Saskatchewan has been long known as the country’s chief source of wheat and barley, and as a setting for jokes about the guy whose dog ran away last week …and he’s still watching it go.But since 2002, the province has found itself in the sweet spot of global market forces, as soaring energy prices have driven oil exploration, while a nuclear power generating boom has fired uranium prices through the roof.With an estimated 30 billion barrels of oil in the ground – a number seen by many as conservative – as well as the uranium and about two-thirds of the world’s recoverable supply of potash, officials have been aggressively pitching the province as a target for investment.”We’re not just throwing wheat in the ground and watching it grow, we’re breaking ground in other areas, too,” said Energy and Industry Ministry spokesman Roy Schneider.While the 30 billion barrels total is just an “in place” figure, or estimate of total resources, the Energy Ministry is quick to point out the province’s proven reserves of conventional oil are just 20 per cent less than those of top oil province Alberta.Economic growth has been tracking above the national average over the past few years, but on a per capita basis, the difference is even more pronounced, with Saskatchewan growing 14,3 per cent between 2001 and 2006, compared with 8,7 per cent overall for Canada.But while growth has been strong, the population has dwindled.The province boasts an area larger than France, but with a population of less than 1 million, it has about one sixtieth the density.”In terms of challenges, there’s certainly the one related to population,” said Marie-Christine Bernard, an analyst at the Conference Board of Canada, pointing to a lack of skilled labour, one underscored by Statistics Canada data showing the province had an unemployment rate of four per cent in February.It doesn’t help being located next to Alberta, where the billions flowing into the oil sands have spawned stories of truck drivers pulling down C$60 an hour – drawing workers from all parts of the country, including Saskatchewan.In Saskatoon, which goes by the somewhat cheeky sobriquet “Paris of the Prairies”, ostensibly due to the numerous bridges that cross the South Saskatchewan River, both the pluses and minuses of the boom are in evidence.The manager of a local travel agency, who didn’t want her name used, said she was pleased with increased business over the past few years, but that it had made hiring a problem.”You can’t just go grabbing people up off the street.It’s tough finding qualified people,” she said.The labour issue has prompted the province to launch a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign to lure people to the province, portraying it as full of opportunity.Nampa-Reuters