SASKATCHEWAN HAS A LOT TO CELEBRATE THIS CANADA DAY

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said we have seen remarkable changes in our province over the past seven months, and current indications suggest this growth will continue.

"As we spend time this summer with friends and family, I think we should all pause to think about how lucky we are to be living in Saskatchewan," Wall said. "However, the challenge in the months ahead will be to ensure current growth is sustained and managed, providing everyone with a chance to benefit from our newfound prosperity."

Over the past week, Saskatchewan has:

• Posted a year-over-year population growth of 18,000 people, with a growth rate only slightly behind Alberta's;
• Tied Newfoundland as the jurisdiction with the highest level of business optimism;
• Recorded Canada's biggest decrease in the number of people collecting Employment Insurance benefits; and
• Become the only Canadian province in the top ten most favourable jurisdictions to invest in the oil and gas sector, according to the 2008 Global Petroleum Survey.

This week, the government also took action to help low income individuals and families deal with rising housing costs by significantly increasing and indexing the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement and other housing-related programs.

"Our government wants to make sure all Saskatchewan people share in the benefits of our growing economy," Wall said.

Premier Wall is encouraging people to come forward with ideas on what their government should do with the benefits of a growing economy.

"When MLAs went home for the summer, I asked all of them to listen to constituents and find out what the priorities and concerns are," Wall said.

Those who want to provide input online can go to www.gov.sk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425