PREMIER OPENS CENTENNIAL SUMMIT

Premier Lorne Calvert today encouraged delegates to the Saskatchewan Centennial Summit to help chart the province's course for a new century and make the Summit a jumping off point for another hundred years of growth and innovation.

Speaking to almost 400 delegates in the Centennial Auditorium in Saskatoon, Calvert pointed to Saskatchewan's proud history of "firsts". In social policy these include the Medical Care Insurance Plan, human rights legislation, the Building Independence program and the Child Action Plan.

The province has also shown scientific and technological leadership in areas such as dryland farming, heavy oil, carbon dioxide storage, and biofuels as well as fibre-optics and high-speed Internet service.

Staging the Summit in Saskatoon underlines the province's scientific growth and maturity. Saskatoon is home to the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron, Canada's largest-ever scientific project and the only one of its kind in the country. Saskatchewan still grows more than half of Canada's wheat, but the province is now also home to 30 per cent of Canada's agricultural biotechnology capability.

"We are leaders, not followers," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "We don't just study history here, we make it."

Calvert noted that the Summit was a historic forum for Saskatchewan leaders to address the challenges ahead. "The Summit is bringing together a broad cross-section and diversity of voices, everyone from small-town mayors to the presidents of some of Saskatchewan's and the nation's largest corporations," Calvert said. "Think new. Think long-term," Calvert told the delegates. "Think about how we might break through our historical 'one million' demographic ceiling by retaining and attracting more youth, including tapping the vast potential First Nations youth have to offer."

The three-day Summit features presentations on Saskatchewan's strengths such as conventional and alternate energy, agriculture, science and technology, mining, and tourism. It will also examine challenges the province faces such as demographic change, widely held misconceptions about the province, youth retention, and how to further improve Saskatchewan's climate for growth.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Cell: (306)539-6948

Jay Branch Media Services Regina Cell: (306)539-3994