CANADIANS LOOK FOR CO-OPERATION AND LEADERSHIP AS FINANCE MINISTERS MEET

Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer is looking for a broad consensus to emerge on what should be in the new federal budget, as Federal, Provincial and Territorial Finance Ministers begin meetings in Saskatoon this week.

"Last week, Premier Brad Wall chaired a conference call with western Premiers that produced broad agreement on what the next steps should be," Gantefoer said. "The most important issues are infrastructure spending and the need to go beyond what is already planned, as well as skills training for trades and Aboriginal participation in the workforce.

Gantefoer said Saskatchewan is calling on the federal government to both increase and accelerate infrastructure spending.

"Our government has already increased provincial investment in infrastructure to $1.5 billion through our Ready for Growth initiative," Gantefoer said. "We are now considering our options for accelerating some of this commitment to get projects underway as quickly as possible in the new year.

"Canadians are looking for solid answers to what the country needs to get out of the current economic malaise," Gantefoer said. "It's up to the provincial and federal governments to work together to provide that leadership."

Gantefoer said Saskatchewan also expects the federal government to take an even-handed approach to financial support to struggling sectors of the economy.

"If the federal government is going to provide support for the auto industry, they need to remember it is not the only sector of the economy that has come under stress," Gantefoer said. "Here in Western Canada, the livestock sector and forestry have all been experiencing hardship, so we would expect strong consideration for those industries and the workers affected by the economic downturn.

"2008 has been a stellar year in Saskatchewan. However, we are not immune to global economic impacts, which is why it's important that we continue to grow. Saskatchewan's voice will be heard at the table," Gantefoer said.

Other topics of discussion at the Finance Ministers' Meeting are expected to include pensions, securities regulation, federal transfers and taxation. The two-day meeting wraps up tomorrow.

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For more information, contact:

Lorri Thacyk
Finance
Regina, Phone: 306-787-6578
Email: lorri.thacyk@gov.sk.ca