Thank you, and I appreciate the opportunity to come. I have our presentation in hard copy in English only, only because of the turnaround time. If you'd like copies of it, they are here.
Mr. Chairman, in recent years Saskatchewan has been one of the primary economic engines keeping the Canadian economy stable while other parts of the country were experiencing reduced economic activity. Saskatchewan's economic growth has temporarily slowed during the current downturn, but given the diversified mix of industries in our province, we will be well positioned to benefit as the global economy and commodity prices recover.
In order to take advantage of this future recovery, however, there are some particular issues that the Government of Canada could greatly help with in the meantime. While we certainly applaud the recent decision and announcement by the federal government to fast-track $300 million towards Saskatchewan-based infrastructure projects, not all of the things we're here to ask for today cost money to make them happen.
While Saskatchewan and most western provinces continue to be impacted by the downturn of commodity prices, long-term growth targets are contingent on businesses being able to access the skilled personnel they need when they need them. That requires a reliable, expeditious immigration system that complements but does not replace our domestic workforce development. As an example, we believe the Canada job grant is an effective government program. Given recent changes, though, to the federal immigration system and the temporary foreign worker program, we must increase our efforts to develop the workforce within our province by expanding this initiative and increasing its flexibility for use by business.
Since Saskatchewan is not currently able to use all of the federal money allocated to the province for the program during each fiscal year, we ask for greater flexibility to be introduced for the province to use the surplus money for other training and labour market development initiatives.
Next, there's a close correlation between after-tax business profits and a number of key economic indicators, including government revenues. It's important that Canada maintain a current tax regime that leads not only North America in competitiveness, but the world.
Increasingly the subsidy for healthy food provided through Nutrition North Canada is another item the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce advocates, and we encourage the federal government to focus on it. Our province's remote northern communities currently receive the lowest subsidy available through the program. While there certainly need to be criteria in place to determine the eligibility of the communities to participate in a program like this, using their participation in the previous food mail program as a benchmark for their needs is a flawed process.
Ensuring that the issues that face aboriginal people across the country are being fixed with the necessary level of focus, planning, and funding should also be a priority for the federal government. Creating solutions with clear time frames, implementation plans, and full costing is a critical part of improving the lives of these Canadians. One of Saskatchewan's greatest untapped strengths is our large aboriginal population, but one of our greatest failures as a province and, I would suggest, as a country has been our continuing inability to help them fully participate in our economy across this nation.
A concerted effort is also required on infrastructure renewal. Accompanied by strategic and sustained levels of federal investment, it's fundamental to protecting the future prosperity of our province. Again we applaud the recent decision of fast-tracking the $300 million.
Also, the ability of our producers and extractors to move their commodities is directly tied to economic growth. Farmers must ship their grain in order to purchase new equipment, and mining companies must transport their resources to invest in new jobs and new technologies. The federal government must capitalize on all levers available to improve rail access in terms of frequency, modal choice, and cost competitiveness. The growing role of rail in transporting crude oil is largely a result of our current pipeline access becoming increasingly constrained. For this reason, the Government of Canada must start supporting and promoting Canadian pipeline projects to a much greater extent.
While it's important to give these types of projects appropriate safety and environmental consideration, we cannot continue to play divisive political games with them. If we keep doing this, our caution is that our country will lose out on opportunities for increasing foreign investment, creating jobs, and growing the Canadian economy.
Let's get back to Saskatchewan's north for a second. Further investments into building and maintaining northern roads and high-quality Internet connectivity are additional infrastructure items that the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce urges the federal government to focus on. By enhancing the physical and digital connection between our province's northern communities and the rest of Saskatchewan and Canada, we will improve their ability to learn, improve their access to health services, and improve their ability to run businesses from their unique geographic locations.
Our province is one that is built on exports. That's why a fair and reciprocal access to both domestic and international markets is fundamental to stimulate investment, create jobs, and drive long-term growth.
Saskatchewan businesses support the ratification and quick implementation of both CETA and the TPP. We encourage this government to do it.
Saskatchewan businesses are ready, willing, and able to work with the Government of Canada to help build Canada. Please ensure, as we move forward, that we move forward together.
Thank you, sir.