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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - MAY 2012
to get that happening. The other side
of labour is up-skilling; we’ve got un-
employed people who don’t have the
skills for the jobs we’ve got available.
So we are looking ahead at the ap-
proximately 120,000 jobs that are going
to be created as a result of mine expan-
sion and prosperity in the province,
and we know we need to train people
to match those jobs.
CIO: How is the Chamber helping prepare
businesses to go international?
SM:
We are working very closely
with Saskatchewan trade organiza-
tions so we can lead the charge in get-
ting our businesses overseas. We are
also helping businesses that are com-
ing here from other countries, from
as far as Iran and Australia, as well as
those American companies—we work
to connect those companies with sup-
pliers or information. We’re a greeter,
if you will.
CIO: How is the province working towards
increasing the innovation and knowledge capac-
ity of its businesses?
SM:
We are working directly with
a group called Innovation Saskatche-
wan whose mandate it is to encourage
innovation in the workplace. Together
with them we’re working on a concept
with them called the CEO Charter, a
gathering of CEOs to come together to
learn about the benefits of innovation
and sign a charter that they will com-
mit to innovation. We are also talking
about the innovation fund programs,
as well as celebrating companies who
have been innovative.
CIO: How are your local chambers continu-
ing to the overall dialogue about business in the
province?
SM:
We are only as strong as our
local chambers. They give us input on
policies and issues, and we work hard
on those issues. We spend a lot of time
out with those local chambers and do
orientation sessions for new chamber
members and executives.
CIO: Why is membership so important?
SM:
There are so many reasons.
But one of the primary reasons is sim-
ply this: as a business, it is important
to be part of the discussion on those is-
sues that will affect them, whether it’s
property taxes, corporate taxes, and
immigration policy. If there not part
of the discussion they are forced to
sit with the results. Even if the results
are not ideal for that business directly,
business owners can be comfortable
knowing that at least they took part in
the conversation.
“We are working directly with a group
called Innovation Saskatchewan whose
mandate it is to encourage innovation
in the workplace.”
SASKATCHEWAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE