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Saskatchewan

Northern Saskatchewan covers half of the province and holds less than 4% of the province's population. Of the almost 37,000 residents in the Northern Administration District, about 84% are of Aboriginal ancestry. The Government of Saskatchewan is strengthening the region's key industries by investing in infrastructure, stimulating mineral exploration, and developing tourism, commercial fishing, and forestry industries. The Province is working with northerners to improve their quality of life, making the North a great place for young people to live, and work, and raise a family.

Key Industries

Mining and Exploration

Northern Saskatchewan is the largest uranium producing region in the world. The region’s three uranium mines account for all of the province’s and about 25% of the world’s natural uranium production in 2006, and two more mines are under construction or seeking regulatory approvals. In addition, one gold mine is in production, and one graphite mine and mill is being developed in the region. In 2006, Northern Saskatchewan’s mining industry employed an average of 2,500 people, of which 52% were residents of northern Saskatchewan. Mineral exploration is at an all time high; in 2006, total exploration expenditures for the province were $240 million. Exploration spending in 2007 is expected to exceed this amount and set another all-time record at an estimated $277 million.

Traditional Resource Harvesting

Northern Aboriginal traditional lifestyles are preserved through commercial fishing, fur trapping, and the collection of berries, mushrooms, and other non-timber forest products. The traditional resource harvesting sector generated seasonal income for more than 4,000 people in the region. In 2006, the wholesale value of wild rice in northern Saskatchewan was $2.7 million, and accounted for almost 70% of Canada's wild rice production. Saskatchewan’s commercial fishing co-operatives, representing more than 600 fishers, are presently considering a consolidated business and marketing plan which calls for construction of a new processing plant.

Tourism

In addition to world-class trophy fishing and hunting, the region offers many other tourism opportunities and experiences including Aboriginal culture experiences and other outdoor adventures to its more than 800,000 annual visitors, 466,000 of whom stay in the region for one or more nights. Tourism and traveler expenditures in northern Saskatchewan (including the Prince Albert area) totaled about $156 million in 2005, and are projected to grow three to four per cent each year for the next few years. Tourism related businesses provide a major source of employment in the North, with an estimated 464 specific tourism products/services and 47 tourism events employing 1,835 workers in restaurants, beverage rooms, resorts, attractions, outfitting lodges and hotels.

Forestry

With 90% of the province’s boreal forest, northern Saskatchewan fuels the province’s forest industry. The downturn in the industry has resulted in forestry revenues declining from $822 million in 2005 to $467 million in 2006. With many recent challenges in the forestry sector, the next step is to focus on developing value added products. Forestry products include kraft pulp, oriented strand board, plywood, lumber, and treated posts.

Northern Saskatchewan's Contribution to the Economy

Capital Investments of Major Projects in Northern Saskatchewan

In 2006, major projects in northern Saskatchewan in the planning, design, or construction phase were estimated to be worth $1,037 million.

A Look to the Future

Strong prices for non-renewable resources (e.g. uranium, gold, rare earths) have resulted in unprecedented interest and investment in exploration, development, and increased production in northern Saskatchewan. Demand for oil and gas, accompanied by high prices, will increase northwestern Saskatchewan natural gas and oil sands exploration. Saskatchewan’s six-year mineral incentive program, announced in 2002, continues to stimulate northern mineral exploration and expansion.

The province continues to support Saskatchewan’s commercial fishing industry’s hopes to build a local processing plant. To support tourism development, the province works with Tourism Saskatchewan, the Northern Tourism Region and stakeholders to develop community destination plans, and coordinate tourism development, marketing, and training.

Key government investments in northern infrastructure are also creating significant opportunities for business development and employment growth in the North. In 2005, Saskatchewan announced Roads to Prosperity – the Northern Economic Infrastructure Strategy (NEIS). Through this $65.5 million commitment, the province is improving access for isolated and remote communities and upgrading connections to the broader provincial transportation system. The goals of the NEIS are to provide greater opportunities to northern residents, to trigger economic growth and expansion (particularly in resource-based industries), and to reduce social and economic inequality between northern residents and those in the southern regions of Saskatchewan.

In 2006, the Saskatchewan Research Network announced the extension of its research and education network northward, and will give northern institutions access to the national research network – CANARIE. In 2007, the Northern Broadband Network finished its plan to bring high speed internet to 35 isolated northern communities.

In 2007, the governments of Saskatchewan and Canada agreed to extend by one year the $20 million five-year Northern Development Agreement (NDA). The NDA’s goals are to improve regional economic infrastructure, employment prospects, educational and business expertise, research and industry innovation, and business investment in the North. A unique aspect of the NDA is that leading northern political bodies – municipalities, First Nations and Métis – have input into the decision process and assigning priorities. The two governments are examining the possibility of signing a second agreement.