Enterprise Saskatchewan

Enterprise Saskatchewan has established stakeholder-led strategic issues councils to provide recommendations and advice to government on ways to enhance the competitive position of Saskatchewan's economy. The councils are playing an important role in ensuring stakeholder collaboration and participation in policy-making and development of growth strategies.

Strategic issues councils provide advice to government on broad concerns that impact multiple sectors of the economy. Individual councils concentrate on a central issue where strategic actions by government can improve the competitiveness of Saskatchewan's economy.

In recognition of the overarching economic development issues that were not sector specific, the following strategic issues councils had been created and will remain to provide recommendations and advice respecting the development of Saskatchewan’s overall economy:   

• Regulatory Modernization Council
  ES established the Regulatory Modernization Council (RMC) to provide advice to the ES Board on ways to enhance regulatory service and ensure a competitive regulatory environment without compromising public health and safety or the environment. The RMC is composed of stakeholders from the private sector, including those representing small, medium and large businesses in the province that are directly impacted by regulations.
• Youth Economic Engagement Council
  The council is fostering the development of a stronger entrepreneurial culture in Saskatchewan and providing recommendations that will help Saskatchewan youth gain the skills, experience and motivation they need to become successful entrepreneurs. The council will make recommendations to encourage the attraction and retention of highly-skilled young workers. The council will also work to develop young leaders throughout the province and encourage full participation of youth in the economy and society.
• Entrepreneurship Council
  Entrepreneurship is a necessary ingredient for stimulating economic growth and employment opportunities in Saskatchewan. The council is putting forward recommendations on how government can support entrepreneurship as a crucial strategy for economic development. The goal is to advise the government as it creates policies that foster entrepreneurship.

Strategic Issues Councils will experience some turnover of membership, but will remain focused on the priorities currently identified. The only major change will be that the Co-operatives sector team will be re-constituted as a Strategic Issues Council.

ES intends to work with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration (AEEI) and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce (SCC) to establish a task team co-chaired by the SCC and government in lieu of a Labour Market Strategic Issues Council.

The strategic issues councils are accountable for identifying and reporting on barriers to growth, making recommendations to remove barriers, prescribing prioritized action and reporting on progress on an annual basis.

Each strategic issues council, with support of Enterprise Saskatchewan staff, will:

• provide recommendations and advice for the removal and reduction of barriers to economic growth;
• define a common long-term vision;
• identify action plans;
• report on progress to the ES Board; and
• re-evaluate goals and activities on an annual basis.

The strategic issues councils have been meeting quarterly or as determined by their members. Meetings may be held anywhere in Saskatchewan at the discretion of the members. The time commitment for strategic issues councils is expected to be approximately four to eight days annually, which includes meetings, possible conference calls and preparation time.

Enterprise Saskatchewan staff provide co-ordination, facilitation, research, analysis, reporting and administrative support to the strategic issues councils. Enterprise Saskatchewan may contract additional research and analytical services on behalf of the councils.

Recommendations, prescribed actions and progress reports will be provided through the chairperson to the ES Board and its CEO for consideration, review and public reporting. Policy recommendations endorsed by the Board will be submitted to Cabinet and the legislature for consideration and endorsement.