Released on March 28, 1995
Finance Minister Janice MacKinnon leaves today for a series of meetingsin Toronto, New York, and Ottawa where she will present the details of
Saskatchewan's financial turnaround.
From March 28 to April 4, MacKinnon will meet with members of the
financial and investment communities in Toronto and New York and will
attend meetings in Ottawa where she will discuss how Saskatchewan has
achieved its fiscal targets while maintaining core social values.
"My purpose in speaking to members of the financial community is to
impress upon them the great strides we have made in securing our
finances and turning around our economy," MacKinnon said. "Sound and
stable finances are attractive to potential investors and saving a few
basis points in our borrowing can save the province hundreds of
thousands of dollars in interest.
"I will also emphasize that we will be reducing the debt by $1.2
billion over the course of our new financial plan and that we have
begun to reduce taxes in Saskatchewan as a result of the financial
stability which has come from being the first province in Canada to
balance its budget."
MacKinnon said she is pleased to have been chosen as the provincial
political representative for the inaugural meeting of the Governance
Advisory Panel of the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation (CCAF)
in Ottawa on April 3.
The CCAF's Advisory Panel on Governance is a non-profit organization of
leading public and private sector figures dedicated to building public
confidence in institutions through meaningful accountability, effective
governance and strong management.
"Throughout our government's term, we have worked hard to consult with
Saskatchewan people and ensure accountability for our actions,"
MacKinnon said. "Serving on this panel will assist the government in
remaining at the forefront of positive changes to further improve
accountability."
MacKinnon also will speak in Ottawa on April 4 at an international
conference organized by the Canadian Centre for Management Development
and the Institute on Governance. MacKinnon has been asked to make a
presentation to the conference on how Saskatchewan has reached its
fiscal targets while maintaining it's social values.
Other speakers include: Paul Martin, federal minister of Finance;
Marcel Masse, federal minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and
minister responsible for Public Service Renewal; Joe Clark, former
prime minister; Hakan Berggren, ambassador of Sweden; and Khalil
Barsoum, president and CEO of IBM Canada Ltd.
"Sharing information on our unique approach is important, particularly
in light of the recent round of budget cuts out of Ottawa," MacKinnon
said. "Saskatchewan's results have proven that it is possible to
balance our fiscal integrity with our commitment to maintaining a high
quality of life in Saskatchewan."
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For more information, contact:
Maureen MacCuish
Saskatchewan Finance
Regina
Phone: 787-6673