MACKINNON TO PROFILE SASK. BALANCED APPROACH TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Released on November 27, 1997

Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon will

profile Saskatchewan's balanced approach for creating economic growth

at a national conference in Ottawa on the role of government in the

economy.

"As governments turn the corner on managing our finances, we must now

turn our attention to growing our economy," MacKinnon said. "We must

create opportunities, not just for today, but also for our children

tomorrow.

"We've chosen to balance tax reduction; continuing to reduce our debt

and investing in people. This enables us to build a more competitive

economy and to make the strategic investments required for economic

growth.

"Sustainable economic growth provides long term jobs and a base for

high quality health, education and training services. These in turn

help create the kind of environment that attracts innovative and

growth-oriented businesses."

The Minister noted that investments in Innovation Place have paid off

through tremendous growth in the agbiotech sector.

"We've attracted many innovative companies," MacKinnon said.

"Their work is leading to new products, new markets and direct

benefits for agriculture and agricultural diversity right here at

home. Each innovation leads to further diversity and

opportunities for growth."

The conference, being sponsored by the Fraser Institute, will

include presentations from university and World Trade

Organization representatives. MacKinnon will be making a

presentation on the role of government in the economy in a

session that also includes Alberta Treasury Minister Stockwell

Day and Ontario Finance Minister Ernie Eves. Also on the agenda

is a national political party panel discussion in which the

federal NDP will participate.

"As we shift our focus to the economy, Saskatchewan needs to use

every opportunity to tell the world about our record of

innovation, a key ingredient for success in the new century,"

MacKinnon said.

The promotion of science and technology applications will be the

topic of meetings MacKinnon has with the heads of the Canadian

Foundation for Innovation and the Natural Sciences and

Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC) while in the

Ottawa/Toronto area. She will particularly be focussing on the

imortance that Saskatchewan places on the the synchrotron light

source project.

"Saskatchewan was selected by an international panel as the site

for Canada's only synchrotron. This is a tremendous opportunity

for the province and Canada to attract research, achieve new

firsts' in biotechnology and create new and exciting jobs for

our young people.

The synchrotron along with other potential federal/Saskatchewan

partnerships in economic development will be discussed in a

meeting the minister has scheduled with the Honourable Ron

Duhamel, Secretary of State for Science, Research and

Development, and Western Economic Diversification.

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For more information, contact:

Debbie Wilkie

Economic and Co-operative Development

Regina

Phone: (306)787-1691

MACKINNON TO PROFILE SASK. BALANCED APPROACH TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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