An all-consuming Enterprise

The Saskatchewan News Network reports that while there doesn't seem to be much disagreement about the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce's long-term population goal for the province, there's a significant dispute about how to get there. And the difference suggests just how much power the Sask Party would plan to hand to Enterprise Saskatchewan if it gets the chance:

The three major political parties agree that Saskatchewan should try to hit a population of 1.5 million by 2030, but disagree on how to hit the target, says the president of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce...

"All three leaders congratulated the chamber on initiating the discussion of long-term growth in Saskatchewan," said chamber president Dave Dutchak. "While we have received clear commitment, they were not of the same mind as to the process."

Dutchak said the chamber is firm on establishing a task force to lead the process.

NDP Leader Lorne Calvert believes sustained economic and social growth in the province must be a collaborative effort, but noted the role of government is to set parameters for a task force and also to invite participation.

Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall voiced concern that the task force would be a duplication of his economic development authority, Enterprise Saskatchewan, but was eager to work with the chamber to determine the correct process for the strategy.

It's noteworthy enough that the Chamber of Commerce's position better matches the NDP's view than the Sask Party's. But the more important lesson is what Wall's response says about the planned scope of Enterprise Saskatchewan.

After all, a goal based on population growth is one which obviously has multiple implications for the province. While economic considerations are obviously a part of what's at stake, any effort to grow Saskatchewan's population surely needs to take into account both other factors in achieving that growth to begin with, and other effects on the province from an influx of people. Which should mean inviting a different and wider set of parties to the table than might be necessary to deal solely with economic development.

From Wall's response, however, the Sask Party sees things differently. It could be that the party has a myopic enough view not to see how population growth could raise any additional issues. Or instead, the Sask Party could plan to have all additional issues also dealt with by a body whose composition is itself geared toward the Sask Party's corporatist vision over all other considerations. Either way, though, it seems virtually certain that all issues other than how to get the most money into private hands as quickly as possible would receive short shrift.

Moreover, while Wall's answer was aimed toward population growth in particular, it's worth wondering how far the same principle would apply. After all, virtually any issue facing the provincial government has at least some economic component to it. And if Enterprise Saskatchewan were charged with the mandate of dealing with any matter which could affect or be affected by economic development, then Wall's appointed body would usurp virtually the entire role of the provincial government before long.

We'll see if Wall is willing to offer any answers about just how much power he'd devolve to Enterprise Saskatchewan, and what groups would get left out as a result. But it seems far more likely that this is just one more area where Saskatchewan voters are being asked to put their blind faith in the Sask Party. And as those areas keep piling up, there's ever less reason to give the Sask Party the benefit of any doubt.