Economic development on the prairies was the main point of conversation Thursday, as a federal minister spoke with Saskatchewan’s Chamber of Commerce (SCC) in Regina.
In her first stop of the day, Minister of PrairiesCan Eleanor Olszewski joined the SCC Thursday morning – stressing the importance of a good working relationship between Ottawa and Saskatchewan.
“Just see how things are going in Saskatchewan and to emphasize to the people of Saskatchewan that businesses here, that the federal government wants to work with them and to advance this region’s strengths as much as possible in this time of great global uncertainty,” she said.
PrairiesCan is a federal department, largely helping small and medium sized businesses across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
“PrairiesCan can help businesses bring their proposals to a table, and that cuts across about ten different government departments and some agencies as well,” Olszewski explained. “For projects that come to that table, there could be a decision made for funding across various different government departments.”
In Saskatchewan, there are PrairiesCan offices in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.
When asked about what she took away from her fireside chat and Q&A session with SCC CEO Prabha Ramaswamy, Olszewski noted that “Team Canada Strong” was certainly top of mind.
“We talk so much about building and building [Team] Canada’s Strong, building housing and major projects and other smaller projects, but if we don’t have the workforce to accomplish that, we’re not going to get anywhere,” she said.
“I think this historic investment in the skilled trades is an incredible thing, and it will really help us move our ambitions in terms of building into a reality.”
Announced on April 29, Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed Team Canada Strong – a $6 billion initiative to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 workers in red seal trades over the next five years.
According to Olszewki, the project is the first national sovereign wealth fund that will “help finance large scale projects and give Canadians the opportunity to invest directly into our country’s growth.”
She said projects in sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, critical minerals, technology, manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing can benefit from the fund.
As a new announcement on Thursday, Olszewski revealed that $4.875 million will go towards women entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan.
“[The funding] offers advisory services and training, provides information, access to capital to help women grow their businesses,” she said. “This funding will help close gaps in the system, and it will just ensure that more entrepreneurs have the tools that they need to succeed.”
“Since budget 2025, our focus has been on implementation and really on responsible fiscal management during a time of global uncertainty,” she said.
“What that means for Saskatchewan, I say, is stronger investment conditions, reducing uncertainty and more projects actually moving forward. I think those factors will help determine whether this province can capture the opportunities that lie ahead for it.”
Following the event, Olszewski made her way to the RM of Sherwood.
