Demographics
Population
- 0.99 million (2005)
- Canada 's only province where the majority of the population is of neither British nor French background.
- Represents various ethnic cultures: Dutch, German, Ukrainian, Scandinavian, Polish, Russian, Amerindian, British, French, and many other non-European origins.
Total labour force, 2004: 507 000
Total area: 652,330 KM 2
Employment by industry (000s), 2004
| Services |
204.8 |
| Trade |
76.3 |
| Agriculture |
46.7 |
Population of major urban centres (000s), 2004
| Saskatoon Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) |
234.0 |
| Regina CMA (capital) |
198.6 |
Languages (% distribution)
| English mother tongue |
84.0 |
| French mother tongue |
1.9 |
| Speaking both official languages |
5.0 |
Economy
| Real GDP growth |
3.9% |
| Consumer Price Index inflation |
2.2% |
| Unemployment rate |
5.3% |
Total international trade ($ CDN billions )
| Exports |
12.2 |
| Imports |
4.7 |
Trade and Investment (2004)
International export markets (%)
| United States |
65.2 |
| China |
5.9 |
| Japan |
4.3 |
International import suppliers (%)
| United States |
89.5 |
Germany
|
1.3 |
China
|
1.2 |
Top three international exports (%)
| Minerals, fuels & oils |
33.3 |
| Fertilizers |
17.8 |
| Cereals |
14.6 |
Top three international imports (%)
| Machinery |
30.5 |
| Motor vehicles & parts |
16.6 |
Misc. chemical
|
6.5 |
Business and Investment Environment
- Saskatchewan ’s workforce is one of the best educated in Canada – close to 50% of employees have a post-secondary education.
- It also offers the lowest corporate income tax rate in western Canada on manufacturing and processing profits, to as low as 10 per cent subject to the amount of business a company does in the province.
- A solid infrastructure of road, rail and air transport and a Central North American location make it an ideal setting for both manufacturing and distribution.
- The United States is its largest trading partner – in 2004 nearly $8 billion worth of goods were shipped south of the border.
Sectoral Strengths
Food, Crop and Beverage Processing
- The province’s $2.2-billion food and beverage processing industry includes more than 250 companies, employs over 6,600 people and produces: flour products, meat products, fruit-based products, certified organic foods, specialty foods, and nutraceuticals.
- The industry produces about 20% of its total manufacturing and processing output.
Machinery, Transportation and Industrial Equipment
- Employing 12,000 people, the industry generated sales worth $2.5 billion in 2004.
- A diverse range of about 300 companies with complementary industrial processes and capabilities produce world-class products.
Agriculture
- With 44 per cent of Canada ’s cultivated farmland, Saskatchewan accounts for over half of the wheat grown in Canada , and also produces crops that enable the production of ethanol, paint and linoleum, paper, strawboard, textiles and bio-diesel.
Oil and gas
- It is Canada ’s second-largest producer of crude oil and third-largest natural gas producer.
- It has an excellent infrastructure that includes numerous pipeline systems delivering crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products to domestic and international markets.
Minerals: exploration, extraction, processing and servicing
- It’s the world’s largest potash producer and exporter, supplying one-third of world demand; the world’s largest uranium producer, accounting for about 30% of global production; and Canada ’s third-largest coal producer.
Advanced technologies: agricultural biotechnology and life sciences
- It is one of the world’s leading ag-biotech research centres.
- Innovation Place in Saskatoon is one of North America ’s most advanced research parks for agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the environment. Also located in Saskatoon is the Canadian Light Source synchrotron that will help ground-breaking research in the biotechnology, nanotechnology, medical and pharmaceutical, and aerospace sectors.
Forestry
- More than half of Saskatchewan – about 355,000 km 2 – is forested. Comprising around 300 companies, the forestry industry generates more than $750 million a year into the provincial economy and employs around 9,000 people.
Online Resources
Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
www.ir.gov.sk.ca
Investment Saskatchewan
www.investsask.com
Government of Saskatchewan
www.gov.sk.ca
Contacts
In Canada , contact:
International Trade Canada
E-mail: investincanada@international.gc.ca
Internet : www.investincanada.gc.ca
For investment information on Saskatchewan , contact:
Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
E-mail: webmaster@ir.gov.sk.ca
Internet : www.ir.gov.sk.ca
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