Panel Speaks Volumes About Local Economic Opportunity
It was filled with explanations, expectations and words that the local economy is on its way up as the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon as part of their Annual General Meeting.
Attended by over 50 local business movers and shakers the AGM was followed by the President’s Luncheon which included a panel discussion, Drivers Of The Local Economy.
The discussion answered questions about the organizations’ panelists work for and what they saw when it came to the future of Moose Jaw’s economy.
The panelists included Kristen Craig from Sask Polytechnic, Scott Greenough from CAE Inc and Jim Dixon from the City of Moose Jaw.
City of Moose Jaw Economic Development Officer Jim Dixon (far right) speaks during the Moose Jaw And District Chamber of Commerce’s President’s Luncheon as fellow panelists Kristen Craig a program dean (far left) from Sask Polytechnic and Scott Greenough director of operations for the NATO Flying Training Program from CAE Inc look on - MJ Independent photo
Dixon was asked how important existing businesses were to job growth within the local economy.
“At least 70 percent of the job creation, new jobs…is based upon the expansion of existing companies and businesses within the community. So it is really critical we have a healthy place to do business and our existing businesses are expanding to create new jobs,” he said.
Positives in the local economy this year included the doubling of size of Canadian Tire, Donald’s Fine Foods expansion and the old XL Beef plant plus Brandt Industries open up a trailer manufacturer were all economic positives driving the city.
“They (Donald’s Fine Foods) have invested heavily into the community so they obviously have faith in the community. There is going to be 100 new jobs with that.”
Brandt Industries moving to construct a trailer manufacturing facility creating dozens of new jobs is a strong sign economically Dixon said.
“The fact that they have made moves to create a vibrant business we can assume because there are a very successful company.”
Craig was asked what are the benefits of having a Sask Polytech Campus in Moose Jaw?
Employment and student numbers are great benefits from having the Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw.
“I am not sure if you are aware but Sask Polytech employs over 250 people in Moose Jaw. And every year you have about 2,600 students studying,” Craig said.
She went on to state how the local campus has a diverse student population from all over the world and how this diversity is on display in the city.
“Many international students come to Moose Jaw and they make Moose Jaw or Saskatchewan their home.”
She was unable to say how many students from the Palliser Campus stay in Moose Jaw but 94 percent of the graduates stay in Saskatchewan.
On an annual basis Sask Polytech and their alumni contribute $2.2 billion annually into Saskatchewan’s economy, Craig said.
At the present time she pointed to a $15.6 million upgrade going into the Moose Jaw campus to help support the trades programs and the new Agricultural and Foods program.
“That is supporting our community. Alumni that come back into the community and industry members we have partnerships with so really great things are happening on the Moose Jaw Campus.”
Greenough was asked to provide information about CAE Inc.
He told about how CAE (Canadian Aviation Electronics) was a Montreal based Canadian company with a world-wide workforce of 13,000 employees and 5,000 based in Canada.
Locally there are about 195 CAE employees with a further 25 employees based out of Cold Lake, Alberta where they assist with the NATO Flight training school headquartered in Moose Jaw.
CAE is no longer only involved in flight but today is involved in other sectors such as health care and defense and security.
CAE came to Moose Jaw in 2015 after Bombardier sold them their contract. Bombardier was part of the Department of National Defense (DND) moving towards having industry to support certain aspects in the training of new pilots.
“Our technicians are primarily responsible for taking care of those airplanes,” he said.
There are 22 turboprop and about 20 Hawk jet aircraft used for training purposes at 15 Wing.
“The majority of our people at the base are responsible for keeping the aircraft (maintained) on the ground,” Greenough said.
Dixon was asked how do the new Sask Power Gas Generating Plant and Donald’s Fine Foods drive the local economy?
“The impact on the economy is just terrific. They need accommodation. They need restaurants. They need services of whatever it is so the impact is really impressive,” he said.
Dixon said they had a “heads up” by the City of Swift Current exactly what the impact would be, Dixon said.
“It’s amazing.”
Touring the conversion of the former XL Beef Plant being converted into a farrow sow slaughter facility has several contractors working on site.
“They were able to get contractors from here, in the province and they are bringing them in from out of province. So again we are bringing new money into the community so that is win-win. The impact is impressive and we are experiencing it now so it’s a great time,” he said.
Craig was asked about what is offered at Sask Polytechnic?
She replied at present there are 20 training programs at the institution ranging from business to the trades, architectural technology and engineering programs.
“We have a wide variety of programs at the Moose Jaw Campus. One of the things that I think is important is to note that we are adding new programs yearly based on demand from industry,” she said.
Supply chain, project management and financial services are being taught as part of being in synch where Saskatchewan’s economy is headed.
“I think that speaks to us heeding to industries’ demand,” she said, adding “or in up and coming areas there is going to be demand for.”
The Moose Jaw economy benefits from Sask Polytechnic being in the community.
“We are contributing a lot to the local economy by bringing these students in over the 20 programs in our campus and then they are going out into the (local) industry in many areas,” Craig said.
Goodnough was asked what has contributed to the longevity of 75 years for CAE Inc?
He said it all started in 1947 with the realization of a World War II vet that the new airplanes were going to need a lot of electronic equipment in an airplane hanger in Montreal.
“It just spun off of there into the simulator business…I think it is a globally known brand. If you are a pilot out in the civil (air) sector…getting checked out in a new airplane…it is highly likely you are going in one of our simulators,” Goodnough said.
CAE is the number one supplier of full flight simulators in the world.
He said often when people look at the base they only think of a military operation but many people are not military in what they do there.
“There are a lot of opportunities for folks to work out at the base that aren’t military. We have a lot of civilian jobs. We have jobs available right now just go on our website.”
Dixon was asked what he saw as economic opportunities for Moose Jaw?
He saw numerous economic opportunities for the city.
“We really have some exciting times right now. And we have been busy in the last few years and moving forward we have an agri-food industrial park that is an annexed 3,800 acres. So for the long term we are sitting very well. We have positioned ourselves well,” Dixon said.
Geo-thermal is another area he sees as a boon for Moose Jaw.
He said the heat from the geo-thermal layer underground could be used for process heat and potential energy.
“Things like greenhouses become viable,” he said, adding “natural gas is recyclable and reduces the carbon footprint…its adding value to the products we produce here.”
Other opportunities are with indigenous people and tourism in that area.
“We are developing an indigenous engagement framework. We think it is really long past due and so we see opportunities around indigenous tourism, entrepreneurship and things like that,” Dixon said.
Editor’s Note - MJ Independent did not attend the business and annual report portion of the Chambers’ AGM as it is closed to non-members.