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February 6, 2012
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Events: April
Mark Your Calendars!
May
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s Conference on Business is around the corner.
Make a Connection Conference on Business Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon May 9th and 10th
Make a Connection April 19, 2012 Register online today! www.saskchamber.com
The annual event hosts business people from in and around Saskatchewan representing a wide variety of commercial enterprise. The 2012 Conference on Business will include a variety of professional development sessions, our Chair’s Dinner, annual policy session, and dynamic business speakers.
Save the date! Inside this issue: Extreme Technology MakeOver Contest
2
May 9th and 10th, 2012 The Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
ABEX 2012 Nominations
2
More details to come.
Chamber Master Discount 10% to members!
3
Policy Library 3 Regulatory Simplification
Welcome to our New Members! Airline Hotels
RCMP Heritage Centre
Bluepoint Investments
Regina Hotel Association
Check-It Monitoring Solutions Inc. Legislative Report
4
Regina & Regina Home Builders’ Association
Destination Leadership Inc. Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Insurance Make a Connection
5
Illuminate Canada Immigration & Recruitment North Prairie Developments
Political Forum
5
Contact Us!
6
Takt Communications Inc.
Partner Technologies Incorporated
Thunder Spirit Consulting
Prairie View Properties
Yorkton Plumbing & Heating Ltd.
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Do you need a MakeOver? Horizon, along with the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce have partnered to bring you the Extreme Technology MakeOver. A unique chance for Saskatchewan-based organizations to obtain a technology makeover at zero cost to the winner, and worth up to $50,000. The contest is open to business or non-profit organizations of between 1-99 people based in Saskatchewan. The finalist will receive a complete technology assessment by Horizon and SaskTel, which will serve to develop a strategic plan to overhaul the winning firm’s IT infrastructure.
We encourage all local chambers to apply, and get their members involved too! Contest closes March 15, 2012. Register online today!
2012 ABEX Award Nominations open February 13th! Nominations for the 29th Annual Achievement in Business Excellence Awards open Monday, February 13th. The 2012 ABEX Awards will be held on October 20th in Regina, SK. For more information visit www.saskchamber.com or email Ashley at
[email protected] Being an ABEX Award Finalist or Winner can:
Strengthen the image of your organization, inspire investor confidence and make you
more attractive to jobseekers
Provide you with positive media exposure, attract new business prospects and clients Improve spirit and teamwork among your staff, making your organization a workplace of
choice Apply to be a finalist in the following award categories:
Service Export Community Involvement Aboriginal Business Partnership Young Entrepreneur of the Year Growth and Expansion Marketing New Venture Environment Innovation
The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce’s Celebrate Success Awards are also accepting nominations. To find out more visit www.celebrate-success.ca.
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Policy Library Regulatory Simplification—How bureaucratic red tape is harming your business. Red Tape Awareness Week was January 16-20, and Saskatchewan business leaders are sharing how much time and money unnecessary bureaucracy costs their business. Alarmingly, approximately 77% of businesses believe they have been negatively impacted by unnecessary regulation or bureaucratic red tape, according to a recent Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce survey. Red tape was defined to be any redundant regulatory burden or insistence of conformity to rules and processes that do not have any clear benefit. “A regulatory system that is inefficient and ineffective does not serve our citizens and limits economic growth in our province,” said Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO, Steve McLellan. “The resources that companies put towards handling red tape are tangible and could easily be put to better use.” Over 67% of survey respondents indicated that their staff spends over one week each year handling red tape and over 50% believe that provincial regulatory red tape costs their company in excess of $5000 annually.
To learn more about Regulatory Simplification in Saskatchewan please visit the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s online Policy Library at www.saskchamber.com
Receive a 10% Discount on ChamberMaster The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce has entered into a two-year partnership with ChamberMaster, bringing savings to the local chambers in Saskatchewan. ChamberMaster is member management software built especially for member-based organizations such as chambers of commerce. The Saskatchewan Chamber has been using ChamberMaster since 2010, and hopes to encourage other chambers to use this quality software that will provide our local chambers with the tools and solutions to improve member management, reporting and billing so as to improve efficiency, leaving more time for other important work such as policy development, advocacy and events. Our partnership with ChamberMaster offers an exclusive discount of 10% off monthly fees to any Saskatchewan Chamber member who uses ChamberMaster software. For more information, you can contact Shanti Pfenning from ChamberMaster at
[email protected] or 1-800-825-9171 ext. 302, or Dawn Boxall at the Saskatchewan Chamber at
[email protected].
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Legislative Report Saskatchewan Average Earnings Rank Second in Canada According to today's report from Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan's average weekly earnings were $904.42, the second highest in Canada behind Alberta ($1,052.53). This is the second highest average weekly earnings for Saskatchewan on record. The national average was $883.96. In November 2011, Saskatchewan's average weekly earnings increased by 5.1 per cent, compared to a year ago. This increase was the second highest among the provinces behind Newfoundland and Labrador (5.7 per cent) and above the national average of 2.2 per cent.
Saskatchewan Releases Regulatory Progress Report During Red Tape Awareness Week The Government of Saskatchewan proclaimed January 16 to 20 Red Tape Awareness Week and released its latest progress report detailing steps government ministries and agencies have taken to reduce red tape. The government is working toward its election promise of legislating red tape accountability measures and reporting on red tape reduction accomplishments. In addition to new legislation here at home, the province continues to eliminate regulatory barriers through the New West Partnership to ensure business has unfettered access to opportunities across the partner provinces of Alberta and B.C. To read the full report click here. To read the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s Regulatory Simplification Report see page 3 of this issue of action!online, or visit www.saskchamber.com.
SaskJobs.ca Posts a Record Number of Jobs in 2011 Saskjobs.ca continues to be Saskatchewan's largest career matching website with more jobs posted in 2011 than ever before. In 2011, there were more than 150,000 vacancies posted to the site, an increase of more than 39,000 positions compared to the 2010 postings. "In 2011, the site served more employers and received more visitors than ever before, “Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "With Saskatchewan posting one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and an unprecedented record of economic growth, Saskjobs.ca will continue to serve the needs of Saskatchewan employers and job seekers in 2012.” The site hosted a record 9.8 million visits in 2011 compared to 8.9 million visits in 2010.
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Political Forum 2012 The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s annual Political Forum was a great success, attended by 14 Ministers and 6 Opposition Critics as well as Premier Brad Wall. Here are a few photos from the night.
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO, Steve McLellan poses a question to Premier Wall.
Premier Wall addresses the crowd at Political Forum 2012.
Jordan McFarlen, Entrepreneurship 30 teacher from Campbell Collegiate (left), Pat Friesen, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Chair, and Premier Brad Wall (right). John Nilson, Leader of the Opposition, (left) and Pat Friesen, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Chair (right).
Make a Connection Reception This is an opportunity for Saskatchewan Chamber members from across the province to meet with Deputy Ministers, Crown Presidents and Chiefs of Staff. The reception is a casual opportunity to establish and ensure good working relationships between government officials and the business community. Register Online
April 19, 2012 Royal Regina Golf Club 4:30 p.m.—6:30 p.m. $75.00 +GST per person Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce members only.
Contact Us 1630-1920 Broad Street Regina, SK S4P 3V2 306.352.2671 Steve McLellan, CEO
[email protected] LaTonya Luhr, Administrative Assistant
[email protected] Ashley Dopko, Communications Coordinator
[email protected] Curtis Hemming, Director of Government Relations
[email protected]
Dr. Phil visits Saskatoon and Regina! The Power Within Leadership Series returns to Saskatoon and Regina on April 13th, 2012. Stay tuned for more information on the speakers, including keynote presenter Dr. Phil McGraw.
Kristin McKee, Director of Policy Development
[email protected] Jesse Chatterson, Director of Member Services
[email protected] Cindy Wright, Event Coordinator
[email protected] Dawn Boxall, Manager of Finance & Special Projects
[email protected]
Advertise with us! action! online is sent to 1500 business leaders who want to know about you! Contact Jesse Chatterson for more information.
[email protected] 306.352.2671
