Growing Saskatoon: Saskatoon’s Regional Economic Map

The Saskatoon region is currently benefiting from province-wide economic growth, but what are the prospects going forward? And what can leaders do to promote healthy growth? The Conference Board considers the economic future of the Saskatoon region based on three possible scenarios over the next 20 years. Projected average annual GDP growth for the region ranges from 1.9 per cent in the pessimistic case to 2.9 per cent in the optimistic. Over 20 years, this translates into a difference of $5.83 billion—or 35 per cent of Saskatoon’s 2013 GDP. The size of the gap will be determined largely by global demand for Saskatchewan’s natural resources and agriculture products, but other social and economic factors will also determine whether Saskatoon becomes the world-class city it has the potential to be. Growing Saskatoon looks at how the region performs on these factors and highlights areas for improvement. These include policies to foster the social and economic integration of newcomers and the Aboriginal population, increase productivity through innovation, and diversify the economy.