Canada is entering what some are calling an investment super cycle. Massive amounts of capital will flow into the country to fund a very wide spectrum of things: from infrastructure to national defence, assets which had largely been neglected by the Trudeau administration.
Saskatchewan will play a big role in that tsunami of direct investment. The biggest project is Bell’s AI centre just outside Regina but that is just one of many large plays underway or on the drawing boards – things ranging from additional mines to value-added food processing and expansion of the oil industry as pipeline capacity grows.
In short, we are looking at years of sustained capital spending on growth projects.
All of this brings us to an interesting question: who is going to build all this stuff? Where will the workers come from?
This is a critical question when you consider there are thousands on waiting lists for Saskatchewan Polytech as it works towards an expanded Saskatoon campus, an effort given a big boost last week when noted Saskatchewan business figure Merlis Belsher committed $5 million towards the new campus.
— For more than 50 years, Paul Martin has specialized in coverage of the business and political scenes. His career has spanned radio, television and print and electronic media.
