The Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA) is taking action to ensure the future prosperity of Saskatchewan’s rural and small urban (“rurban”) communities by sharing our cost-effective and actionable policy platform.
These areas, while facing unique challenges such as slower economic growth, infrastructure limitations, and population decline, are vital to the province’s overall sustainability and economic health. Recognizing their importance, SEDA has developed a policy platform to champion the economic, environmental, and social resilience of these communities.
Why Focus on Rurban Communities for a Policy Platform?
Rurban communities, with populations ranging from a few hundred to 40,000, face both opportunities and challenges due to the province’s evolving economy. They also reflect the majority of SEDA’s members realities and professional work and are often overlooked or not well understood by decision-makers.
Many of these areas are located away from major urban centers like Saskatoon and Regina, making it challenging to attract investment, labour, and businesses, as well as to capitalize on emerging economic opportunities. Despite contributing significantly to the province’s GDP, these communities are vulnerable to fluctuations in resource-based industries, global economic disruptions, and limited access to infrastructure and resources.
Yet, despite these challenges, rurban communities are essential to Saskatchewan’s prosperity and continue to demonstrate their resilience. They form the backbone of vital industries like agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing, with their success directly influencing the broader provincial economy. Additionally, they embody the culture and values of the province’s people.
SEDA’s platform aims to help champion our members’ work, rurban communities and provide solutions to politicians and policy makers. We seek to share policy options that will empower these communities, ensuring their continued prosperity amid changing economic conditions.
On behalf of SEDA, we express our gratitude for your support and invite you to share this post and policy platform with your network. Help us raise awareness of the vital work our members are doing to foster resilient and thriving communities.