Rail blockades across the country continue today despite provincial leaders and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserting the blockades need to come down. The Chamber says Saskatchewan is heavily reliant on trade with over 66% of the goods produced within the province being shipped outside of Canada.

Darla Lindbjerg President and CEO of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce says the chamber supports the right to protest and that it is an important part of our society. However, she believes chamber members want protesting to be done in a legal way and to not inhibit growth and economic development.

“We’re hopeful that we’ll see some positive movements going forward, because right now we’re seeing a lot of disruption, and it’s going to impact our economy. If things are not changed and if we do not see some progress, ripple effects are going to be huge for Saskatchewan and across the country.”

In a press release the Chamber stated they support the unencumbered flow of goods and services across the country and they are actively advocating on behalf of their membership to ensure that the corresponding supply chains can recover quickly.

The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce also took the time to address the cancellation of the Teck Frontier Mine. This weekend Teck Resources cancelled the project that was ten years in the making, marks the loss of potentially thousands of jobs and the prospect for economic activity.

Darla Lindbjerg explains the province is facing a lot of uncertainty across the board.

“We’ve seen a lot of capital, a lot of investment move to other jurisdictions . Whether that be to the U.S or across seas, and that’s something that is going to hurt a lot of people. Whether we’re talking from a cost of living perspective or we’re talking from an employment perspective, there’s always ripple effects.”

The Chamber addressed what they call the crucial need for the regulatory system in Canada, regardless of sector, to create a sense of certainty for investors.