Advantages of Investing and Doing Business in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is committed to creating and nurturing an economic environment that allows businesses of all sizes to grow and prosper.
The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to maintaining stable and competitive royalty rates on natural resources developed in partnership with industry. Government has also introduced several initiatives to reduce red tape and streamline regulations.
Location, location, location
Saskatchewan’s central time zone and central location in North America make it easy to do business throughout the continent
Saskatchewan has an ideal location for both manufacturing and distribution – only a day away by land from a market of 5 million people, and only two days away from more than 300 million people in Canada and the United States
Taxes and Incentives
The Saskatchewan corporate income tax rate on manufacturing and processing profits may be as low as 10%
Manufacturers and processors that establish facilities in Saskatchewan are eligible for a 6% refundable investment tax credit on capital purchases, and direct agents used in the manufacturing process are exempt from the provincial sales tax
The small business income tax rate for Canadian-controlled private corporations is 2% and applies to the first $500,000 of business income
Of the Canadian provinces with a provincial sales tax, Saskatchewan’ s rate of 6% is the lowest
Saskatchewan does not charge a payroll tax for employers, and there are no health benefit charges
Toll-free telephone services are exempt from the provincial sales tax
Saskatchewan has a refundable 10% tax credit for scientific research and development expenditures
Capital Investment
Since 2008, Saskatchewan has reached an estimated $151 billion in new investments (based on Statistics
Canada 2017 preliminary estimates).
International companies that have invested or opened operations in Saskatchewan include:
- BHP Billiton
- K+S Potash
- Glencore
- AREVA
- Yara International
- BASF
Real Estate and Utilities
Crown corporations in Saskatchewan supply electricity, natural gas and telecommunication services that are among the most competitive in North America
Utility rates in Saskatchewan are among the most competitive in North America
Infrastructure
T0 accommodate economic growth, the federal and provincial governments, along with the City of Regina, are developing the Global Transportation Hub to the west of the city. The GTH includes major private-sector projects, such as a $200-million facility for Canada’ s largest food distributor
We offer research and development infrastructure in a wide variety of areas, such as biotechnology, advanced technologies, and energy development
Innovation Saskatchewan is the central agency of the Government of Saskatchewan with responsibility for developing policies and programs and conducting activities that assist in the implementation of Saskatchewan’ s innovation priorities
Saskatchewan has extensive research infrastructure, with a particular focus on agriculture, agricultural biotechnology, energy, and carbon capture and storage
A solid infrastructure of road, rail and air transport make Saskatchewan an ideal location for both manufacturing and distribution
A recent national study ranked Saskatchewan first for freight transportation, primarily because of a high ratio of tonnes of freight per kilometre of rail
Our highway and municipal road networks constitute the largest rural road system in Canada, totaling more than 190,000 kilometres
The province has 2,400 trucking companies, two international airports, two major rail lines and nine shortline railroads
Population and Demographics
Saskatchewan’s population is at an all- time high. As of April 1, 2018, there were 1,171,240 people living in the province, an increase of 11,691 in the past year.
Saskatchewan has two demographic factors that make it unique:
The province has the third largest percentage of workers aged 15 to 24 in Canada. In the next 15 years, nearly 200,000 people will reach employment age. This is important considering the wave of baby boomers expected to retire in the next decade.
Indigenous people made up about 15.6% of the province’ s population in 2011 and are expected to account for about one in five people in Saskatchewan by 2036. The relatively young age of the Indigenous population provides opportunities to meet future labour demands.
Natural Resources
Saskatchewan has ready access to large reserves of varied resources in the forestry, mining, agriculture and energy sectors
The Saskatchewan government has publicly committed to maintaining stable and competitive royalty rates on natural resources developed in partnership with industry
