City council committee discusses business principles for Saskatoon

A group of business organizations continued its effort this week to lobby for more influence on Saskatoon city council’s decisions.

Article content

Article content

The Combined Business Group (CBG) includes the Discover Saskatoon tourism organization, the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority, Colliers Canada (a commercial real estate company), the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, the North Saskatoon Business Association and the Saskatchewan Realtors Association.

Article content

The group’s chair, Stephanie Clovechok, said its purpose is to give local businesses a more effective and efficient voice.

At Wednesday’s meeting of council’s governance and priorities committee, the CBG proposed six new guiding principles for the city to follow in supporting the goals of business owners.

They include treating the business community as partners, streamlining the business environment, reducing the cost of doing business, building “transformational” infrastructure, enhancing safety and security, and elevating Saskatoon’s reputation.

The last time the CBG presented guiding principles to city council was in 2007.

“A business-ready city is not just good for our businesses. It is the foundation of a thriving, prosperous community where workers, families and entrepreneurs can build their future with confidence,” Clovechok said.

Bringing these principles to council is well-timed given the tariff and trade struggles that are ongoing between Canada and the United States, she told the committee.

Clovechok said the new principles outlined by the group differ from the list it brought forward in 2007, focusing on issues like safety and security.

Article content

Article content

“The environment has changed, and we’re really here to express to city council that we’re here as partners,” she said.

Council followed the principles brought forward in 2007 well, and if it could be done back then, it can be done today, she added.

Mayor Cynthia Block said this topic ties in with an effort that “was a big part of my election campaign,” referring to her intention to create a facilitated business group meeting within 100 days of being elected.

“My office is working diligently to create the facilitated session that I promised,” she said, adding that the aim of the session is to set goals together and hold each other accountable.

She said the part she’s trying to figure out with a facilitator is how to involve people outside of the business group — for example, people within urban reserve communities and those working in agriculture.

She wants everyone to have a voice, and meeting in the spirit of reconciliation is also important, she said, “Because I think that’s how we’ll thrive together as a business community in our city.”

Clovechok said the CBG and many people within the business community are waiting to take part in the facilitated session, or any task force Block and council might create.

Article content

The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.

With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark thestarphoenix.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.

Article content