We can now go out and celebrate in Saskatchewan … that is, if we still remember how.
After 16 months of COVID-19 restrictions, we may have forgotten how to party.
Moreover, the cost of the pandemic combined with the residential school gravesite now casts pallor over the province’s mood.
But if you look around Saskatchewan of late, you can easily find plenty of reasons to celebrate.
Let us begin with getting rid of the masks last weekend and being able to gather in large groups like at ‘Rider games: It’s sometimes worth having a party simply because you haven’t had one in a while.
That said, recent COVID-19 numbers, themselves, are cause for celebration.
Our daily case counts are in the low-double digits and, as of the writing of this, we have so far only seen one death in the month of July.
These are numbers this province hasn’t seen since early October, showing that vaccines finally appear to be winning the war with new and more deadly variants of COVID-19.
Sure, Saskatchewan could be doing a lot better at getting people vaccinated. We have stalled at around the 70-per-cent mark when it comes to eligible people over 12 years receiving a single dose — last in the nation. But we are leading or near the top of the heap when it comes to the percentage of people who are fully vaccinated.
Half of those eligible in the province are fully vaccinated. And with the new variants requiring two doses to be effective and with the legitimate concern of a sudden spread after we open things up, the importance of having fully vaccinated people cannot be underplayed.
Moreover, the removal of restrictions will improve economy — great news for the current Saskatchewan budget that comes after news that the 2020-21 budget wasn’t quite as bad as we thought it might be.
One might rightly question whether we should be celebrating final numbers for the 2020-21 budget that still show a $1.3-billion deficit — especially given that the 2021-22 Saskatchewan budget will be dangerously close to double that amount.
Moreover, Saskatchewan budgets now appear to be structural problems largely due to excessive capital spending. Remember: We aren’t going to see a balanced budget this term.
That said, recent good economic news is offering new hope.
Oil is again hovering around $75 US a barrel. Saskatchewan agriculture was a huge success story in 2020 with a record $16.9 billion in exports and comparative fewer crop insurance payouts.
No one can guarantee similar success on the farm this year, but it is important to note that income tax numbers in 2021-22 budget will be better because of the farm revenue from the 2020 crop.
This is translating into other good news —606,800 Saskatchewan people working people in May, which are 24,600 more than a year ago. It’s still 4,300 fewer people working in May 2019, but it surely is a sign of recovery.
Sadly, all this is now happening as this province and the country as whole grapples with the re-discovery of gravesites like the possible 751 graves found at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School at the Cowessess First Nation.
We are all struggling with the best way to atone for a history that we didn’t personally create but one that has clearly had a lasting effect on First Nations communities and people.
Last week’s announcement at Cowessess of a two-year, $38.7 million support from the federal government to take over child services seems a good start to righting this historical wrong.
It is a reminder that child and family services are costly. There will likely be administrative and other issues as First Nations families will continue to struggle.
But the first-of-its-kind announcement at Cowessess offers new hope. It’s one more thing surely worth celebrating in Saskatchewan this summer.
