April 29, 2022 | Category: News Releases

Regina, Saskatchewan—WESTAC members gathered in Regina and online (April 21 – 22, 2022) to attend the annual Spring Member Forum. Sessions and member discussions focused on components and considerations for a new economic plan for Canada.

Hon. Fred Bradshaw, Minister of Highways, Government of Saskatchewan and Chair of WESTAC, opened the Forum emphasizing the importance of thinking beyond infrastructure and provincial borders to broader transportation networks to solve the challenges facing the industry. 

The speakers provided members with insights to consider when rethinking and reimagining what the future of Canada could look like. External factors increasingly influence decision-making at an operational and strategic level. These external factors include climate challenges, demographic realities, and geopolitical influences in our ever-interconnected world. Darrell Bricker, Chief Executive Officer at Ipsos Public Affairs, kicked off the Forum by focusing on the shifts in demographics that will inevitably impact the planning and operational capacities of all organizations.

WESTAC was honoured to have Premier Scott Moe address the members on Saskatchewan’s tremendous growth plan. This address set the stage for the afternoon sessions, looking at new and emerging opportunities in Saskatchewan of interest to our membership, including potash, canola, hydrogen, helium and lithium.

“The recipe for success in Saskatchewan is quite simple. We attract investment; we develop our natural resources; we sell them to people in other areas of the world. We create jobs, people move here, and ultimately, we can fulfill our growth agenda and reinvest that revenue back into our growing and vibrant communities. The recipe for success is equally simple for Canada,” remarked Premier Scott Moe while addressing WESTAC members.

Other Forum speakers included a mix of members and guests. Member updates and lessons learned are a favourite that keeps industry leaders up to date. The Forum provided an opportunity for collaboration and thoughtful dialogue beneficial for the overarching Canadian supply chain.

Other topics covered by speakers included:

• Reimagining transportation and logistics
• Resources of the future and where Canada has the edge
• Globalization and the future of Canada as a trading nation
• Emerging industries in Saskatchewan
• Canadian security

WESTAC President and CEO Lindsay Kislock noted that “There are plenty of reasons for cautious optimism about Canada’s economic future. We are leaders in several industries providing low-carbon products that the world needs now more than ever. Through collaboration and timely decisions, we can grow our contribution to world markets and contribute to lowering global emissions.”

A complete list of speakers can be found here. A proceedings report will be available to members in the coming weeks.

—30—

 

About WESTAC

The Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC) is a council of organizations in the transportation sector represented by senior decision-makers. WESTAC’s members span all aspects of freight transportation in Canada. They include carriers and logistics providers, ports and terminals, shippers, labour unions, and the three levels of government. Members represent a significant share of the western Canadian economy. We focus on critical issues that affect Western Canada’s freight transportation network to ensure that it is safe, efficient, reliable and competitive.

For more information, please contact:
Marzia Rizvi
Manager, Program Development & Communications
mrizvi@westac.com