SECTOR NEWS
CONSTRUCTION
In Saskatoon, construction started on 31 new multi-unit projects in the first two months of 2017, down 73% the same period last year..
Canada reduced anti-dumping duties on U.S. drywall imports being used in Western Canada.
Construction has begun on a pair of overpasses on Highway 11 near Warman and Highway 12 by Martensville ($60.6 million project).
RETAIL AND WHOLESALE
SLGA decision to stop selling a popular gluten-free lager creates opportunity for small brewers.
Proposal with City Council to provide more flexibility to food truck operators.
Shuttle service offers new options for Martensville, Warman.
Saskatoon distillery's cask gin named 'world's best'. BlackFox's Barrel Aged Vapour Infused gin took first place in the “cask gin” category at the recent World Gin Awards.
MANUFACTURING
Brandt Group plans wind turbine factory in former Mitsubishi Hitachi plant, targets around 500 employees.
Canada manufacturing growth rises for sixth month in March.
Saskatchewan manufacturers posted $1.21 billion in sales in January, a 2.5% month-over-month increase.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Saskatoon-based, Noodlecake Studios is the first Canadian firm featured in Apple Inc.'s new series on its App Store.
Vendasta has grown by at least 50% over each of the last 3 years and is on track to reach $30 million in revenue and 300 employees by end of 2017.
Trump's revised travel ban creates potential for Canadian tech companies to recruit more employees.
International Road Dynamics Inc. (Saskatoon based Tech Company) was acquired by a Wi-Lan (Canadian patent licensing firm) for $63.5 million.
Some of Canada's largest corporations are contributing to a $5 million fund for artificial intelligence startups.
Sask. scientists start next phase in developing world's first bovine TB vaccine.
Federal and Provincial government announced a combined $63-million investment in the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research.
MINING
Gensource Potash and Essel Group ME announced they have formed Vanguard Potash Corp., and are planning on building a 250,000-tonnes-per-year mine in Saskatchewan.
Fraser Institute survey ranked Saskatchewan as the best place in the world to invest in mining.
TEPCO gave Cameco notice that it was terminating its uranium supply contract affecting 9.3 million pounds of uranium ($1.3 billion in revenue) to be delivery through 2028.
Western Potash has come up with an innovative solution mine. They are easing into the new design with a pilot plant, in the RM of Lajord, that will produce 146,000 tonnes of potash per year.
ENERGY
Oil hits as high as US$55 on tighter supplies.
Saskatchewan oil drilling numbers double in first quarter (856 wells).
U.S. issued a presidential permit for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline (Mar 24).
IEA warns of oil 'supply crunch' by 2020 with no capex renaissance.
Major oil companies caught in orphan wells crisis as tiny Lexin Resources goes solvent.
Saskatoon City and Tribal Council announce partnership on $61.5 million hydro power project at weir.
Canada's oil industry ponders its fate as the threat of electric cars looms in the rearview mirror.
Canadian oilfield services companies are reporting higher prices, buoyant business activity and robust bookings for the remainder 2017.
AGRICULTURE
India requires pea and lentils to be treated for pests prior to entering India (Exception granted to June 30).
Canola is a $12.2 billion industry now. About 92,000 jobs and $3.9 billion in wages can now be traced back to the canola grown, processed and handled in Saskatchewan.
Murad Al-Katib has won the 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award. Al-Katib is president and CEO of AGT Foods — one of the largest suppliers of pulse crops in the world.
Canola exports hit record $845M
CanniMed is planning a $10.5 million expansion at its facility southeast of Saskatoon, which it says could allow for the production of up to 720,000 litres of cannabinoid oil each year.