PAGE 17 Thursday, May 16, 2024 MERIDIAN SOURCE
Careers
What defines service? MIDWEST MINUTE VERN McCLELLAND
I am going to ask you to stop and think for a moment. Where did you get the best service in the last seven days? Was it a restaurant? Tire shop? Dentist? Online order? And what made that business or person stand out from the rest? Like you, I do know poor service when I get it. Sometimes it is in surprising places, like
a health care professional’s office which consistently overbooks, running their clients through like cattle in a chute, always taking longer than is necessary if committed to quality over quantity. Or a retail store worker who just shrugs their shoulders when asked where a particular item might be located. I hate to say this out loud, but I love Amazon. You order what you want, when you want, usually at very competitive pricing. It is delivered to the
door in a guaranteed time frame, and if for some reason the product doesn’t suit, it is easily returned. I know, I know. It takes jobs away locally. But fighting traffic and wandering around big box stores trying to find the same article, only to discover it is sold out even though it was just advertised, is just a waste of time in my opinion. Some companies have built an incredibly loyal client base around a commitment to service. You may pay more for their support, but if you
need them, they will be there as promised. But too many times, people think good service means their “wants” deserve to come first before anybody else’s. The same Amazon and Wal-Mart “always open” business model has made them believe you should be able to get what you want, when you want. For example, the late Saturday night phone call by someone wanting to see a cabin the next morning at a location an hour plus away. No regard for either
Sask construction sector continues to grow MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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On Monday, Statistics Canada released Saskatchewan’s building permit figures, which show an increase of 15.8 per cent year-over-year growth for March 2024, compared to March 2023 (seasonally adjusted). This places Saskatchewan well above the national decrease of negative 15.2 per cent. “The increase in the value of building permits demonstrates the confidence that individuals and industry have in making long-term investments in Saskatchewan,” said Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison. “This growth is only possible through the deliberate efforts we have made to foster a competitive business environment,
lessen regulatory burden and make Saskatchewan a reliable place to invest. These factors are contributing to attracting record private capital investment into the province, which is leading to new jobs being created in our communities.” In March 2024, building permits in Saskatchewan totalled $176 million (seasonally adjusted). The total value of building permits represents the dollar value of construction permits for residential and non-residential buildings. The provincial economy has seen rapid growth lately, with Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicating that Saskatchewan’s 2023 real GDP reached an all-time high of $77.9 billion, increasing by $1.2
billion, or 1.6 per cent. This places Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth, and above the national average of 1.2 per cent. Private capital investment is projected to reach $14.2 billion in 2024, an increase of 14.4 per cent over 2023. This is the highest anticipated percentage increase in Canada. To build upon these positive results, the Government of Saskatchewan recently unveiled its new Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy. The strategy was launched in conjunction with a new trade and investment website, called investSK.ca. Both the strategy and website will solidify Saskatchewan’s standing as the best place to do business in Canada.
the Realtor’s plans for the day with their own family, or the property owner who is being asked to vacate it for the showing at short notice. Especially when you find out the prospect has been camping at the lake the entire previous week and decided the best time to check it out was before leaving for home that afternoon. Yes, like any other self-employed person, I know there are times
when customers may need some extra care, but I really would like to see some courtesy and common sense from time to time. Vern McClelland is an associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster and an active partner in his family’s livestock operation. Comments on this article are welcome either by emailing vernmcclelland@remax.net or calling 306-821-0611.