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Back when Saskatchewan Business first compiled the Top 100 list, a billion dollars a year in sales was heady stuff indeed. Only Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Federated Co-operatives ventured into such rarefied air. Today four billion is a reality and a half dozen firms with Saskatchewan headquarters find themselves in the billion dollar a year club.
That's significant growth.
Back in 1985, the first time the listing was prepared, Saskatchewan's total economy output was in the $16 billion range. Today that figure is closer to $25 billion -- 50 per cent growth in only a decade, perhaps not thrilling for an equity fund but not bad for a modest provincial economy.
As always, the story behind the story lies in the numbers. Saskatchewan, we know very well, is a unique economy with its mix of cooperatives, government and private firms. No other provincial economy can lay claim to such diversity. Govemment corporations hold six of the top 25 spots. Add another four that have major government investment or financial backing. That makes 10 of the top 25. Three...