SASKATOON, Sask. — Despite choosing to source some of his products to support farmers and ranchers in the province, Saskatoon small business owner Amjad Rafiquie says he feels the pain of his customers whenever they buy groceries at his two stores.
Rafiquie, who has operated Savour Supermarket and Halal Meat for more than 17 years, said that in that time, he has seen the cost of running a small business keep rising no matter what happens.
Halal meat is meat, such as beef, prepared under Islamic dietary laws as defined in the Quran. Animals must be healthy and raised free from suffering before being slaughtered with a clean, single, rapid cut to the throat using a sharp knife. All blood must be completely drained because Islam forbids consuming blood.
And with trade uncertainty between Canada and the U.S., driven by tariffs both countries imposed on each other, and continued tensions from the Israel-U.S. attack on Iran that disrupted oil supply chains, costs have gone up.
“The products we sell here, they travel thousands of miles from all around the world. Once they get to us, there are fuel charges, transportation charges, and then tariffs and all those things add up,” said Rafiquie, who joined Saskatoon MLAs Tajinder Grewal and Kim Breckner on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
“After more than 17 years as a Saskatchewan small business owner, I am seeing operating costs rise and customer purchasing power shrink. Small businesses are being squeezed from both sides: Our costs are increasing, while our customers can afford to buy less.”
He added that tariffs, rising gas prices and the harsh cost of living have increased costs for his customers and reduced his earnings, which he uses to pay rent, utilities and wages for about 25 employees across both branches of his store.
Saskatchewan’s year-to-date retail sales growth is dead last in Canada — with food-service sales increasing only 1.4 per cent from May 2025 to May 2026. As well, Saskatchewan people report the highest level of financial anxiety in Canada.
Breckner, the trade and export development shadow minister, and Grewal, the advanced education shadow minister, highlighted the challenges small business owners like Rafiquie face amid sky-high costs and new 50 per cent U.S. tariffs.
“How much can we pass on to the customer? Customers are already struggling with very low buying power. So, with all those additions, it gets very difficult for us to absorb those expenses or pass them on to customers,” said Rafiquie, who added that they absorb the costs of the goods they sell.
“But how much can a business afford? How much can it absorb? You have to walk a very thin line. How can you mitigate both situations? How can you make your customers happy? You have to pay rent. You have to pay utilities. You have to pay wages to your employees, or give them raises.”
Affordability measures
Breckner and Grewal both said Saskatchewan families and small businesses need immediate relief from rising costs, renewing calls for provincial action on affordability amid a broader cost-of-living crisis that leaves customers with less money to spend while operating costs squeeze small businesses.
“Small business owners are simply asking for a little help to keep their doors open so they can continue to be part of their Saskatchewan community,” said Grewal, who added that local businesses play a critical role in local communities by providing products, creating jobs and supporting the economy.
He said the financial pressure facing businesses is compounded when families have less disposable income at the end of the month, directly affecting the local businesses they support. He pointed to increasing financial anxiety among residents as evidence that affordability has become a pressing issue.
Breckner added that Saskatchewan has strong products and businesses but warned that rising costs are making it increasingly difficult for them to remain competitive, and the provincial government needs to do more to help both consumers and businesses.
“Our products should be flying off the shelves at prices people can afford. Instead, we're hearing from small businesses across the province whose profit margins shrink every month,” said Breckner, who added that they introduced nine bills during the spring sitting to help families and small businesses.
Among the measures, she said, were proposals to reverse increases to power rates and car insurance, as well as remove provincial tax from children's clothing and food, as families and small businesses need relief. However, the government refused to support those measures.
Breckner said the proposed measures are meant to put money back in Saskatchewan residents' pockets while reducing business costs. She argued that small businesses should have a provincial government that works with them rather than adding to their financial pressures.
“Small businesses like this one are incredibly important to Saskatchewan's economy, and to the communities they serve. They deserve a government that listens to them and works to make it easier, not harder, to succeed,” said Breckner.
The NDP's affordability push comes as Saskatchewan businesses continue to navigate higher operating costs and uncertainty around U.S. tariffs. At the same time, the party argues that provincial measures on utilities, insurance and sales taxes could provide more immediate relief to households and small businesses.
Leading Canada in investments
The government said in a statement that the province’s economy reached a record high in 2025, posting stronger economic growth than the national average and leading the country in private capital investment, with GDP climbing 2.2 per cent to an all-time high of $85.4 billion last year.
The government said this is higher than the national growth of 1.7 per cent. It also highlighted that private capital investment rose sharply, up 12 per cent to $13.6 billion, the highest rate among Canadian provinces.
The government added that this demonstrates the strength of Saskatchewan’s economic foundation and its ability to attract major investment, create jobs and support communities across the province. More than 60 large-scale projects are currently planned or underway in Saskatchewan.
The government said these projects are valued at more than $62 billion, providing a significant pipeline of future economic activity, and that Saskatchewan remains the most affordable province in Canada for a family of four when taxes, utilities and housing costs are taken into account.
However, the government said Saskatchewan families and businesses continue to face cost-of-living pressures, mirroring affordability challenges across the country, and pointed to the continued removal of the federal carbon tax from SaskPower bills as one measure to reduce costs.
The government estimates the move will save Saskatchewan residents and businesses approximately $500 million in 2026-27. It said those savings are part of broader efforts to ease financial pressures while maintaining an environment that encourages business investment and economic growth.
Trade remains another key concern for Saskatchewan, particularly as businesses navigate tariffs and uncertainty in Canada-U.S. commerce. The provincial government has consistently argued that tariffs increase costs for businesses, consumers and families on both sides of the border.
The government said it supports efforts to secure a trade agreement that serves Canada's interests while providing greater certainty and stability for businesses, arguing that predictable trade conditions are critical to maintaining the province’s economic momentum.
