Leading off.

It's been said that the easiest seat to occupy in politics is one that inhabits the Opposition's side of the Legislature. Not that those are easy seats to fill, but rather the saying serves as an indication of how difficult it is to govern. Indeed because of the diversity that comprises the general public, there will always be someone upset with the government. Heck, in the Calvert administration's case, they can't even give away money in the form of SaskTel rebates without being vilified by some.

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Certainly the government has received its fair share of criticism in the business community, on these pages, and in this column in particular. Some of that criticism must be taken with a grain of salt, as it usually stems from some self-serving interest. By that I mean business complains when legislation is perceived to be an impediment to conducting business--case in point being the non-smoking legislation or pending available hours legislation.

But instead of going on a rant about this latter subject--which I could, easily ... believe me--I feel it's just as important to give credit where credit is due. And while researching one of the features appearing in this issue of Sask Business, I came to the conclusion that there are instances where government intervention into industry has served its purpose well--SaskFilm being the perfect example.

SaskFilm is a non-profit organization that answers to a board representing a consortium of parties with a vested interest in Saskatchewan's film and television industry. Officially formed in 1989, SaskFilm's existence is very much indebted to the provincial Department of Culture, who took it upon themselves to try and encourage the growth of what was then a relatively nominal and infant industry within the province.

Having watched the industry grow from a $5-million entity to that of $60 million in 15 years, one could say that SaskFilm has been nothing short of an outstanding, unqualified success. That they have been able to generate an industry from next to nothing, with all indications appearing as though this will be the new norm, not the exception, serves as a testament to the hard work SaskFilm, and in particular its CEO Valerie Creighton, has undertaken in recent years.

The government of the day recognized that the film and television industry is a labour-intensive, capital-consuming enterprise that is perfectly suited for our province, which has been long noted for its hard work ethic. And with one of our primary industries--agriculture--being hit with one calamity after another, such misfortune has rekindled the notion that our region could use a little capital infusion from other sources.

With that in mind, certainly the film industry appears to be on the right track. As one industry insider paraphrased what one of her counterparts had noted to her, when film producers come to Saskatchewan, they come with the same number of suitcases as everyone else, only their suitcases are full of money.

Indeed, it seems as though it's a match made in heaven.

Keith Moen, Editor