The Fraser Institute this morning released a report on Fiscal Lessons for Atlantic Canada From Saskatchewan.

In the early 1990s the prairie province was staring down bankruptcy, with a $1.9 billion dollar deficit — similar to the situation Newfoundland and Labrador was in last year.

That forced the province’s NDP government to take serious action according to report co-author, Alex Whalen.

They looked at the size and scope of government, they reduced spending and also looked at what should be privatized says Whalen. Once spending was under control he says, the province was able to reduce taxes which helped to stimulate the economy.

Those measures also helped to slow out-migration according to Whalen.

When those things started to turn around, migration patterns started to change in Saskatchewan says Whalen, with fewer people leaving and more economic opportunities and jobs.