The general manager of a Swift Current location in a restaurant chain says business in this city took a hit while oil fell and PST was added to restaurant meals, but they didn't lose the same level of activity as the rest of the province.

Stats Canada says there's been a 2.9-per-cent drop in customers in Saskatchewan, and Shaun Hanna says he's felt that trend in Speedy Creek.

"Swift Current is a very special case, where - it's sort of a larger economic argument - but because Swift Current has more than just oil and gas - we have agriculture, trade, some manufacturing - we're a little bit more of a stable economy."

Hanna's restaurant is Boston Pizza, which has locations across the province. He says the food-and-beverage industry in places like Weyburn, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Yorkton has suffered more.

 "Restaurants are a barometer on the health of an economy," Hanna says. "It really shows the amount of disposable income that the population has, and less disposable income means less money in the pockets of the hospitality industry. So if you see restaurants closing, it's a good indication that the viability of the economy in terms of disposable income has softened."

He also agreed with Stats Canada that things are on the upswing since half a year ago. Hanna said they had to make layoffs before, but now things are creeping back towards normal in Swift Current at a similar rate as the rest of Saskatchewan.

The provincial NDP (Hanna did run for their spot on the ballot for the Swift Current byelection March 1) has been critical of the Saskatchewan Party for adding a six-per-cent tax to restaurant meals.