While the impact the 2017-18 Provincial budget has on local business is still forthcoming, the Swift Current and District Chamber of Commerce says some of the changes will begin immediately. Clayton Wicks, CEO of the organization, says the increase in PST, which took place at midnight on March 23 may be responsible for consumer changes.

"Anytime there's a provincial budget coming out, there's an impact on business for sure," he said. "As a chamber, [the PST] is one of the things that concerns us, especially on this side of the province when we're next to one that doesn't have PST. It incenses that tenancy for our local people to go away, but we hope they stay and support us."

He adds there are many small changes, but it's too early to see the widespread effects.

"There's some areas of uncertainty, but by April 1, I'm sure PST will have bulletins out that better explain it."

One of the changes the Chamber is happy with is how the Provincial government has begun a shift away from income taxes and towards consumption taxes.

"The other thing the budget did, and the Sask Chamber was very strong on that... was don't try to solved that $1.3 billion deficit in one year, that's too much to swallow," he said. " I compare it to the homeowner who blows the motor in his car, he's gotta replace it, and somethings have to be cut, with the government, you gotta get it somewhere, and no one wants it to be them."

While he thinks the Saskatchewan Chamber will give the budget 'somewhere in the B range' in terms of grade, Wicks said there is some changes that are a cause for concern for local business people.

"The supply and install contracts, it's going to be more complicated for the one-man business who now has to charge PST when they didn't have to charge it before," he said. "It is going to be a significant change for the one person operations for sure."

Wicks says the halting of STC service may also have an affect on Swift Current's businesses.

"The passengers in rural areas who want to travel by bus, it's going to be difficult, but it was also difficult before," he said. "They're going to have to rely on neighbours and friends to get them to a bigger place to get on a bus. There are job losses there too, and no one wants to see job losses. Without question it's going to affect Swift Current people."