The author writes in the Preface " ... In 2004, I completed a thesis that examined potash affairs in Saskatchewan from its first discovery in 1942 to the tumultuous events of 1975. It was the final requirement to earn a master of arts degree from the University Of Regina. This publication builds on that thesis and brings events forward to the present time. It attempts to provide the reader with a better understanding of the factors that went into the phenomena of a new resource coming on the scene, how it was managed, and the impact it had on the province. It is not simply a narrative that provides a comprehensive history of potash in Saskatchewan. Rather it focuses on the basic factors and features that determined how potash was developed, what role it played in the economy, what influences were brought to bear on its development, and what external factors influenced the pattern of development. The overarching question identified is to try and find what is best for Saskatchewan. The recent episode in which Australian-based BHP Billiton made an unsuccessful attempt to aquire PCS Inc. is examined as another chapter in the ongoing saga of Potash in Saskatchewan. ..."
John Burton was raised in Saskatchewan and pursued his education at both the University of Saskatchewan and the London School of Economics. He later served as a Member of Parliament and played a key role in Saskatchewan's 1975 decision to acquire potash-producing facilities. From 1975 to 1982, he sat on the Board of Directors of the Crown-owned Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan.
