The proponents of a large wind energy project near Assiniboia, Sask., have moved to calm fears about an influx of temporary and out-of-province workers amid COVID-19. Construction is resuming on the Golden South Wind project just outside the town. It broke ground last summer and when complete it is expected to provide 200 megawatts of […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Rural hospitals see changes as COVID-19 plans continue
Some hospitals in rural Saskatchewan are already making changes as the province prepares for more COVID-19 infections. The Saskatchewan Health Authority released its modeling data today, including how its facilities will handle an increasing number of positive cases. The models are what-if scenarios, not predictions, officials cautioned, and continued compliance with physical distancing and isolation […] Read more
Sask. releases COVID-19 projections
Continued compliance with physical distancing and self-isolation measures are key to saving lives and protecting health care workers, says the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The SHA released modeling data Wednesday that show it’s no time to be complacent. The models suggest between 153,000 and 408,000 people could be affected by COVID-19, with deaths ranging from 3,075 […] Read more
Pandemic fears hit home on Sask. farm
A young man returns to the family ranch after university is cancelled and then tests positive for the COVID-19 virus
Brock Weston is unexpectedly home helping with calving after COVID-19 ended his university semester and then laid him low. The 25-year-old would typically be completing classes at the Wisconsin university where he was set to finish a biology degree and was also playing hockey. Instead, he is on the family farm near Maidstone, Sask., trying […] Read more
Rural health facilities part of COVID-19 plans
Rural health facilities are part of provincial pandemic plans, if COVID-19 cases overwhelm larger centres. The plans are based on models that are always changing depending on the severity of the pandemic, officials say, but have a role to play in surge capacity. In Manitoba, for example, Health Science Centre in Winnipeg is the main […] Read more
Young bison producer has deep roots
MELVILLE, Sask. — There was no question what Payton Molnar would do once she finished high school. Growing up in a family of bison ranchers, her career path was likely set before she was born. She bought her first 12 females in 2015 and now, at 21, she is one of the youngest bison producers […] Read more
Ag vulnerable to absenteeism
The most pressing issue facing Canada’s agri-food sector during the COVID-19 pandemic is likely absenteeism within the supply chain, says policy analyst Al Mussell. Livestock industries such as chicken and hogs would be among the most vulnerable, given the protocols around their movement, he said. Biosecurity dictates that once hogs, for example, leave the barn […] Read more
Less spending anticipated
The Saskatchewan budget scheduled for March 18 turned out to be a non-event as the legislature shut down amid COVID-19 concerns. Earlier that day the government announced a spending plan of $14.15 billion, but couldn’t say how much the virus will cost the health system or how much revenue the province could expect to take […] Read more
SARM takes issue with proposed urban name change
The provincial government says it won’t approve the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association’s decision to change its name until the organization has a mandate from its membership to do so. The decision in February to rebrand as Municipalities of Saskatchewan has riled members of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities who say the name implies one […] Read more
Man. sets up COVID-19 border checkpoints
Manitoba has implemented five checkpoints at border crossings to keep people informed about COVID-19. The move comes as the province announced its first death, and three more cases, March 27. Further details were not released, however the total number of cases in the province is 39. Infrastructure minister Ron Schuler said the checkpoints are to […] Read more
