The recent throne speech also addressed issues such as combatting rural crime and improving cellphone service
Rural Saskatchewan landowners are anxious to hear exactly what the government has in mind for new trespass laws. The government consulted earlier this year and in last week’s throne speech to open the new session said legislation is coming “to better address the appropriate balance between the rights of rural land owners and members of […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. tweaks election dates for 2020
Saskatchewan has changed some election dates to allow for separation between them. Under existing laws, the 2020 provincial general election would have been five days after the municipal election. The government has decided to hold the provincial vote on Oct. 26, 2020, with the municipal and school board elections to follow on Nov. 9. Legislation […] Read more
Farmer urges more self-defence legislation
Eddie Maurice is still dealing with the fallout of using his gun to defend his rural property but he says he would do it again. The farmer from Okotoks, Alta., was arrested and charged last February after he fired warning shots to scare off two thieves. A ricochet bullet injured one of them, and resulted […] Read more
Farmers pushed to breaking point: expert
Suicide prevention is identified as a key way to address the mental health pressures that producers are facing
High stress levels, isolation and lack of access to mental health care are combining to push agricultural producers to their breaking points, according to a mental health expert. Testifying at the House of Commons agriculture committee last week, the president of the Mental Health Commission of Canada said a number of practical measures are required […] Read more
Dairy processors demand long-term planning from feds
Canada’s dairy processors said the federal government has to develop a long-term plan for the sector after chipping away at its profitability through trade agreements. Officials appeared at the Senate’s agriculture committee last week as part of the committee’s study of how the value-added sector can be more competitive. Dairy Processors Association of Canada president […] Read more
Sask. NDP has new ag critic
Saskatchewan’s newest NDP MLA and agriculture critic is a Regina lawyer with a strong farm connection. Yens Pedersen, who won the Regina Northeast byelection in September, was sworn in Oct. 17 ahead of the Oct. 24 throne speech to start the new legislative session. If Pedersen is a familiar name to some, it will be […] Read more
Sask. addresses trespass laws in throne speech
Saskatchewan will introduce legislation this sitting to deal with trespassing. After a consultation this past summer, the government said during today’s speech from the throne, it would “better address the appropriate balance between the rights of rural land owners and members of the public.” Premier Scott Moe said the consultation results would be released soon, […] Read more
Farmers unhappy with feds’ carbon tax plan
Farmers say on-farm fuel exemptions from Canada’s price-on-pollution plan aren’t enough. Ottawa announced its plan for the four provinces that don’t have a carbon pricing system Oct. 23, touting farm exemptions, rural top-ups and climate action incentive payments. In Saskatchewan the average household would receive an incentive payment of $598 in 2019 while paying only […] Read more
Saskatchewan selects wind farm project
Saskatchewan’s largest wind farm project should be operating by 2021. Environment minister Dustin Duncan, who is also responsible for SaskPower, said last week Potentia Renewables was selected from among 29 candidates to build a 200-megawatt facility just south of Assiniboia. The Gold South wind farm would include up to 60 turbines in the rural municipalities […] Read more
Crop struggles can hurt mental health
Farmers are urged to manage their mental health by staying in contact with people and taking care of themselves
Powerful testimony from two prairie farmers at a House of Commons agriculture committee in Ottawa earlier this month underscore the stress many are under as they try to bring in this year’s harvest. Sean Stanford from Magrath, Alta., and Megzz Reynolds from Kyle, Sask., were among witnesses addressing the committee’s study of the mental health […] Read more
