Summer storm claims cost Saskatchewan Government Insurance $61.5 million last year. However, the corporation still turned a net profit of $48.4 million, according to SGI Canada’s annual report released yesterday. SGI Canada is the competitive arm of SGI. It sells property and casualty insurance in seven provinces. Tim McMillan, the minister responsible the crown corporation, […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. communities receive flood assistance
Nine communities near Humboldt, Sask., will receive help to prevent flood damage. The towns of Aberdeen, Bruno and Colonsay, rural municipalities of Colonsay, Humboldt and Wolverine, villages of Muenster and Viscount and the hamlet of Carmel will share more than $300,000 under the emergency flood damage reduction program. The money will cover pumping equipment, snow […] Read more
Spring storm creates havoc
SHAUNAVON, Sask. – The snowplows aren’t usually busy in southwestern Saskatchewan at the end of March, but three times the normal snow this winter has kept them out on the roads. “It’s been a catastrophe,” said Don Lundberg, reeve of the rural municipality of Arlington. That was before a late blast of snow hit the […] Read more
Survey hints at fewer seeded acres
A survey conducted by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan in January suggests farmers will seed at least 10 percent fewer acres this spring. That would leave 3.4 million acres unseeded. APAS policy manager Doug Faller said the excess moisture survey, conducted at the Crop Production Show in Saskatoon, is not considered statistically reliable because […] Read more
Flood alert sounded in southwestern Saskatchewan
Eastend, Sask., and surrounding farmsteads are at risk of flooding. The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority issued an advisory today that the Missouri River basin, along the southern slope of the Cypress Hills, has well above normal runoff potential. The basin includes the Frenchman River, Battle Creek, Lodge Creek and Maple Creek. An anticipated quick melt would […] Read more
Sask. to get helicopter air ambulance service
Saskatchewan is moving ahead with helicopter ambulance transport after signing a service agreement with Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society. STARS provides Alberta with its air ambulance transportation. The province is investing $5 million this year and $10 million annually in the future to finance the service. Crescent Point Energy has announced a $5 million donation […] Read more
Minister would consider environmental review on feedlot
Saskatchewan environment minister Dustin Duncan said he would consider an environmental impact assessment for a feedlot proposed near Outlook but he hasn’t yet seen a proposal. The Saskatchewan Environmental Society has called for the assessment on the 36,000-head operation planned by Namaka Farms of Strathmore, Alta. Namaka has bought land in the area and the […] Read more
New area code likely for Sask.
Saskatchewan is running out of telephone numbers. SaskTel minister Bill Boyd said today that the Canadian Numbering Administrator, which assigns numbers and area codes, has told the province it will exhaust its current supply by May 2013. A new area code will be implemented, although it’s not yet known whether the province would be split […] Read more
Changes made to Sask. flood aid program
Municipalities, rural residents and small businesses affected by flooding are receiving more help from the Saskatchewan government. The municipal deductible under the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program has been decreased from .15 percent of taxable assessment to .1 percent. A maximum 15 percent of damage costs in an existing claim can now be used for mitigation […] Read more
Crop insurance may be needed for flood coverage
Agriculture minister Bob Bjorneru d says Saskatchewan farmers should take a good look at crop insurance if they want extra help because of weather problems this year. The deadline to apply or make changes is March 31. He told the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan annual meeting there is no guarantee farmers who don’t have […] Read more
