The provincial NDP have been voicing their concerns with the provincial budget that was tabled in the Legislature on Wednesday. 

Trent Wotherspoon, the NDP’s shadow minister of finance, said the budget has nothing to build for the future and is divorced from reality.  

“This is a government that chose not to put a plan together in any way for tariffs in this budget,” Wotherspoon told Discover Weyburn. “This is unlike every other province across Canada No contingency in the budget, no plan to support workers and industries and producers. No economic measure to build out some of the trade supporting transportation infrastructure that we so critically need in this province.” 

Wotherspoon also opined on the modest $12 million surplus included in the budget. He felt that while it was a balanced budget now, things will change as the fiscal year goes on.  

“They make all sorts of claims on budget day, pretend it’s going to be balanced, and time and time again their budgets go off the rails with mismanagement, scandal and waste, and we end up seeing bog deficits,” Wotherspoon said.  

The 2024-25 provincial budget had an initial deficit of $273.5 million. During the budget presentation Wednesday, the anticipated deficit for the 2024-25 fiscal year included a deficit of $660.6 million, more than double the initial projections.  

“We see that in this budget that our provincial debt has grown to $38 billion,” Wotherspoon added. “They’ve quadrupled the debt, and it’s Saskatchewan people that are left to pay for the cost to service that debt.” 

RCMP officers seized one kilogram of cocaine during a traffic stop on Highway 1 west of Regina. 

On Tuesday at around 11:30 a.m. , the RCMP Roving Traffic Unit stopped an SUV. With help from a police service dog , officers found the drugs inside the vehicle. 

A  41 year old man  from Calgary, was arrested at the scene. He faces charges of trafficking cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking . The suspect is set to appear in Regina Provincial Court on May 29th.

The Regina Police Service and Highway Patrol assisted in the investigation.

Police are investigating a suspicious death on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation . 

Just before 3 a.m. today  the File Hills First Nations Police Service responded to a sudden death report. The victim was identified as an adult male . The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit is now leading the investigation. 

No arrests or charges have been made. Residents may notice more police officers in the area as the investigation continues. Authorities say they will update the public if there are any public safety risks .

Regina's relatively new city council passed its first budget this week, and the process didn't come without bumps as councillors worked to reduce a proposed 8.5-per-cent mill rate increase. One decision that sparked tension was chipping away at that increase by laying off staff. Prairie Dog Magazine's Paul Duchene breaks down the week of debate for CBC Radio's The Morning Edition.

The Speedy Creek Model Railway Club is looking to build up steam with a brand new location. 

After having a dip in membership during the last year, the Club is attempting a fresh start at the Swift Current Mall.

According to Club treasurer, Tim Marcus, the Swift Current Mall has sponsored them through this opportunity. 

"We're happy that the Swift Current Mall partnered with us to give us this space," said Marcus. "It should help us to get back on our feet again." 

People can find them just across from the childrens play space and wall climbing area. Inside, model tracks have been erected, complete with minature towns, factories, mountains, farms, and bridges. 

The plan for now is to continue improving their displays, adding in the greenery, the buildings, different display vehicles, and complete the scenery. 

"We're going to try and model some of Swift Current," said Marcus. "We have the train station buildings up front and the Lyric Theater which we also modelled. We're hoping to make the yard, and will kinda have it modelled after the one here in town." 

The Club was formerly based out of the Dixon Community Centre and has existed in Swift Current for over 20 years in one form or another. 

Anyone interested in joining the club is encouraged to come out when they are open on both Thursdays and Sundays during regular store hours.

A Regina-based production company says it is optimistic and will "work with what we have" after the province's film and tv production grant was reduced in the latest budget.

The City of Swift Current is planning to stay vigilant and respond as necessary to tariffs

Be they tariffs from the United States, China, or anywhere else in the world, staff are closely monitoring the effects happening in Swift Current. One of the most observable at the moment is the U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. Industry producers that utilize those materials, such as S3 Group, AGI, and various machine shops, are how the City sees these effects. When their production lines and prices are adjusted to match tariffs, it gives the City insight into how other tariffs may play out. 

Swift Current Mayor, Al Bridal. is confident the City will be able to avoid 'rocking the boat', so to speak. 

"I can't change what President Trump does," said Bridal. "I can't change what Prime Minister Carney does. All I can do is try to make sure that as a city here, we try to keep things as steady as we can."

Bridal predicts that there may even be opportunities in Swift Current for industry growth and expansion. As the trade ware goes on, the market will continue wanting to buy Canadian, rather than American. Items previously produced in America will begin production in Canada, so long as their is enough incentive and demand. 

For Swift Current, that means there is a chance people may want to open shop and begin producing products that are adjacent to existing production lines. One example Bridal used was sliding aluminum and glass doors, commonly used for the entryways to malls, businesses, and other facilities. Bridal highlighted how the raw materials to construct these items are commonly used in Swift Current but are often shipped for assembly to the United States where they are sold. 

"Why are we not making some of that finished product in Canada?" asked Bridal. "We need, as Canadians, to look at doing a lot more of this stuff ourselves."

Swift Current residents and community members are being advised of a bridge closure in Swift Current to allow for flood barricade placements in high-priority areas.

The historic Lee Lam Bridge, also known as the Blue Bridge, is closed, effective Friday, March 21.

Ryan Hunter, fire chief for the Swift Current Fire Department, noted that the barricades should be set up for seven to ten days or until it's been deemed safe.

"Our area that's most low-lying in the city is called Piper's Addition, which is by the Blue Bridge on the south side," he shared. "It's a narrow point where that bridge is so it creates a pinch point and chunks of ice get blocked up,

"Therefore, the water gets forced to go around and into the neighbourhood, so that's our first priority."

Folks heading to Piper's Addition can follow the detour on 17th Avenue South East to Dahl Street, detour signage has been has been put up.

The second area of high flood risk is around Connaught Drive and Riverdene Park.

"We anticipate that we're going to watch the water levels and the weather, we may start to put some barricades up there in the middle of next week," Hunter said in regard to the second location.

Regina police arrested a 35-year-old man after a knife threat and kidnapping incident early Friday morning. 

Officers responded around 12:30 a.m. to a business on East Quance Street , where the suspect allegedly threatened people with a knife. He then held a woman at knifepoint , forced her into a cab, and fled. 

The woman later called for help, and police tracked the suspect to Toronto Street , where he was seen running with a firearm. 

After a short chase, officers arrested him without incident. The man faces multiple charges , including kidnapping and weapon possession.

He didn't mean to eat the whole thing, but it was worth it. On a quest to try Canadian brands, Andrian Makhnachov stumbled upon McCain's Deep'n Delicious Cakes. Now the TikToker, who moved to Canada from Ukraine in 2022, has gone viral for his ecstatic reactions.

The Power of Play was aimed at educating parents on why it's okay, and even important, to let their kids have their fair share of playtime.

Presented by Jacqueline Green, founder of Great Parenting Simplified, Power of Play was a presentation made at the Swift Current Early Years Family Resource Centre. Green provided insights into how play enables growth, gives kids a chance to process emotions, and is a part of the quintessential experience while growing up. 

"It went very well," said Green. "It was wonderful to help parents and see their interaction around it. Even the fact that it's okay for kids to have some risks."

Green made sure to highlight how getting hurt during play is also a part of the experience. The goal of play is to not have a planned outcome but to just experience an open-ended free time, according to Green. That aspect is important to protect and build into a schedule. 

"As parents, we need to find free time for ourselves and nurture our own playfulness," said Green.

Green relayed how parents expressed some relief at the fact it's okay to slow down. The desire to push children into the right activities is well intended, but she could see how the fact they could allow their kids to have free time also helps free the parents up from obligations and scheduling.

Great Parenting Simplified is a non-profit charity that Green opened as a resource for parents after her own experiences with parenting beginning in the year 2000. She provides access to early years professionals who are knowledgeable on what play is, and how both children and parents can get the most out of it. 

Her presentation at the Early Years Family Resource Centre had two sessions.l The first was at 10:30 a.m., while the second was at 6 p.m. Roughly 20 families attended each presentation, according to Green. 

The Saskatchewan government's newly released budget has increased its policing spending by several million dollars and includes a promise to add about 100 provincially-funded municipal police officers.

The City of Swift Current is bracing for a change in water levels on the Swift Current Creek. 

The chance of flooding has increased with the forecast moving into double-digit warmth over the coming weeks. What was a steady slow release of the snowpack is set to ramp up into a fast-moving melt. 

In response, the City of Swift Current has begun setting up barricades along the Swift Current Creek. They are also preparing for the fact that rising water levels will break the ice layer, allowing for the ice to flow down the stream. 

According to an official release from the City of Swift Current, the expectation for the immediate future is for water to begin pooling in low-lying areas adjacent to the Creek. 

To begin, barricades are being set up in the most vulnerable zones. Homeowners along the creek are being asked to please stay up-to-date and informed. Sandbags are available, free of charge, at 2074 South Service Road West. 

In the release, Swift Current Fire Department Fire Chief Ryan Hunter was quoted as follows. 

"We're taking preemptive steps to support our community. Homeowners can fill personal sandbags to safeguard their property, with sand and sandbags available at no cost as part of our community support efforts. Protecting your home from spring runoff is an essential step in minimizing potential disruptions for homeowners."

Hello, I'm Yzma! I'm a very sweet gal looking for the perfect lap to cuddle up on. I have been at the shelter for 125 days and no one can figure out why. I am so sweet and love to give hugs. I like to just walk around and explore but can be playful at times too. If I sound like the cat for you, please come by and meet me!

Saskatchewan RCMP are looking for ten individuals, all of which who have active warrants.

These ten are all listed as having lived in Saskatchewan most recently, according to the RCMP. 

They are John Alfonso Anasarias, Eldon James Cone, Izaiah Zachary Nippi, Jamie Daniel Jude Sheedy, Dallas Fulton, Seagun Laliberte, Dalyn Rae Janvier, William Albert Charles, Gerry Lloyd Roberts, and Darius Ryell NcNab.

RCMP are hoping that by reaching out to the public, they can get a fresh wave of information through tips and sightings. They ask they anyone who spots these people does not approach them. Call 310-RCMP, or 911 in an emergency. 

Anonymous information may be provided to CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

The Sask. Party amended an NDP motion, confirming its stance that Canada would never be the 51st state, but removing Donald Trump's name.

As reports suggest Canada could be headed for a federal election call as soon as Sunday, yesterday's Swift Current Museum Lunch & Learn was an appropriate topic.

Teachers Chris Garner and Riley Sharp spoke about the state of Canada's parliamentary democracy.

"We both want people to just be informed on what this is," Garner said. "What we've been finding even in the media and the echo chamber of Swift Current where we live is people not understanding the Westminster system. We're not wanting you to all of a sudden be gung-ho patriotic loving the system, we just want you to be aware of it so that when you're engaging with materials, you're engaging with it accurately."

As we head into another election Garner noted one threat to our democracy is growing mistrust in government and the electoral process. 

"Even in Canada people do not trust our parliamentary process and our elections," Garner said. "Elections Canada does a wonderful job of informing people of how elections operate. It's a third-party institute that runs it. They go through everything to try and legitimize those elections. They even talk about foreign threats and interference and how they minimize that.

"I think in Canada we do have a strong handle on protecting the integrity of our elections. It's informing the electorate that they should have trust in that system."

He does see some threats to our democracy including trends among youth.

"The youth voter is becoming more and more aligned with autocratic leadership," Garner said. "That could have to do with instant gratification and instant decision-making. As we're seeing down south that kind of leadership can lead to a lot of chaotic changes very quickly. In our system, which is relatively stable, the consensus decision-making model is slow intentionally to try and avoid the chaotic responses we're seeing down south."

Garner feels in a time of growing misinformation and disinformation;

more education and continuing education are always valuable. 

Prairie Harm Reduction is closing until March 31 because its workers need a break amid the on-going surge in overdoses in Saskatoon.

The provincial budget, released Wednesday, is being criticized for what is included in terms of healthcare, with unions and the opposition NDP stating it doesn’t include enough for the retention of staff, and it is spending even less money in some areas than the last budget.  

Linda Renkas is the vice president of CUPE 5430. She said the numbers don’t track with what they were hearing before the budget was presented.  

“We didn’t see anything for retention of workers,” Renkas said in the rotunda of the Legislature Wednesday afternoon. “Our workers haven’t received a fair wage increase for too long. We’re without a collective agreement for two years already, and we’re in bargaining.  

Renkas noted the budget didn’t include anything for retention of the employees her union represents, while there was an increase in infrastructure, recruitment efforts for doctors, and more seats open at the University of Saskatchewan for aspiring doctors.

The situation in rural parts of the province, such as southeast Saskatchewan, was also of importance for Renkas.  

“The government needs to invest in recruiting people to that rural (area), and perhaps incentivizing workers to stay in rural (areas).” 

Vicky Mowat is the shadow minister of health for the NDP. She emphasized the importance of rural healthcare as well, stating they will be watching programs such as the expansion of the virtual physician program, which is used in four communities in the southeast. 

“If we can improve access to health care, that’s going to be a good thing, but iPads can’t replace the real thing,” Mowat said after the budget speech. “So, we want to make sure that we are also working to train, recruit, and retain doctors. Right now, we only retain about 38 per cent of our family doctors in family medicine and specialists that we train in this province. Thirty-eight per cent is not good enough. It’s not high enough. We need to be working on keeping those positions around, providing a good quality of life for those people so that they stick around, and are able to provide the services that Saskatchewan people need when and where they need it.” 

The budget estimates for the 2025-26 fiscal year have a $28 million decline, or 3.7 per cent, from the previous fiscal year. There are also declines in the allocations for Saskatchewan Health Authority targeted programs and services, and provincial targets programs and services. The overall budget for health, however, is up from $7.59 billion in 2024-25, to $8.07 billion in 2025-26.  

Great Plains College is navigating a new reality for international students after some recent Canadian rule changes. 

Some of these changes include reduced permanent resident targets, stricter temporary resident document cancellation rules, and changes to open work permit eligibility for family members of international students and foreign workers.

Vice President of Programs and Students at Great Plains College Kaleah Ostrander noted fewer international students could have an impact on local students and job markets. 

"Our goal remains to preserve domestic access to minimize the cost to the public purse and ensure the labour market is getting the labour that they need whether that source may be domestic or international," Ostrander said. "That's certainly been impaired by these changing policies."

Fewer pathways to work and become permanent residents in Canada will make the country and certainly the college's programs less attractive to international students. 

"That means there's less interest in Canada," Ostrander said. "In becoming not only a part of our training environment, but also our work environment."

She added Great Plains College had made sure to target their offerings to international students to areas where there are labour needs. 

"We've been very mindful to only place international students in programs where we felt there was a labour market need that wasn't being met domestically," Ostrander said. "As a result, we will certainly have impacts on our programs in terms of the volume of programming we are able to offer. We are trying to mitigate the impact overall in terms of staffing."

The college is doing what they can to assist current students who find themselves less certain about an available future in Canada and the southwest. 

"There's a level of nervousness," Ostrander said. "We do very much employ folks who try to understand these rules and get the best information we can in order to support those students. We have partners such as the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre that is a huge support. We try to give them the best information possible." 

The concerns Ostrander has doesn't mean she felt the immigration system needed to stay as it was.

"The system wasn't perfect," she said. "There are reasons for doing some level of policy change, but I think the blanketed approach and disproportionate effects on colleges and rural areas of the country are certainly where our concerns come from."

Saskatchewan Finance Minister Jim Reiter, right, speaks to members of the media, with deputy finance minister Max Hendricks, prior to the release Saskatchewan Provincial Budget in Regina on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards

Saskatchewan’s government says it will ride a strong economy to a projected razor-thin surplus in this year’s budget.

But it says turbulent headwinds of tariffs could, in the worst-case scenario, blow a billion-dollar hole in the spending plan.

Finance Minister Jim Reiter tabled the 2025-26 budget.

It projects a $12-million surplus this fiscal year on spending of $21 billion, with even larger surpluses expected in the years to follow.

However, the budget doesn't set aside money to offset potential massive losses, as Canada fights an ongoing trade war with the United States and faces one with China starting this week.

Health and education spending will stay at current levels while the budget banks on benefiting from a rising population, growing oil and uranium revenues, and stabilized markets for potash.

More Coming.

The first Saskatchewan budget under Finance Minister Jim Reiter projects a $12.1-million surplus, but does not factor in tariffs.

REGINA – As concerns are being raised over the release of Jared Charles into the community, the Regina Police Service (RPS) held a media availability on Wednesday regarding the matter.

Charles, who was released on Tuesday, has a criminal history of violent sexual offences and kidnapping involving children.

According to RPS deputy chief Lorilee Davies, Charles will be living in the Heritage Community in a residence approved by the court.

Under conditions given by the court, Charles cannot contact or access certain areas with children under the age of 16.

However, Davies said, Charles has made it clear he’s unwilling to abide by the conditions, increasing the risk of re-offending.

“It’s unfortunately the system that we live in,” she said regarding sexual offenders being allowed back into the public despite admitting they won’t follow their conditions.

Reporters asked Davies how his conditions would be monitored.

“Several times a week, partners with probation and Regina Police Service will be checking in to ensure that things are on track,” she said.

Davies also mentioned the RPS patrol officers, who are aware of where Charles resides and will keep an eye out for him.

One difference Davies pointed out between Charles and other sex offenders being released is those people who are released early have more conditions imposed on them.

Since Charles served his full sentence, it limits those condition options.

Along with Charles, the RPS advised of another sex offender, Ted Mercredi in the community yesterday.

Mercredi has been advised to be “a high risk to re-offend sexually and/or violently.”

When asked what more the police can do to ensure the public’s safety, Davies said their hands are a bit tied in that matter.

Even with that, Davies emphasized, “our number one [role is] ensuring that the public is aware that they are residing in our community, so by sharing that [information and] providing those photographs, that is really the key information.”

This week, people have the chance to honour and thank social workers for all they do. 

Social Work Week honours the work being done to help students, families, seniors, groups and communities to enhance their wellbeing. The theme honouring that this year is 'social work is everywhere'.

A presentation was made at Monday's Swift Current city council meeting, where afterwards the city officially proclaimed March 16 to the 22 as Social Work Week. Kimberly Duguette, a student support team member with the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre, and Jennifer Stad, a social worker at The Meadows, spoke at that presentation. 

"The aim of social work is to help people or communities develop skills to overcome problems and struggles," said Duguette. "The duties of social work vary depending on your setting, so services can be provided in a team or a group setting, but also one-to-one. It could be public or private practice or communities."

Social workers can be found working in justice, disabilities, child protection, schools, hospitals, primary health clinics, long-term care, victim services, family support, counselling, and more. 

In Swift Current, social workers can be found in the Chinook School Division. The health authority also employs social workers at the Cypress Regional Hospital for mental health, acute care, palliative care, home care, and addictions social work. 

The EI Wood building has social workers. The Ministry of Social Services has social workers. Fresh Start, The Centre, the RCMP, child protective services, and even income assistance have social workers. 

"They're kind of everywhere," said Stad.

In total, there are currently 64 registered social workers operating in southwest Saskatchewan. Stad predicted that the number is probably a little higher in reality, as they don't need to be licensed bodies to practice social work. 

To honour Social Work Week, Métis elder Barb Parchman will meet with the Swift Current branch of the Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers to teach them about Métis traditions and finger weaving. 

A southwest resident was recently convicted and sentenced on several charges stemming from an armed break-and-enter after more than two years in and out of court.

Joseph Denis, from the Town of Kyle, was convicted on Wednesday, March 12 in the Court of King's Bench in Swift Current on one count of break-and-enter with a firearm, one count of intent to commit an indictable offence while masked, one count of theft while armed, and one count of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm.

The 52-year-old was credited with 450 days and will spend the next four years incarcerated, as of last Wednesday. 

A lifetime firearms prohibition was also imposed on Denis, along with an order to provide a DNA sample and a $400 surcharge that was paid on the day of the sentencing.

He was initially arrested on February 22, 2023, after Swift Current Rural RCMP received a report of a break-and-enter with weapons at a residence located on Standard Street in Pennant.

An Everbridge advisory was put out to notify the community while a combined team of law enforcement located and arrested Denis along with Kyle's Ashley Decoste, who was 37 years old at the time.

During the process, RCMP seized stolen property, a Mossberg Model 88 shotgun, a knife, and disguises that were used in the robbery.

Saskatchewan Highway Patrol, Conservation Officers, and the RCMP confiscated a haul of contraband near Swift Current on March 12. 

The three branches were working together on a check stop near Swift Current. After checking a semi-truck, one of 30 contacts made, they discovered 400 illicit cigarettes.

In all, six tickets were issued to the driver of the semi-truck. 

The officers also performed three patrols of southern reservoirs, checking in on late-season anglers. No results from these checks have been published.