Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 100

Saskatchewan Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics.

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• This is our 100th edition of Saskatchewan Minute. For the last 100 weeks, we have been tracking what's happening in the Legislature and in provincial politics and keeping Saskatchewanians informed. This newsletter was started to make provincial issues easier to understand. We distill complex legislation, technical language, and hours of debate into clear updates so more citizens can stay engaged and hold their government accountable. Funded entirely by readers, the Saskatchewan Institute relies on donations to continue its work. If you have enjoyed reading Saskatchewan Minute every Monday morning, and if you've found it helpful and informative, please consider making a donation to keep this newsletter and our other work going.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan government has issued $654.7 million in "special warrants" to fund additional spending just weeks before its annual budget. This marks the third consecutive year the Province has utilized these warrants to obtain money while the legislature is not in session. The funding covers 12 ministries, with the largest allocations directed to Health ($338 million), Agriculture ($103.8 million), and Social Services ($75 million). While the government maintains these funds address immediate cost pressures, the move has faced pushback from critics including the opposition NDP, who suggest the practice indicates budgeting challenges and could drive the provincial deficit past $1 billion.
  
  
• Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith are seeking a three-year emergency exemption from the federal ban on 2% liquid strychnine. The request attempts to address a "serious pest threat" from Richardson’s ground squirrels, which the Premiers argue are causing significant damage to the multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry. Both provinces claims that current alternatives are labor-intensive and inefficient for farmers managing large-scale operations. Although Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently denied a similar request due to concerns over secondary poisonings, Smith and Moe maintain their proposal includes science-based mitigation and enhanced reporting.
  
  
• The Government of Saskatchewan has appointed three new judges to the Provincial Court to serve in Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert, aiming to strengthen the province’s judiciary. Sara Knowles, with experience in commercial litigation, family, and health law, has served as legal counsel with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and has been active in youth sports. Matthew Schmeling, raised near Regina, has a background in civil and criminal law, professional discipline, and regulatory defence, and has participated in mentorship and volunteer programs. Curtis Wiebe, formerly a Crown prosecutor and partner in private practice, brings extensive experience in civil, family, and criminal law, and has contributed to community sports and educational initiatives. Justice Minister Tim McLeod expressed confidence that all three appointees will serve their communities with professionalism and enhance Saskatchewan’s already experienced judiciary.
  
  
• The federal and Saskatchewan governments have confirmed continued funding for the 2026 Crop Insurance Program, administered by the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC), to help farmers manage production risks and stabilize the agricultural sector. SCIC CEO Jeff Morrow noted that roughly $8 billion in claims have been paid over the past five years, with the southwest region accounting for $1.8 billion. The program now cushions yields at 70% after consecutive challenging years and insured more than 85% of seeded acres in 2025, up from 75% a decade ago. New initiatives, including the Satellite Forage Insurance program, aim to replace older forage coverage while reflecting local conditions more accurately. Agriculture ministers emphasized that reliable crop insurance supports individual operations and contributes to the long-term economic growth of Saskatchewan’s farming community. Farmers have until March 31st, 2026, to apply or make changes to their coverage, with last year’s protection automatically continuing if no action is taken.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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