Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 106

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

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• Premier Scott Moe announced that Saskatchewan will seek public feedback on limiting social media use for minors. The government plans to solicit residents' views in the coming weeks following similar actions in Australia. Moe highlighted a recent poll indicating that 75% of respondents support a full ban for those under the age of 16. In addition to provincial efforts, the federal Liberal Party is scheduled to debate age restrictions for social media and AI chatbots at its national convention in April. Premier Moe stated that options to restrict these platforms for children should be considered across Canada.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency (SAEA) is now responsible for enforcing animal cruelty and neglect laws in Saskatchewan, replacing the previous provider. Selected through a competitive process, the SAEA will operate with a new board of governance to provide oversight from industry, law enforcement, and First Nations elders. The CEO noted the transition would be smooth, as some staff will remain and contact information will stay the same. However, the SaskSPCA expressed concerns regarding a lack of transparency and a potential loss of specialized knowledge during the transition. The agency’s jurisdiction excludes Regina, where the municipality will continue to manage animal control and stray animals. Agriculture Minister David Marit stated the new agency’s direction prioritizes accountability, particularly concerning the management of enforcement costs.
  
  
• SaskPower now estimates it will cost $2.6 billion to refurbish Saskatchewan’s coal-fired power plants, nearly three times the previous $900 million projection. The Crown corporation argues that extending the life of its coal plants until 2050 is the most affordable way to transition to nuclear power while avoiding federal clean electricity regulations, and is seeking rate increases of nearly 4% in both 2026 and 2027 to fund the upgrades and grid modernization. Critics, including economists and industry groups, warn that ignoring federal carbon policies could make coal plants stranded assets and create long-term costs, while creating uncertainty that may deter investment. Saskatchewan officials defend the plan as a measure of energy security.
  
  
• Health Canada has granted emergency, time-limited approval for the use of strychnine in parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta until November 2027. The pesticide was originally banned in 2024, but the provinces lobbied for its return to combat a surge in Richardson’s Ground Squirrels, which is causing millions in crop damage. Agricultural groups view the move as a vital tool for protecting farmlands and want the change made permanent. Meanwhile, even the temporary return has been criticized by animal rights groups who argue the poison is indiscriminate and causes secondary poisoning in scavengers and pets. To mitigate risks, the approval mandates strict safeguards, including specialized training and carcass collection.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan government is transferring Crown mineral rights to the Pasqua, Flying Dust, and Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nations under Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) agreements. These rights enable the exploration and extraction of resources such as oil and gas. TLE acknowledges that 36 First Nations did not receive the full amount of land promised under original Treaties, and the province is legally obligated to assist in fulfilling these outstanding claims. Under this agreement, Pasqua First Nation receives an additional 159 acres, Flying Dust First Nation receives an additional 42 acres, and Mistawasis Nêhiyawak receives 824 acres, marking its first-ever mineral rights transfer. Government representatives indicate that these allocations honour historical commitments and support long-term economic growth within First Nations and across the province.

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