Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 57

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

📰 Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 57 📰

Saskatchewan Minute is your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics, read by more than 10,000 Saskatchewanians every Monday morning.

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📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• The Legislature is in session this week, with a sitting today and Tuesday from 1:30 pm to 10:30 pm (there is a recess from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm), on Wednesday from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, and on Thursday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
  
  
• Premier Scott Moe officially endorsed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre just days before the federal election, ahead of Poilievre’s campaign stop in Saskatoon. Moe criticized the current federal government for neglecting Saskatchewan and voiced his support for Poilievre as the next Prime Minister. While Saskatchewan is a Conservative stronghold, political experts noted that a public endorsement by a sitting Premier is unusual and could complicate future federal-provincial relations. Some Saskatchewan ridings, like Regina-Wascana and Saskatoon-University, are being watched as potential battlegrounds.
  
  
• The first nine recruits of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) were sworn in at a ceremony in Prince Albert and will begin their duties on May 5th. Originally set to launch in 2026, the SMS timeline was moved up due to faster-than-expected hiring progress, with the initial cohort comprising law enforcement veterans who bring a combined 200 years of experience. The new provincial police force will focus on rural crime, high-risk offenders, and supporting RCMP and municipal police, with a planned staff of 70 marshals and a $20 million annual budget. One recruit said the force offers a broader opportunity to serve across the province, not just in city limits.
  
  
• Numbers from Statistics Canada show that Saskatchewan is leading the country in building construction investment, with a 29.9% year-over-year increase in February 2025 compared to February 2024. The province's private capital investment also increased, by 17.3% in 2024, with projections for a 10.1% rise in 2025.
  
  
• New numbers also revealed that hundreds of communities across Saskatchewan benefited from the Province’s Community Rink Affordability Grant in 2024-25, with 577 ice surfaces receiving $2,500 each to help with operating costs. The program supports rinks in schools, First Nations, non-profits, and municipalities, and is administered by the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association. The government plans to double the grant to $5,000 per surface in 2025-26, increasing total funding to $3.2 million. Applications for next year’s program will open in January 2026.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is forecasting an "average" wildfire season in 2025, following a destructive 2024 season that saw over 942,000 hectares burned - the third-largest area in the past decade. This spring is expected to be colder and wetter, with conditions returning to normal by May, but summer precipitation will be the key factor in determining wildfire risks. The SPSA has already mobilized wildfire crews and activated its first air tanker group, with more reinforcements on standby. A new dashboard has been launched to provide real-time updates to the public and media. The Province is also receiving the first of four repurposed water bombers to replace its aging fleet, part of a $203 million project co-funded by the federal government.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

It’s Election Day! Voters from coast to coast are casting their ballots to decide who will form the next government. Make sure you take the opportunity to have your voice heard.

Need details on where to vote, what ID to bring, or who’s running in your riding? Visit the Elections Canada website for everything you need to know:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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