Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 67

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

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• The Province is demanding answers from Ottawa after the sudden removal of the province’s top RCMP officer, Rhonda Blackmore. Saskatchewan’s Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said the decision to replace Blackmore was surprising and disappointing, especially since it came while the province was under a wildfire state of emergency. Media reports say Blackmore was removed in early June after anonymous complaints, but no details have been shared publicly. The same day she was replaced, she was appointed as a National Assistant Commissioner of Indigenous and Support Services. McLeod praised Blackmore’s leadership and her work building trust with government, Indigenous leaders, and communities. He said her removal deserves an explanation from Ottawa and the RCMP. Indigenous leaders and a petition are also calling for an external review. Blackmore had led the Saskatchewan RCMP since 2021.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan government is joining Alberta in its legal challenge against the federal Impact Assessment Act, which governs the environmental review of major projects like oil and gas developments. Saskatchewan's Attorney General Tim McLeod criticized the Act as a barrier to resource development, particularly in resource-rich provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta. Premier Scott Moe has included reforming the Act as one of 10 policy changes he proposed to improve relations with Ottawa. Although the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2023 that part of the Act was unconstitutional, Saskatchewan argues that the 2024 amendments introduced by the federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau don’t go far enough. The Act, which came into effect in 2019, requires federal regulators to assess environmental and social impacts of large-scale projects. Saskatchewan officials see the law as federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction. The legal challenge has not yet been scheduled by Alberta’s Court of Appeal. Moe has said he supports Canada’s energy ambitions under Prime Minister Mark Carney but insists reforms are necessary to reduce red tape and duplication.
  
  
• School divisions in Saskatchewan have now reached the Province’s deadline to share their change room policies publicly and submit them to the Ministry of Education. The directive, first announced in January, required schools to adopt policies by June 30th that protect the privacy and dignity of all students using changing facilities. Premier Scott Moe made the issue a key pledge during the last election, promising to restrict access based on biological sex, but later softened his stance. Some divisions, like Regina and Saskatoon Public Schools, already had rules in place before the Province’s order. The Ministry says it will work with any divisions that need help meeting the policy standard before the new school year begins.
  
  
• Saskatchewan will receive approximately $712 million over the next 20 years as part of a national $32.5-billion tobacco settlement approved by the Ontario Superior Court in March 2025. The Province has so far recorded $400 million from the settlement, with future payments dependent on the profitability of tobacco companies. Critics, including the Saskatchewan NDP, argue the funds should be earmarked for health care rather than placed in the Province’s general revenue fund, especially given existing challenges in cancer care. The government says the funds will be allocated through the budget process to support services, including cancer prevention and treatment. The NDP claims the settlement helped reduce the reported deficit for 2024-25, accusing the government of using health funds to cover fiscal mismanagement.
  
  
• The federal government has committed $105 million to expand high-speed internet in Saskatchewan, targeting 6,522 households across 35 rural and remote communities, including over 4,800 Indigenous homes. The investment is part of a broader $3.2 billion national initiative under the Universal Broadband Fund, with the goal of connecting 98% of Canadians by 2026 and 100% by 2030. The announcement was made by MP Buckley Belanger in Prince Albert, emphasizing the importance of digital access for rural development and economic growth. In 2017, only 45.4% of Saskatchewan residents had high-speed internet, but that number rose to 84.4% by 2023 and is projected to reach 90.4% next year. The funding will support three projects in partnership with SaskTel. Communities benefiting include Hall Lake, Mistawasis Nêhiyawak, Red Earth Cree Nation, Denare Beach, Sweetgrass First Nation, and many others. Belanger highlighted Saskatchewan’s leadership in broadband expansion compared to other regions. The investment aims to improve access to online resources, education, healthcare, and business opportunities for rural and Indigenous residents.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Our friends at Canada Minute have a petition addressing the Online News Act, which, much like the recently scrapped Digital Services Tax (DST), is a flawed policy that harms Canada’s media landscape and economy. 

Instead of helping journalism, it has restricted access to news and unfairly favoured large legacy media, hurting independent and local outlets. 

It’s time for the federal government to learn from the DST and repeal this damaging law before more harm is done. 

If you agree, please sign the petition today:

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