Saskatchewan Minute: Issue 91

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

📅 This Week In Saskatchewan: 📅

• Premier Scott Moe is renewing his criticism of the federal equalization system, highlighting that Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC will receive no payments in 2026, while Quebec is set to get $13.9 billion. Moe argues the formula is unfair to resource-rich western provinces, as including resource revenues in calculations penalizes them despite their significant contributions to the national economy. His office emphasizes that the issue is not about provinces competing but about creating a formula that reflects economic realities and treats all provinces fairly. Moe previously proposed reforming the system by cutting total payments and redistributing them on a per-capita basis, which would benefit western provinces and reduce Quebec’s share. Saskatchewan has also joined legal challenges questioning the current formula’s fairness, particularly in sparsely populated provinces with high service costs.
  
  
• Retail crime is rising across Saskatchewan, with Saskatoon police reporting more frequent and sometimes violent shoplifting incidents in grocery stores, pharmacies, and other businesses. Officers attribute the trend to a mix of desperation, addiction, and organized crime, including theft-for-hire schemes where stolen goods are sold online or at pawn shops. During quarterly retail crime blitzes, police arrest offenders and connect them with supports, addressing underlying issues like food insecurity, housing instability, and addiction. Many repeat offenders are caught multiple times a year, sometimes stealing daily, while businesses have responded by increasing security measures, locking doors, and using body-worn cameras. Despite better reporting inflating some statistics, police say the overall rate of theft and aggression has increased. The Retail Council of Canada estimates retail theft now costs businesses around $9 billion annually.
  
  
• Saskatchewan’s population fell slightly by 0.06% in the third quarter of 2025, leaving it at 1,266,234, or 725 fewer people than in July. Despite this small decline, the province still had the fourth-highest quarterly growth rate in Canada, with annual growth at 0.7%. Most population gains came from international migration, bringing nearly 11,000 newcomers, while natural increase added 594 people. Interprovincial migration saw more residents leaving for Alberta than arriving from it. Across Canada, the overall population dropped by 0.18%, driven largely by a historic decline in non-permanent residents and net emigration, though permanent immigration added over 102,000 people. Births slightly exceeded deaths nationwide, resulting in a natural increase of 17,600.
  
  
• Saskatchewan is introducing a new mobile mammography unit in January, replacing the province’s 23-year-old mammography bus. The upgraded unit, housed in a trailer, will provide the same high-quality screening available in hospitals and will initially serve Estevan for six weeks. Currently, the mobile unit screens about a third of all women in the province’s BreastCheck program, and the new unit is expected to maintain this capacity. A second mobile unit is planned for 2026, which will double screening capacity and allow annual visits to communities instead of every two years. The expanded service will also accommodate the upcoming lowering of eligibility from age 45 to 40. Funding for the new unit came from the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, the Kinsmen Foundation, and the provincial government.
  
  
• Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are partnering with the City of Saskatoon and local fire departments to study how firefighters cope with trauma and stress. The project aims to identify gaps in support and improve mental health resources for first responders, who face higher rates of PTSD, anxiety, mood disorders, and substance abuse than the general population. Firefighters like Joel McNair, who has experienced PTSD and related challenges, highlighted the emotional toll of responding to fatalities and traumatic events, particularly involving children. The study will begin with surveys to assess current coping strategies and program effectiveness, followed by interviews and focus groups. Researchers hope the project will provide quantitative data to inform better mental health programs and supports. Results from the study are expected in 2026, offering insight into how to enhance resilience and well-being among first responders.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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