Larissa McEwen

Nacel Canada’s homestay program is looking for host families for 25 French teenagers aged 14 to 17 who are set to visit Saskatchewan this summer.

The teens will stay for four weeks in July, with another group arriving for four weeks in August. The host family can be located anywhere in the province and will receive a stipend as compensation. 

“They’re here to experience Canadian culture, improve their english, and enjoy time with a Canadian family,” said Debbie Ackerman from Nacel.

A three-day blitz conducted by inspectors from the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol (SHP) and SGI resulted in a significant number of commercial vehicles being removed from the road.

Saskatchewan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) has risen by 1 per cent in April 2024 compared to the previous year. This is the second-lowest increase among provinces and is behind the national average of 2.7 per cent.

The province saw exports totalling over $101.9 billion for 2022 and 2023 combined. This is a 52.2 per cent increase from the previous two-year period of 2020-2021, which saw $66.9 billion in exports.

In March 2024, building permits in Saskatchewan totalled $176 million. This value represents the dollar amount of construction permits issued for both residential and non-residential buildings.

Statistics Canada data indicate that Saskatchewan's GDP reached an all-time high of $77.9 billion in 2023, increasing by $1.2 billion, or 1.6 per cent. This places Saskatchewan second in the country for real GDP growth, surpassing the national average of 1.2 per cent.

Urban housing starts in Saskatchewan have increased according to recent numbers released by Statistics Canada. 

Housing starts refers to the number of housing projects started in a particular month. In March 2024, the number of urban housing starts in Saskatchewan increased by 12.1 per cent, compared to March 2023. Housing starts for single-family dwellings also increased by 35.7 per cent, and multiple units increased by 3.8 percent compared to March 2023.  

On Friday, Highways Minister and Estevan MLA Lori Carr announced provincial funding for short-line rail infrastructure in Saskatchewan. 

The $530,000 in funding will be split over 13 short-line rails across the province. Several of the railways receiving funding are located in the southeast, including Stewart Southern Railway from Stoughton to Regina, Red Coat Road and Rail in the Ogema area, and Great Western Railway near Coronach. 

Efforts to expand regional tourism in the southeast are underway through new funding opportunities for municipalities. 

Southeast Sask. Economic Partnership is bringing those through federal grant money, and by providing a space for them to advertise their historic and tourist attractions. 

“We have a website called exploressep.ca and any business event or attraction can upload their own information on there. It's free and I encourage people to do that," said Managing Director of the SSEP, Tim Keating. 

A patch of dirt road south of the city is finally getting paved over. 

The Roadway Rehabilitation Project will encompass the area of First Street from Eighth Avenue to Ninth Avenue and from First Street to Valley Street. 

The Saskatchewan government says its removal of the federal carbon tax from heating contributed to an overall reduced inflation rate in the province.

According to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by Statistics Canada, the inflation rate in the province decreased from 2.7 per cent in December to 1.9 per cent.

The report states, 'In Saskatchewan, the collection of the carbon levy ceased in January 2024, contributing to the province's year-over-year price decline of natural gas (-26.6%).'

NDP leader Carla Beck says she's disappointed that the Saskatchewan government and the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation are back at an impasse. 

The Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee and the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation resumed negotiations at the beginning of the week but those talks quickly came to an impasse.