Scott Boulton

The start of fall seems to be all but unavoidable and that's bringing with it a chance of sickness in the community.

Flu season is beginning in Saskatchewan, with strains of influenza likely making their way around the province.

To prepare for that, the Saskatchewan Health Authority prepares by studying what happens in the southern hemisphere, which experiences its fall and flu season first.

SHA Medical Health Officer Dr. Stanley Enebeli says that this year it looks like even the flu season will be getting back to normal after the pandemic.

Saskatchewan has seen a spike in population this quarter, greater than any other recorded jump in population for the province.

The second quarter of 2022 saw the province grow by 6,465 people- the largest population jump since Statistics Canada started releasing quarterly population counts in 1971.

Trade and Export Development minister Jeremy Harrison attributed the increase to more jobs being created in the province, which is attracting more people.

Saskatchewan has seen a spike in population this quarter, greater than any other recorded jump in population for the province.

The second quarter of 2022 saw the province grow by 6,465 people- the largest population jump since Statistics Canada started releasing quarterly population counts in 1971.

Trade and Export Development minister Jeremy Harrison attributed the increase to more jobs being created in the province, which is attracting more people.

Gas prices have been going up on the prairies, with some stations in the Swift Current area coming in at above 163.9 cents per litre.

That increase is due to a number of factors, with one expert saying that the increase is due to a rebound in demand for gasoline.

That comes as a hurricane is bearing down on the east coast of the United States, which could disrupt any fuel and energy traffic in the area.

President of Canadians for Affordable energy Dan McTeague details just how much of an increase some areas will see.

Gas prices have been going up on the prairies, with some stations in the Moose Jaw area coming in at above 163.9 cents per litre.

That increase is due to a number of factors, with one expert saying that the increase is due to a rebound in demand for gasoline.

That comes as a hurricane is bearing down on the east coast of the united states, which could disrupt any fuel and energy traffic in the area.

President of Canadians for Affordable energy Dan McTeague details just how much of an increase some areas will see.

Announced earlier this week, the federal government will be lifting currently existing COVID regulations for people traveling to Canada.

Some of the changes include an end to mandatory masks on flights and trains, mandatory vaccination, and randomized testing of people entering the country.

That will apply to people coming in through the country through the land, air, and sea, with all sectors dropping the regulations.

CBSA Corporate Chief for the Southern Saskatchewan and Southern Alberta district Scott Kienlen says the change is coming at the end of the month.

A recently proposed new guideline for alcohol consumption in Canada could change the way organizations and people look at alcohol.

That includes a switch in the amount that's safe to consume, with the new guidelines notably switching to a "less is better" approach.

The Ottawa-based Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction says the risk is negligible-to-low for two drinks per week, moderate for three-to-six drinks per week, and increasingly high beyond that.

SaskEnergy says that it's committing $750,000 in 2022 and 2023 to help its commercial customers replace older natural gas equipment with high-efficiency models.

The new SaskEnergy funding will be delivered through two programs for its commercial customers - one that provides rebates for new condensing boilers and another that provides rebates for space and water heating upgrades.

SaskEnergy’s Commercial Boiler Rebate will be encouraging the use of a high-efficiency natural gas condensing boiler to maximize energy cost savings while reducing emissions.

With the recent announcement that September 19th will be a federal holiday as a day of mourning for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, there's been some questions as to what exactly is affected by a federal holiday.

The announcement will be applying to all federal employees, along with those who work in a federally-regulated workplace.

According to the government of Canada, that includes:

With harvest continuing in Canada, Statistics Canada has released its newest report on the estimates for many of the crops being grown.

This month's totals have come as many farmers are seeing an excellent end to a good growing season, with hot and sunny weather helping to dry out the crops.

The latest report takes that into account, as the previous August 29 report only recorded conditions up to July, with the new data going up to the end of August.

Most of the crops are seeing a slight bump in the yields that are being predicted thanks to the new report: