Steven Wilson

The most recent Consumer Price Index, or inflation, numbers were released Tuesday morning by Statistics Canada. The numbers for July show the rate of inflation is up for July compared to June, with prices across the country 3.3 percent higher than they were in July 2022.  

Here in Saskatchewan, the inflation rate was slightly behind the national mark, at 3 percent. This is the sixth lowest in the nation. It also marks just the 8th July since 2003 the rate of inflation in Saskatchewan was below the national mark.  

Statistics Canada released their payroll employment and earnings numbers Thursday morning, and Saskatchewan is sitting in the middle of the pack in many of the metrics. The average weekly earnings in the province in May were $1156.83, which was the 5th highest in the country, and below the national average of $1205.35. The earnings for May were down from April by nearly $10, the largest decline of any province.  

Statistics Canada released their payroll employment and earnings numbers Thursday morning, and Saskatchewan is sitting in the middle of the pack in many of the metrics. The average weekly earnings in the province in May were $1156.83, which was the 5th highest in the country, and below the national average of $1205.35. The earnings for May were down from April by nearly $10, the largest decline of any province.  

In the first six months of the year, the Saskatchewan RCMP stated they received 105 reports of extortion. This was nearly a 200 percent increase in the number of reported cases, with police being notified of just 36 in the same six-month period in 2022.  

The warm temperatures and lack of rain in most parts of the southeast have been taking a toll on the crops in southeast Saskatchewan over the past week. This includes heat stress in some crops, as well as reduced yield potential. 

In the first six months of the year, the Saskatchewan RCMP stated they received 105 reports of extortion. This was nearly a 200 percent increase in the number of reported cases, with police being notified of just 36 in the same six-month period in 2022.  

The search continues for Weyburn’s Frances Gazeley, who disappeared in early December 2021. She was last seen on Regina Street in Weyburn before she went missing.

The last time anyone spoke with Gazeley was December 7th, 2021, and a thorough search in Weyburn, and in surrounding areas, has yet to yield any evidence of her whereabouts.

The Saskatchewan government released a plan in Fillmore Friday morning for repaving projects around the province with a focus on important corridors to boost transportation infrastructure. A considerable 230 km of highway improvements, including a sizable portion of Highway 33, are planned for this year. This initiative is a component of the government's larger plan to upgrade 1,000 km of highways this season.

The Government of Saskatchewan has designated July 9 to 15 as Parks Week, a celebration of the province's breathtaking landscapes and recreational areas. With a diverse range of events and programs available in provincial parks, visitors are invited to explore and immerse themselves in the beauty that Saskatchewan has to offer. The Parks, Culture, and Sport Minister, Laura Ross, highlighted the excitement and opportunity Parks Week brings to residents and tourists alike.

This weekend, people by the thousands will be taking to the highways throughout Saskatchewan for a variety of events. The big one for many is Country Thunder Saskatchewan, which runs through Sunday in Craven. There is also the All Folk'd Up festival in Montmartre, southeast of Regina, as well as the Roughriders game at Mosaic Stadium. These are just a few of the events happening in the province. With all of these events taking place, the RCMP is doing what they can to help ensure people can get to these events safely and return home from them safely.