WestCentral

Saskatchewan will officially mark Music Education Day on Monday, September 15, with an event at the Wascana Bandstand in Regina.

The gathering, which begins at noon, will bring together music educators, students, parents, and provincial leaders to celebrate the role of music in schools and communities. The Honourable Everett Hindley, Minister of Education, will formally proclaim Saskatchewan Music Education Day, alongside representatives from the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation and SaskCulture Inc.

Members of Parliament return to the House of Commons in Ottawa this week. International trade is expected to dominate the fall legislative agenda with Canada facing mounting challenges from countries like the United States and China.

The newly created Build Canada Homes agency will oversee plans to build 4,000 homes on six federally owned sites, as part of a $13 billion agency budget to speed up affordable home building, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday. 

Carney said that the $13 billion will offer financial incentives for builders to construct affordable homes and reduce upfront costs of affordable homebuilding.

Specific locations for the homes have not yet been announced, but Carney said they will be in Dartmouth, N.S., Longueuil, Que., Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton.

Members of Parliament are gearing up for their return to the House of Commons in what's expected to be a busy fall. 

Here is a look at some of the things to watch for as Parliament gets underway this week.

The budget

The Liberal government took some heat in the spring when it decided to delay the introduction of the federal budget, which is typically done in March or April, until this fall. 

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said his fiscal plan is set to be released in October. 

 The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) has engaged Synthesis Agri-Food Network to review Canada’s wheat breeding innovation system in an effort to safeguard its ability to serve the evolving needs of Canadian farmers.

A review of the current wheat breeding landscape will help the CWRC identify and address potential risks and opportunities in the Canadian system while ensuring it continues to generate elite varieties for farmers across the country.

The latest report from the Canadian Crop Hail Association shows minor hailstorms are still damaging crops in Western Canada as harvest continues.

CCHA member companies are investigating 310 claims of crop damage from storms that occurred August 31-September 6. Companies are still assessing damage from the storms that occurred in late August.

“Adjusters are out in full force to complete hail claims quickly as harvest is in full swing across the prairies,” said Brian Bernauer, Rain and Hail Insurance Services.

Brianna Elliot has been named the recipient of the 2025 Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award, the honour recognizing outstanding leadership in the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) Program. 

This award celebrates individuals who embody the values championed by the late Reg Schellenberg - humble leadership, a commitment to mentorship, a spirit of collaboration, and unwavering dedication to the Canadian cattle industry. 

Saskatoon RCMP say they are investigating a fatal collision south of Saskatoon.

Police responded to a report of a crash on Highway 219, about 15 kilometres south of Saskatoon, at approximately 7:15 a.m. Friday. Two minivans were involved in the collision.

Emergency responders declared the driver of one vehicle, a 48-year-old woman from southeast Saskatchewan, deceased at the scene. Her family has been notified.

The driver of the other minivan, an adult male, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle.

Federal measures aimed at supporting Canadian workers and industries affected by U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions are a step forward, but more comprehensive action is needed, says Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union.

Unifor praised the government’s adjustments to Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, including the removal of the 20 per cent sales requirement for 2026, calling it necessary temporary relief for the domestic auto industry.

A new survey of Saskatchewan nurses paints a troubling picture of the province’s health system, with more than half of respondents saying they are considering leaving the profession altogether.

Published Friday, the survey found that 53.4 per cent of nurses are weighing an exit from healthcare in the province, while 96 per cent reported that short staffing has contributed to longer patient wait times. Nearly 80 per cent said staffing shortages have negatively affected patients’ health.