Liberal Leader Mark Carney's French language skills will be put to the test, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will seek to turn his numbers around, when the five main federal party leaders square off in Montreal tonight in the first of two debates ahead of election day on April 28.

The two-hour French-language debate will be moderated by Radio-Canada's Patrice Roy and will focus on five themes: the cost of living, energy and climate, the trade war, identity and sovereignty, and immigration and foreign affairs.

The Little Seedlings Daycare Center is in the running for a $25,000 prize through BASF’s Growing Home initiative—but community support is needed before voting closes tonight.

Little Seedlings, a non-profit project in development since 2022, is working to open Wilkie’s first licensed daycare and extended care program for school-aged children. The centre would address a critical childcare shortage in the area and support working families—especially those in the agriculture sector.

As governments race to address Canada’s housing crisis, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) is warning that worker exploitation and tax fraud are threatening the integrity of the construction industry.

The union’s Canadian District says the country’s push to build more homes — while necessary — is also fuelling growth in the underground economy. It has launched its annual Tax Fraud Days of Action campaign, running April 12 to 18, to raise awareness about the issue.

The acting chief of a Manitoba First Nation is facing sexual assault charges following an investigation by Saskatchewan RCMP.

Donald Smoke, 53, currently the acting chief of Dakota Plains First Nation, located southwest of Portage la Prairie, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with an incident reported to police in June 2024.

According to RCMP, investigators determined the alleged offences occurred in February 2024 in Kindersley, Sask. The victims are both adult women.

The Kindersley Jr. Klippers are keeping busy to begin the offseason. After adding a goaltender to their system last week, the Klippers focused stayed on keeping pucks out of the net with the addition of towering defenseman Jordan Lafleur from Alberta.

Saskatchewan recorded 570,000 calls in 2024 involving 911 phone operators, whether it be taking the call, dispatching the information, or working together to assist technicians across the province.

The professionals are being celebrated through Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 13-19.

The West Central Crisis and Family Support Center is inviting the community to come together for an evening of music, fun, and meaningful impact on April 19. Held at the Major Centennial Hall, this annual fundraiser kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and promises an exciting lineup of live music, door prizes, a silent auction, and refreshments. Tickets are $45 and available at the door.

Biggar RCMP had their hands full over the past week looking at their April 14 report.

Related Stories:

• 300 gallons of diesel stolen from locomotive near Biggar

The fuel theft above may have started the report, but the headline call didn't come until two days later on April 9 when a suspicious vehicle was reported lurking around Main Street in Biggar.

Canadians got a break on inflation in March as gas prices fell and a slowdown in travel to the United States helped cool airfare costs, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.

The annual rate of inflation slowed to 2.3 per cent last month, down from 2.6 per cent in February. A poll provided by LSEG Data & Analytics ahead of Tuesday’s release had expected yearly inflation to hold steady month-to-month.

StatCan said gas prices fell 1.6 per cent year-over-year in March, coming off a hike of 5.1 per cent in February.