WestCentral

An individual is facing numerous charges after the Moose Jaw RCMP Crime Reduction Team made a drug bust on Sept. 9 in Moose Jaw after a drug trafficking investigation.

The investigation was a month-long, before officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Main Street in Moose Jaw. Police seized 2.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 386 grams of crack cocaine, 112 grams of fentanyl, 58 grams of MDMA (also known as ecstasy), and $3,655 in cash.

A typical Canadian family of four will pay an estimated $19,060 for public health-care insurance this year, according to a new study from the Fraser Institute.

The independent think-tank said most Canadians are unaware of the true cost of health care because they rarely see bills for medical services. Funding comes primarily through general government revenue, including various taxes, rather than direct payments by individuals.

It's been a hectic week for West Central Saskatchewan, between the RCMP and courts staying busy and PBR taking Kindersley by storm, big news came out every day this week!

Check out the top five local stories from the past week below.

With more than 100,000 bodies of water across the province, the Saskatchewan RCMP is reminding drivers and passengers to be prepared in the event their vehicle becomes submerged.

“Drivers and passengers are at significant risk when a vehicle enters the water. Water can pour in through windows and doors, causing entrapment, and the situation can quickly become life-threatening,” said Cpl. Jamie Diemert, coordinator of the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team (URT). “Knowing and practicing an escape plan with your family can prepare you for this kind of emergency.”

The West Central Events Centre in Kindersley will soon be ready for its winter programming, the Inter Pipeline Arena ice surface installation starting on Tuesday after cleanup from this past weekend's Professional Bull Riding event commenced on Monday. 

Global Affairs Canada summoned Russian ambassador Oleg Stepanov over the incursion of Russian drones into Poland this week, as Ottawa looks to help a new effort by the NATO military alliance reinforce its eastern flank.

The summoning occurred hours after Poland reported multiple Russian drones had entered Polish territory between Tuesday and Wednesday. NATO allies shot down some of the devices.

Tuition fees in Saskatchewan have risen sharply over the past several years, leaving students paying some of the highest rates in the country outside of Atlantic Canada, according to new Statistics Canada data.

Since 2018, the average annual tuition in the province has increased from $7,257 to $9,863, a jump of nearly 36 per cent. This fall, the University of Saskatchewan raised tuition by 3.8 per cent, while the University of Regina increased fees by four per cent.

After a Labour Day Classic/Banjo Bowl sweep of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the 10-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders are back home on Saturday against 5-7 Montreal seeking their third straight win.

The Roughriders stumbled out of the gates last week on the road in Winnipeg but used a second half full of clutch plays to earn a 21-13 win over their prairie rivals. Despite his 2025 struggles that included a missed extra point on Saturday, Riders' kicker Brett Lauther knocked in five field goals to drive the Roughriders to victory.

The Government of Saskatchewan says its Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive (CMPII) will support the development of Foran Mining Corporation’s McIlvenna Bay mine, a project expected to begin commercial production in mid-2026.

The McIlvenna Bay project, located west of Creighton, represents more than $1 billion in total capital investment. It includes an underground copper, zinc, gold, and silver mine, along with an above-ground processing facility capable of handling 4,900 tonnes of ore per day over an initial 18-year mine life.

The Government of Canada says a recent cyber incident involving a third-party multi-factor authentication service exposed phone numbers and email addresses for certain users of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) accounts.

The Office of the Chief Information Officer said the breach occurred between Aug. 3 and 15, 2025, after a routine software update created a vulnerability in the application interface of 2Keys Corporation, the MFA provider.