Mayor gets calls from across Canada about 'crazy' plan to recruit doctors

A British Columbia community's "out-of-the-box" plan to ease its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees is sparking interest from across Canada, says Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi.

The mayor said the community has hired its first family doctor for a city-operated medical clinic, and the Victoria-area city is looking to hire seven more under the first-in-Canada pilot project.

The family doctors will be paid as community employees, receiving full medical benefits, vacation and a pension, he said.

Overheated immigration system needed 'discipline' infusion: minister

An "overheated" immigration system that admitted record numbers of newcomers to the country has harmed Canada's decades-old consensus on the benefits of immigration, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, as he reflected on the changes in his department in a year-end interview.

The system, he said, needed some discipline to get the country back on track.

Final day to vote for your favorite Sasaktchewan Critter

Today is the final day to get your votes in for your favorite Saskatchewan Critter with our Christmas Critters contest. 

Head over to the Christmas Critters page and vote for your favorite photo of the 28 submissions we received. 

Then make sure you tune in to the morning show with Tara Garcia on CKSW 570/CJSN 1490 on Monday morning to find out who your top three winners are. 

Each of the top three will receive a fantastic prize from our sponsors. 

Now online: Great Plains Power Station ribbon-cutting ceremony marks project completion

SaskPower’s Great Plains Power Station, which began construction just outside Moose Jaw in March of 2021, is now officially complete and supplying 370 megawatts to Saskatchewan’s power grid. 

The power plant’s completion was marked with an onsite ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, and the unveiling of a specially commissioned painting by Moose Jaw artist Patti Lewis, titled Powering the Prairies.  

Faithful celebrations surround the Southwest

This holiday season, a plethora of local churches or faith groups will be holding Christmas services, ceremonies, mass, and more to celebrate the special time.

The first of the services was a Blue Christmas service, held yesterday evening at the East Side Church of God. The Blue Christmas service was a unique experience to honour lost loved ones and give hope during such a nostalgic time of the year.

Monday, December 23, will be the ninth and final of the Novena Masses for this year's Simbang Gabi.

SGI shares warm reminder of safe winter travel this season

Southwest motorists are being cautioned to take necessary steps to stay safe and be prepared when heading out on the highway, not only this Christmas season but throughout the winter season.

SGI is hoping to ensure all drivers get to their destinations and are able to celebrate another holiday by giving their customers a few tips about winter travel. 

Jeremy Pilon, communications consultant with SGI, noted that the two main things he tells people are to prepare themselves and prepare their vehicles.

Cheque delays continue; Social Services clients to pick up payments

The provincial Ministry of Social Services will again have clients who receive benefits by cheque pick up their payments at a local service centre. Social Services instituted the process last month due to the strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, and while the labour disruption is now over, they are opting to handle the payments in the same way due to potential mail backlogs.  

Teachers await decision of the Arbitration Board in contract talks

Teachers in the province are awaiting the decision of the Arbitration Board tasked to come up with the award that forms the basis of a new teachers’ contract.  

A release from the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation states that he binding arbitration hearing between the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee and Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee concluded just after 6 pm on Wednesday, December 18.