Humboldt

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald recently spent Friday and Saturday touring Saskatchewan.

During his visit, he had an opportunity to talk with producers and stakeholders about key agricultural issues and concerns and the potential opportunities that exist within the industry today and in the future.

As Prime Minister Mark Carney gets ready to host U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders at the G7 summit in Alberta, analysts say Canada's most important goal will be to keep the G7 from falling apart — even if that means not issuing a joint statement.

"Keeping this informal international organization together will, I think, be a mark of success," said Sen. Peter Boehm, a former diplomat who played a central role in Canada’s participation in the G7 for decades.

The historic ties and long-standing working relationship between the United Kingdom and Canada are not just reflections of the past, but are very much needed "in the here and now," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday. 

Starmer said the two Commonwealth members think and work alike, having collaborated for years on issues of security, defence, trade and the economy.

Starmer met with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on Sunday before the two leaders headed for the G7 leaders' summit in Alberta.

Saskatchewan has launched a new initiative aimed at expanding the role of Nurse Practitioners in the province’s primary care system.

The provincial government issued a call Monday for expressions of interest (EOIs) from Nurse Practitioners (NPs) interested in providing publicly funded health services. The initiative is designed to improve access to primary care and allow NPs to work to the full extent of their training and expertise.

The Saskatchewan Realtors Association is hopeful the recently announced GST rebate for first-time homebuyers purchasing new homes will help address housing supply issues. 

Those who may be eligible for the rebate include first-time buyers who purchase a new home from a builder, build or hire someone to build a new home on land they own or lease, or buy shares in a co-operative housing corporation. 

Almost a decade after 24 Sussex Drive was abandoned as the official residence of the Canadian prime minister, taxpayers are still shelling out tens of thousands of dollars a year to maintain the vacant property, and the new prime minister has signalled he's in no rush to deal with the crumbling building.

Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in May that it's up to the National Capital Commission to decide what to do with 24 Sussex.

With smoky conditions over the past week, Saskatchewan residents are being reminded of the health risks associated with poor air quality. 

Medical health officer Dr. Hortense Tabien recommended that, if it is smoky, residents should avoid going outside as much as possible and keep all doors and windows closed while indoors. 

If going outside is necessary, Tabien said it’s important to plan ahead. 

Building permits saw another strong period of growth in Saskatchewan as the latest Statistics Canada figures indicate a 31.5 per cent increase from April 2024 to April 2025. The total value of those building permits reached $290 million in April 2025.

"The continued rise in building permits demonstrates how our strong economy is delivering for Saskatchewan people," said Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding. "Our stable business environment and competitive incentives are bringing jobs, investments and opportunities to everyone who calls this province home." 

The federal public service shed almost 10,000 people last year, with the Canada Revenue Agency and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada losing the most employees.

The last time the public service contracted was in 2015, when the number of people employed dropped just slightly from 257,138 to 257,034.

The number of public servants employed by the federal government fell from 367,772 to 357,965 over the last year.

Canada's fentanyl czar says the fight against the deadly opioid would get a boost from proposed new tools for law enforcement in the Liberal government's recently tabled border bill.

Kevin Brosseau, the federal point person on fentanyl, welcomes provisions in the Strong Borders Act to increase inspection powers, give police easier access to information, crack down on money laundering and improve control of chemicals used to make the drug.