Steven Wilson

Four organizations representing teachers and professors from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary education participated in a press conference Monday morning, calling on the provincial government to make commitments to fund education at all levels. The organizations, the University of Regina Faculty Association (URFA), the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association (USFA), the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty Association (SPFA), and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF), were all represented by their respective president.  

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is disappointed the provincial government reached an agreement with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association outside of the bargaining process but understands the situation the SSBA found themselves in.  

In October, it was announced SaskEnergy stop collecting the carbon tax on home heating effective January 1st. The move was in response to the federal government announcing they were pausing the collection of carbon tax on home heating oil, and providing no further exemptions.  

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation announced a three-day withdrawal of extracurricular activities on March 11 - 13 and a one-day rotating withdrawal of noon-hour supervision on March 11. 

STF president Samantha Becotte says that teachers regret the continuation of job action, but remain steadfast that measures to address class size and complexity must be part of the provincial collective agreement. 

Wednesday evening, Premier Scott Moe took to social media to announce what would be included for education in the upcoming provincial budget. He stated there would be an increase of $180 million in school operating funding, just over nine percent from the levels for the current fiscal year. Of that, $356 million would be for classroom support.  

Measles. In recent weeks, cases of childhood illness have been showing up in Canada. While there has only been a handful reported, including here in Saskatchewan, it has given pause for thought in the medical community.  

Ahead of their annual convention in Regina next week, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities is expressing concerns about a lack of resources and education that is made available to elected officials who work in municipal government.  

Minister of Crown Investment Corporation Dustin Duncan found himself answering about expenses from his trip to Paris in November for the World Nuclear Exhibition. He was at the event in his role as the Minister Responsible for SaskPower and attended to participate in a panel with fellow ministers from Ontario and New Brunswick, as well as meet with representatives from countries and companies in the nuclear sector.  

In October, it was announced SaskEnergy stop collecting the carbon tax on home heating effective January 1st. The move was in response to the federal government announcing they were pausing the collection of carbon tax on home heating oil, and providing no further exemptions.  

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities will be holding their annual convention in Regina in two weeks, and the association’s president, Ray Orb, is looking forward to it.  

“I know there’s a lot of information sharing at those meetings, but the attraction, I know for me from attending these conventions for a number of years, is listening to the premier, it’s listening to the leader of the opposition, too,” Orb told Discover Weyburn.