WestCentral

With the provincial election campaign now underway, the people of Saskatchewan will get to cast their ballots on October 28th. Over the course of the next 27 days, candidates in 61 ridings will be vying for the votes of the electorate, with the parties outlining how they will best tackle the issues facing the province.  

The question is, what are the issues facing the province according to the people of Saskatchewan? 

Saskatchewan’s minimum wage will rise to $15 per hour on October 1, matching Alberta for the lowest minimum wage in Canada. This marks the final step in a series of increases promised by the provincial government in 2022, which saw wages rise from $11.81 to $13 that year, with $1 increments each year since.

The minimum wage in four provinces is going up today.

Saskatchewan's minimum wage is going up by a dollar to $15, but it will still be the lowest in Canada, along with Alberta.

In Manitoba, the rate is going up by 50 cents to $15.80, a hike that follows a formula set in provincial law tied to the rate of inflation of the previous calendar year.

The rate in Ontario is rising by 65 cents to $17.20 an hour, an increase tied to inflation.

Prairie producers are always on the lookout for technologies that will help improve yields. But those advanced input and protection strategies will also produce heavier residue crops. Farmers need more aggressive harrows to break up that straw and improve material distribution.

They need the new Soilstar SHX-784 Seven Bar Variable Tine Harrow System from Schulte Industries.

Canadian members of Parliament are working with their colleagues in Australia and New Zealand to try and convince their respective governments to jointly recognize Palestinian statehood.

NDP MP Heather McPherson, who is leading an effort to recruit Canadian MPs, said building on work the three governments have already done might be the best leverage to advance a two-state solution.

The West Central girls' golf team delivered an outstanding performance at the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA) Provincial Golf Championships held at the Northern Meadows Golf Club in Goodsoil, Saskatchewan, bringing home the gold medal. The winning team included talented athletes Ayla Stevens and Claire Kosolofski from Kindersley, Chloe Wills from Kyle, and Morgan Chabot from Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute (LCBI).

The smell of sage and sweetgrass floated in the air Monday over a mostly sombre ceremony to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and remember those who survived — and the thousands who didn't.

But amid the more difficult moments at the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremony on Parliament Hill came a few moments of levity and celebration.

"We've got tomorrow, we'll live for a brighter day," sang Diyet & the Love Soldiers, performing their song We're Still Here while dignitaries and children alike got up on their feet and started dancing.

A frost advisory has been issued for central and southern Saskatchewan, effective Monday, September 30, 2024, at 3:26 PM CST, as a cooler autumn airmass settles over the region. This advisory serves as a reminder to residents that patchy frost is expected tonight, signalling the transition into the colder months ahead.

Environment Canada advises that frost advisories are typically issued when temperatures are anticipated to drop to the freezing mark during the growing season. Such conditions pose a risk to sensitive plants and crops, potentially leading to damage or destruction.

After two and a half years of dedicated fundraising efforts, the first phase of Rosetown’s all-inclusive playground project is finally taking shape. The installation of the play structure marks a significant milestone for the community, as it will be the first all-inclusive playground not only in Rosetown but also in the entire West Central Saskatchewan region.

After a week under a precautionary boil water advisory, the Town of Leader, Saskatchewan, has announced that the advisory has been lifted. The advisory, which was put in place due to a major pipe failure at the town's water treatment plant, was officially rescinded following water quality tests that confirmed the system is once again safe.