WestCentral

MACKLIN, Sask. — A 33-year-old Macklin man is facing multiple charges after police allegedly found drugs and prohibited items during a traffic stop last week.

Between May 20 and 26, Macklin RCMP charged the man with possession of methamphetamine and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He also faces charges of possessing a weapon contrary to a court order and possessing a prohibited device.

Canada's premiers are heading into to a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon Monday armed with their wish lists for major "nation-building" projects that could buttress the economy in the face of a U.S. trade war.

Carney asked the premiers to each pass on five suggestions for national infrastructure projects, and Monday's meeting will aim to identify the ones that will make the final cut to be fast tracked using legislation Ottawa may introduce as early as this week.

Canada Post has rejected a request from the union representing about 55,000 of its workers to send their ongoing labour dispute to binding arbitration.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers made the request in a statement Saturday, saying it was inviting Canada Post to a fair, final and binding arbitration process to resolve negotiations that have dragged on for months without producing a new collective agreement. 

Saskatchewan producers made major strides last week, pushing seeding completion to 88 per cent across the province — ahead of the five-year average of 82 per cent and the 10-year average of 85 per cent.

The province’s weekly crop report, released Thursday, said warm and windy conditions helped move seeding along, though they also led to slight declines in topsoil moisture.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority’s board of directors has approved a $5.32-billion operating budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, alongside $580 million in capital investments aimed at strengthening health care across the province.

Board chair Arlene Wiks said the budget reflects the SHA’s ongoing commitment to safe, high-quality and accessible care, while also supporting the health-care workforce.

Innovation Saskatchewan has unveiled a new provincial research strategy and unified brand aimed at cementing Saskatchewan’s position as a global leader in innovation and economic growth.

The new plan, titled Accelerating Innovation, Advancing Industry: Saskatchewan's Research Strategy, outlines how the province will enhance its research programs, expand support for startups, and focus investment on high-growth sectors. The strategy is built around three pillars — Invent, Commercialize and Connect — representing key stages in the innovation life cycle.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has announced a $2-billion commitment to agriculture and food innovation by 2030, funnelling the investment through its newly launched capital arm, FCC Capital.

The federal Crown corporation says the funding will support the development of new technologies, research and business models aimed at increasing efficiency, productivity and sustainability across Canada's agri-food sector.

A precautionary drinking water advisory will take effect next week for several blocks along Main Street and Phillips Court in Kindersley due to a waterline replacement project. The Town of Kindersley also announced that Main Street will be closed due to the work starting Monday, one day earlier than originally expected.

The advisory will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 2, and will remain in place until further notice, the Town of Kindersley said in a statement. It affects properties on the 800, 900 and 1000 blocks of Main Street, as well as those on Phillips Court.

As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre argues the government's plan to speed up key infrastructure projects doesn't go far enough, some Indigenous leaders are accusing Ottawa of not giving them enough time to weigh in.

The government is developing a bill to fast-track what it calls nation-building projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process as a substitute for reviews under the Impact Assessment Act, also known as C-69.

While the federal government and cities across Canada are making strides on expanding the housing supply, the provinces still need to get serious about building quality homes, a new report released Thursday argues.

No province earned a grade higher than C+ in the report assembled by the Task Force for Housing and Climate, a non-governmental body that was struck in 2023 with backing from the philanthropic Clean Economy Fund.

The task force's "report card" evaluated governments based on their policies for building homes quickly and sustainably.