FortSask

A new plan to force hospitals to report adverse effects of "natural health products" such as herbal remedies and supplements has come as a surprise to manufacturers, who say they were blindsided by the proposed change.

The federal government included the plan in the 2023 budget bill, which is still making its way through the House of Commons.

It would see natural health products fall under the same category as pharmaceuticals when it comes to how they are monitored once they are on the market.

Gale Katchur, the mayor of Fort Saskatchewan, has spoken out about a rise in illegally placed election signs as we approach election day.

In a post made to her Facebook page, Katchur illustrated examples of where election signs are prohibited, as part of the Election Sign Bylaw. 

The bylaw states that election signs must be placed at least three metres away from sidewalks and curbs and can't be placed on the back of a fence without permission from the property owner. 

Alberta Barley will be giving out three $2,000 scholarships for students actively engaged in barley research. 

The application deadline is May 31, 2023.

The scholarship is available to full and part-time graduate and undergraduate students studying at Canadian academic institutions. 

Preference will be given to students who intend to work in agriculture or academia in Western Canada.

Applicants need to send a one-page summary of their research project and how it could be beneficial to barley producers and the industry.

The ACT Program is a seven-year, $495.7 million initiative, comprised of two funding streams, with the Adoption Stream ending on March 31, 2026, and the Research and Innovation Stream ending on March 31, 2028.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced the new intake for the Agricultural Clean Technology Program will begin on June 1st.

In Manitoba, feeder steer and heifer prices were mixed.

The 701 to 800-pound feeder steers saw an increase of $11.25 cwt for an average price of $282.50 cwt, while the 401 to 500-pounders dropped $5.50 cwt for an average price of $351 cwt.

Feeder heifer prices for the 401 to 500-pound animals were up $34 cwt for an average price of $317.50 cwt, while the largest price drop was $17.50 cwt for the 701-800 pound animals for an average price of $224 cwt. 

The Town of Morinville has signed a Fire Services Agreement with Sturgeon County, and a Mutual Aid Agreement with Alexander First Nation.

The agreements were signed during the town council's meeting on Wednesday (May 24) and serve to provide the area with a high level of emergency services to the residents of Morinville and the surrounding area.

Fire chief Brad Boddez said that the town previously had an agreement with Sturgeon County that ended in 2020.

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) saw a lot of interest in the first year of their 4R Nutrient Stewardship Advantage program as part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's On-Farm Climate Action Fund.

Warren Ward,  an Agronomy Specialist with the CCC says the Canola 4R Advantage program offers financial enhancements to help cover some of the costs associated with 4R Nutrient Stewardship.

Alberta is still dealing with 67 active wildfires. Saskatchewan has over 20,  while Wednesday morning Manitoba had five.

The wildfire situation has not only resulted in the evacuation of thousands of people, but livestock as well leaving producers struggling to try and relocate animals.

Brodie Haugan, Chair of the Alberta Beef Producers says you might not think of it,  but just like people livestock have to be evacuated.

An international tennis tournament is returning to Fort Saskatchewan this summer. 

The Mesa Tennis Tournament, which has roots in the community, will set up shop in the Fort in mid-July. 

"It started in Fort Saskatchewan with a small group of about 24 people as a put-together thing and from there it grew," said Raymond Courchesne, an organizer of the Mesa Regal Tennis Group. 

The tournament has not been able to be hosted over the last three years due to COVID, and it is likely that this one will be the last. 

There will be some delays in Fort Saskatchewan starting next week. 

The city announced that work on surface reconstruction on 95 Street will officially begin on Monday (May 29). 

Work will stretch from 95 Street all the way east of 99 Avenue. 

The project is expected to be completed in late July. In the meantime, a temporary detour will be set up. 

Here is a look at the detour map provided by the city: