Okotoks

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is meeting in Saskatoon today with Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and Cody Blois, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, along with representatives from the canola sector. The focus: responding to China’s steep tariffs on Canadian canola products.

Last week, China announced a 75.8% tariff on Canadian canola seed, adding to the 100% tariffs placed in March on canola meal and oil. 

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is set to meet today with federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, along with industry groups, to discuss the steep Chinese tariff on Canadian canola seed. 

Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary for Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison are also to attend the meeting in Saskatoon.

A press conference is scheduled following the discussion. 

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is set to have her first official meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington today amid ongoing tensions in the bilateral relationship.

Anand and Rubio have previously spoken by phone, including in June ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc cycled through Washington in July looking for a tariff offramp but instead U.S. President Donald Trump boosted duties on Canada to 35 per cent.

The body of a man who went missing after a canoe capsized on Barrier Lake in Kananaskis has been found.

Cochrane RCMP said their Underwater Recovery Team located the 30-year-old Calgary man on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

The incident happened Sunday evening, Aug. 16, when a canoe carrying three people overturned.

A 56-year-old woman was rescued and taken to hospital with hypothermia, while a 60-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

All three occupants were from Calgary.

RCMP extended condolences to the victims’ family and friends.

A powerful thunderstorm tore through Brooks and surrounding communities Wednesday evening (Aug. 20), bringing damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail.

Environment Canada had issued a severe thunderstorm warning, with some areas reporting hail as big as golf balls to baseballs.

The storm knocked out power to thousands of FortisAlberta customers and forced road closures, including Highway 36 at Highway 1 because of downed lines and disabled vehicles.

A black bear seen earlier this week in Okotoks seems to be sticking around.

On Sunday, Aug. 17, the Town of Okotoks warned of a black bear sighting in Waller Park.

Signs were posted in the area, and the Town notified residents via Facebook.

On Wednesday, Aug. 20, the Town posted an update following another sighting.

Residents are reminded to give wildlife plenty of space, keep pets and children close, travel in groups, and carry bear spray if bears are known to be active nearby.

Agriculture Canada modelling expects above average yields for most crops

 Agriculture Canada is predicting solid yields for most crops on the Prairies, based on computer modelling that was done at the end of July.

“At the national level, the CCYF (Canadian Crop Yield Forecaster) model predicts above-average yields per unit area for 11 of the 12 spring-planted crops compared to the average yields of 2020-24,” says an executive summary of the Agriculture Canada predictions, published on a website called Canadian Crop Metrics.

World Humanitarian Day is designated as day to honour people who risk everything to do good.

Being a humanitarian should be the world’s safest job, instead, it has become one of the most dangerous.

From conflict zones to disaster-stricken regions, aid workers face increasing threats, including violence, abduction, and harassment. According to the Aid Worker Security Database, 265 aid workers have died this year so far increasing the likelihood that 2025 will surpass 2024 as the deadliest year on record (383 deaths) for humanitarian workers.

Temporary Traffic Calming (TC) Curbs will remain at the intersection of High Country Drive and High View Gate after construction is completed.  

During the Aug. 11 regular meeting, High River Town Council reviewed the temporary traffic measures currently in place on High Country Drive, while pathway realignment and fibre optic installation is underway.   

The Federal Government announced the designated and buffer areas for the 2025 Livestock Tax Deferral Program this week.

The Livestock Tax Deferral provision allows livestock producers in prescribed areas, who are forced to sell all or part of their breeding herd due to drought, excess moisture or flooding, to defer a portion of their income from sales until the following tax year.