Humboldt

With an end goal of creating an ‘Innovation Corridor’, site-preparation has begun for the new Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus located near Innovation Place, and just a few steps away from the University of Saskatchewan.

President of Sask. Polytech Larry Rosia says once complete, it will be the only campus in Canada that features a university, a polytechnic, and a research park. He says this will attract professors, students, and researchers to the city.

He says it will also allow for more efficient collaborations between those at all three institutions.

The Liberal government's decision to reel in the temporary foreign worker program after loosening the rules to help businesses find workers after the pandemic is sparking a contentious debate about whether governments should even try to address labour shortages.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that his government is bringing back stricter rules to stem the flow of low-wage temporary foreign workers, and he urged businesses to hire and train Canadian workers.

Construction of BHP’s Jansen potash mine in Saskatchewan is ahead of the original schedule with first production now just over two years away. That’s for Stage 1 of the project, according to a report from international mining giant, BHP.

Jansen 1 is 52 per cent complete and first production is expected in late 2026, with a two year ramp up period. Because of a longer than usual summer, the mill’s foundation has been completed. Jansen 2 is two per cent complete with first production expected in 2029, followed by a three year ramp up period.

The chair of Canada Post’s board says the organization’s financial situation is unsustainable.

"The board and senior management recognize that Canada Post is at a critical juncture," said André Hudon at its annual general meeting on Wednesday.

"Significant change is urgently needed to preserve Canada Post's delivery network, which is vital because it's the only delivery network built to serve all Canadians."

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment is continuing to monitor Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), while implementing new mandatory testing for Bovine Tuberculosis (TB). 

The Ministry is introducing mandatory testing for Bovine TB during the 2024-2025 hunting season for a couple of Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ) near the Manitoba border. 

Health Canada says a recall has been issued for the dumbbell toy from the Fisher-Price Baby Biceps Gift Set because of a choking hazard.

A kettlebell toy, protein shake bottle and wearable headband that are also part of the set are not included in the recall.

The agency says grey caps on the end of the dumbbell toys can come off, posing a choking hazard to infants.

It says as of Aug. 15, Fisher-Price has received four reports in Canada and seven in the United States of the ends of the dumbbell toy coming off, with no reports of injuries.

Saskatchewan students will have more opportunities to get involved with the power industry as SaskPower and the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Corporation (DLC) are teaming up for online courses.

Those focus on 5th and 4th class power engineering, with the classes previously offered by SaskPower but now going through the DLC program.

SaskPower Spokesperson Joel Cherry talks about what the classes bring to Saskatchewan students. 

A new study says planet-warming emissions from Canada's record-breaking 2023 wildfire season were quadruple the country's fossil emissions for all of the previous year and on par with some of the most high-emitting countries. 

The study penned by researchers at NASA, and published in the journal Nature, says only China, India and the United States release more carbon per year than Canada's 2023 wildfires from May to September. 

Kenneth Jacob Stroeder
April 28, 1951 – August 30, 2024

While farmers are out in the field harvesting this year's wheat crop, research scientists and breeders involved in the Canadian National Wheat Cluster are working on improving the crops' long-term sustainability in the cropping rotation.

Funding for the work being done by the Wheat Cluster comes through the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC).

The CWRC is a collaboration of the three producer wheat commissions across Western Canada, the Alberta Wheat Commission, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and Manitoba Crop Alliance.