Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press

As Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola products continue to hamper the cash price of one of the country's most valuable crops, farming experts say producers have big decisions ahead of them.

Market analyst Chuck Penner with LeftField Commodity Research said while future prices are down slightly, the cash price farmers receive for their canola, also known as the basis, is much lower.

Saskatchewan's financial fortunes this year have taken a dramatic hit.

The province had budgeted a $12-million surplus this fiscal year, but a first-quarter update issued Friday announced that the modest surplus is now on track to be a $349-million deficit.

It's tying the reversal to a $172-million drop in revenues, most of it from its Crown agency, SaskPower.

Saskatchewan's financial fortunes this year have taken a dramatic hit.

The province had budgeted a $12-million surplus this fiscal year, but a first-quarter update issued Friday announced that the modest surplus is now on track to be a $349-million deficit.

It's tying the reversal to a $172-million drop in revenues, most of it from its Crown agency, SaskPower.

Farmer Bill Prybylski says China’s planned tariff on canola seed wasn’t factored into his business equations this year.

The president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan says the 75.8 per cent preliminary duty, announced Tuesday, has already caused canola prices to fall by $1 per bushel.

That translates to a loss of about $200,000 for his farm. 

“That’s a pretty significant financial hit,” said Prybylski, who farms northeast of Regina near Yorkton.

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has ruled a challenge of the province's school pronoun law can continue.

In the decision released Monday, the court granted, in part, the government's appeal of a decision that allowed the challenge.

But the court says a judge has jurisdiction to determine whether the law limits Charter rights.

"(LGBTQ+ group) UR Pride’s litigation may continue in the Court of King’s Bench," the ruling says. 

Saskatchewan's Crown corporations are reporting consolidated net earnings of $510 million for this year, slightly lower than last year.

Among the province's largest money-makers was Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, bringing in $223 million.

Saskatchewan's big four — SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskEnergy and SGI Canada — raised $291 million before adjustments.

Consolidated net earnings were $578 million last year.

This year, the corporations will pay $240 million in dividends to the province's general revenue fund.

About 7,000 people in and around La Ronge, Sask., will be allowed to return home on Thursday after the lifting of a wildfire evacuation order, the director of the local emergency operation centre said Tuesday.

Lyle Hannan said residents of La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band can start going home on Thursday at 8 a.m.

Those deemed to work in essential services will be allowed to return sooner, he said.

Hannan said rain in the last few days helped crews contain the wildfire near the community.

Saskatchewan declared a provincewide state of emergency Thursday in its fight against rampaging wildfires that have forced thousands to flee.

The declaration by Premier Scott Moe came one day after his Manitoba counterpart Wab Kinew did the same.

“It's a very serious situation that we're faced with,” Moe told a news conference in Prince Albert.

“We do need some rainfall. We need that sooner rather than later, and in light of that not being in the forecast, we most certainly are putting in place every measure possible to prepare the province.”

The Saskatchewan chapter of the Royal Canadian Legion says it has cancelled events hosted by a group discussing the province's separation from the rest of Canada. 

Chad Wagner, the legion's executive director in Saskatchewan, says he made the decision based on Unified Grassroots' public statements on separation. 

He says such calls don't align with the legion's founding principles and nor do they promote Canadian unity.

Unified Grassroots has an online petition calling on Saskatchewan to negotiate new terms with Ottawa or look at separating from Canada.

Saskatchewan's legislature has passed a bill that opens the door for local governments to order firefighters to burn down derelict buildings, a move firefighters say they oppose. 

Bill 21, the Construction Codes (Derelict Buildings) Amendment Act, received royal assent Tuesday. The legislation lays out the framework for a pilot project where volunteer firefighters conduct burns on municipal-owned buildings as part of training exercises.