SK man who set 30 fires sentenced to probation

A Saskatchewan volunteer firefighter who confessed to starting 30 hay bale fires last summer has been sentenced to 18 months probation and 200 hours community service. 

Sask. volunteer firefighter who set hay bales on fire 30 times awaits sentencing | CBC News | Hannah Spray

June 25, 2025 - "As an arsonist kept setting hay bales on fire in western Saskatchewan last summer, comments a volunteer firefighter made to his colleagues raised their suspicions. That ultimately led police to focus their attention on Logan Sieben, a 25-year-old volunteer with the Macklin Fire Department in the town, about 225 kilometres west of Saskatoon.

"At Sieben's sentencing hearing last week in Unity provincial court, Crown prosecutor Danie Cilliers described how, as the fire department attended the hay bale fires, Sieben would say things like, 'the area does not have any cameras,' or 'there are two ways in and out.' Police questioned Sieben, who initially admitted to starting three fires. Ultimately, he accepted responsibility for starting 30 fires during a one-month period from July 29 to Aug. 26, 2024, Cilliers said.

"Cilliers argued for a sentence consisting of a six-month conditional sentence order — to be served in the community — followed by 12 months probation. He cited the high number of fires and Sieben's breach of trust to the community, as a volunteer firefighter, as aggravating factors for the judge to consider. 

"Defence lawyer George Green argued for a sentence of the same length, but in the form of 18 months probation on the same terms proposed by the Crown, including community service and mental health supports.... Green cited prior cases where other offenders set fires to houses, vehicles and even a fire department, and received sentences of probation.... 

"The Crown asked the judge to impose a restitution order for $76,650, the amount associated with the Macklin Fire Department's response to the fires. However, Cilliers acknowledged he doesn't know how much of that was covered by insurance, or how many RMs or property owners have paid their bills. Green said that when the restitution amount isn't 'crystal clear,' it needs to be left to the civil courts to sort out, so a restitution order would not be appropriate here."

Read more: cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/volunteer-firefighter-arsonist-sentencing-1.7570517

Macklin Fire Department / CBC.

Saskatchewan volunteer firefighter who set 30 fires in a month sentenced for arson | CBC News | Alexander Quon:

July 22, 2025 - "A former volunteer firefighter who pleaded guilty to setting hay bales on fire in western Saskatchewan last summer has been sentenced to probation and community service. Logan Sieben was a member of the Macklin & District Fire Department, which last year responded to 20 hay bale fires from July 28 to Aug. 25.... Sieben ultimately pleaded guilty to one charge of arson causing property damage.

"On Monday, Judge Ian Mokoruk released his decision during a hearing in Unity provincial court. Sieben will serve 18 months of probation, complete 200 hours of community service in 15 months and cannot possess any fire-starting tools.

"Mokoruk declined to impose a restitution order, despite Crown attorneys arguing during sentencing submissions that Sieben should pay $76,650, or the amount associated with the department's response to the fires.

"Macklin & District Fire Department Chief Justin Bast said he was hoping for a more severe sentence. 'I don't know that jail time would would solve the problem,' said Bast over the phone on Monday. 'Maybe a little bit of some type of house arrest or something like that and the restitution with that as well.'"

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/logan-sieben-sentencing-1.7590359

Saskatchewan gov't stops remitting carbon tax

On February 29 the Saskatchewan government, which has already stopped collecting federal carbon tax on home heating, announced it would not be remitting that share of the tax to the federal government. 

Sask Minister walks in Ottawa snow and refuses to pay carbon tax | Western Standard | Shaun Polczer:

February 29, 2024 - "[O]n February 29, ... Saskatchewan’s Crown Corporations Minister Dustin Duncan stood in front of a sleet covered Parliament building to announce the province wouldn’t be remitting the province’s share of Ottawa’s carbon tax ahead of a March 1 deadline.

"'I took a walk in the rain and made an important decision about the carbon tax,” Duncan said in a recorded message posted on Twitter ('X') on Thursday, in an oblique reference to Trudeau Sr.’s famous ‘walk in the snow' declaration on February 29, 1984. 'Today, I’m announcing that in addition to not collecting the carbon tax on SaskEnergy bills, the Government of Saskatchewan will not be remitting the federal carbon tax on natural gas Saskatchewan families use to heat their homes,' he stated. 'This is a decision that we do not take lightly and we recognize that it may come with consequences.'

"Saskatchewan officially stopped collecting the federal carbon tax on home heating effective January 1, in response to the Liberal government’s decision to exempt home heating oil in Atlantic Canada. But it wasn’t clear if it would remit the outstanding funds for the month to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) by the March 1 deadline.... Saskatchewan government officials, including Premier Scott Moe, proclaimed they would be willing to go to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 'carbon jail' for withholding the funds.... [T]he Saskatchewan government on February 21 declared itself the province’s ‘singular’ natural gas distributor in order to indemnify individual SaskEnergy employees from penalty.

"The Saskatchewan treasury claims the move has saved families $400 thus far in 2024 and shaved nearly a full percentage point off the province’s inflation rate, which stands as one of the lowest in the country."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/business/sask-minister-walks-in-ottawa-snow-and-refuses-to-pay-carbon-tax/52791

Saskatchewan won't remit carbon tax to Ottawa, defying federal law | Power & Politics | CBC News | :

Guilbeault brands Moe ‘immoral’ for breaking carbon law; vows to take unspecified ‘measures’ | Western Standard | Shaun Polczer:

March 5, 2024 - "Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe may be headed for the carbon clink.... Barely a week after the province said it would refuse to collect — or remit — the share of federal carbon tax on home heating bills, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault branded the Saskatchewan leader’s actions 'immoral' and “unspeakable' ... even 'criminal,' vowing unspecified 'measures' to enforce compliance.

“'If Premier Scott Moe decides that he wants to start breaking laws and not respecting federal laws, then measures will have to be taken,' Guilbeault said at a press conference in response to a question from a reporter. 'We can't let that happen. What if somebody tomorrow decides that they don’t want to respect other federal laws, criminal laws? What would happen then if a prime minister, a premier of a province, would want to do that?' he went on. 'It's irresponsible and it's frankly immoral on his part. We can have disagreements about things like climate change, but to be so reckless is unspeakable, really.'

"Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson [has] threatened to withhold carbon tax rebates for Saskatchewan residents that would amount to around $1,600 for a family of four. But Moe said withholding the tax saved them $400 In January alone. However those threats were nothing compared to Guilbeault’s comments, which struck an ominous tone that he may indeed be prepared to arrest provincial politicians on criminal charges.

"It’s a dramatic escalation that confirms the worst fears of politicians such as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith who has long insisted the Liberal government’s carbon policies could result in prison for government and other officials who refuse to comply with its clean energy regulations. Smith has vowed to indemnify officials and power producers to increase baseline natural gas fired power on the Alberta grid, which is what the Saskatchewan government essentially did last month when it declared itself the sole natural gas distributor in the province to protect SaskEnergy employees for not collecting the tax."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/guilbeault-brands-moe-immoral-for-breaking-carbon-law-vows-to-take-unspecified-measures/52885 

SK gov't won't collect carbon tax on home heating

Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe says that, if the Trudeau government does not exempt all home heating bills from its its carbon tax by January 1, provincial utilities will stop collecting it. 

Moe to stop collecting carbon tax on home heating Jan. 1 if Trudeau doesn't give Sask break | Western Standard | Christopher Oldcorn:| Christopher Oldcorn:

October 30, 2023 - "Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says the province will stop collecting the carbon tax on home heating starting January 1 unless the Trudeau government gives a carbon tax break similar to what Atlantic Canada was given last week.... Moe published a video with his tweet explaining his reasons.... 

“'Prime Minister Trudeau announced a three-year exemption on the carbon tax for home heating. This exemption is primarily for families in Atlantic Canada, where heating oil is used in 40% of their homes,” said Moe. 'And making this announcement, the prime minister effectively destroyed two of the myths that he has created about the carbon tax. 

First is that the carbon tax is affordable because most Canadians receive more back in rebates than they pay in carbon tax. If that were true, why would he need to remove it as an affordability measure? On home heating oil for families in Atlantic Canada?

And the second myth is that it's a tax being applied fairly in all parts of the country based on a set rate per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions. Home heating oil is used primarily in one part of the country, and it has higher greenhouse gas emissions than other heat sources like natural gas, that is used in most Saskatchewan homes.... 

"Moe attacked how Trudeau runs the country after the Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings said over the weekend that if the rest of Canada wants a carbon tax rebate, they should elect more Liberals. 'And now, a federal minister has said if people a West want a carbon tax exemption, we should elect more liberals,' said Moe. 'This is no way to run a country.... 

"'I am calling on the federal government to offer the same carbon tax exemption to Saskatchewan families by extending it to all forms of home heating, not just heating oil. It's only fair to other Saskatchewan and Canadian families,” said Moe. 'Hopefully, that exemption will be provided soon. But if not effective January the first, Sask Energy will stop collecting and submitting the carbon tax on natural gas, effectively providing Saskatchewan residents with the very same exemption that the federal government is giving heating oil in Atlantic Canada.'”
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/breaking-moe-to-stop-collecting-carbon-tax-on-home-heating-jan-1-if-trudeau-doesnt-give-sask-break/49808

Sask gov’t to stop collecting carbon tax on home electric heating | Western Standard | Scott Moe:

November 30, 2023 - "Premier Scott Moe said the Saskatchewan government is making the carbon tax exemption on home heating broader to include electrical heating as well. Moe had previously announced the government instructed SaskEnergy to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas bills starting January 1 unless the federal government extends the carbon tax exemption to cover all forms of home heating. The provincial government has also introduced legislation intending to remove the carbon tax from SaskPower bills for homes heated with electricity.... 

"Thursday, Moe announced his government plans to eliminate the carbon tax on electric home heating in the upcoming year if the federal government does not extend the exemption. 'Our government was able to make the decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas because you, the Saskatchewan people, own the natural gas utility, SaskEnergy,' Moe said in the video. 'Well, we also own the electrical utility and that’s why our government has decided that SaskPower will also stop collecting the carbon tax on electric heat effective January 1'.... Moe explained the government will need to determine who relies on electric heating and estimate the portion of their power bills that goes towards heating."
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/sask-govt-to-stop-collecting-carbon-tax-on-home-electric-heating/50656

Saskatchewan's Response to Atlantic Canada's Carbon Tax Exemption | Premier Scott Moe | October 30, 2023:

Parents' Bill of Rights now law in Saskatchewan

"Parents' Bill Of Rights" Passed And Enshrined In Legislation | Government of Saskatchewan (press release):

October 20, 2023 -"The Government of Saskatchewan has passed the "Parents' Bill of Rights" and invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This protects the important role that parents and guardians have in supporting their children. The notwithstanding clause is part of the Constitution of Canada and allows federal and provincial governments to enact legislation that operates notwithstanding certain provisions of the Charter.

"'Parents and guardians have a right to know what is being taught in their children's school,' Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. '"The Parents' Bill of Rights" is an inclusionary policy that ensures that parents are at the forefront of every important decision in their child's life.'

"The Bill passed today invokes section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to entrench in law key elements of the parental inclusion and consent policies announced on August 22, 2023. It will permit the legislation to operate without interruption. 

"The passing of this Bill provides parents with assurance and confidence that they will be involved in the important decisions involving their children no matter where they go to school in Saskatchewan. The Bill has received royal assent and is now in force."

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2023/october/20/parents-bill-of-rights-passed-and-enshrined-in-legislation

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on passage of parents’ rights bill |cpac | October 20, 2023:

Saskatchewan gov't tables Parents' Bill of Rights

Sask. Parental Bill of Rights introduced, notwithstanding clause to be invoked | CBC News | Adam Hunter: 

October 13, 2023 - "The Saskatchewan government introduced Bill 137, the Parental Bill of Rights, on Thursday morning, moving ahead with its plan to invoke the notwithstanding clause to protect a controversial new policy dictating how schools deal with gender-diverse students.

"'Parents should always be involved in important decisions involving their children,' said Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill. 'The parental inclusion and consent policy introduced in August and now this new legislation we are introducing today will ensure that continues to be the case.' Cockrill said the legislation 'provides clarity that the policy will remain in place.'

"Once passed, the law will require schools to receive consent from parents to use a child's gender-related preferred name or gender identity if they are under 16. The bill also says that if a child feels they will suffer physical, emotional or mental harm from the school seeking consent, the principal will direct the child to school support staff to develop a plan to eventually tell their parent. The government said the amendments are meant to keep parents informed and will support students....

"Opposition house leader and justice critic Nicole Sarauer spoke in the house for two hours following question period. She spoke against a government motion to double the maximum debate on the bill over the next week from 20 hours to 40. Sarauer was critical of the government's claim the bill can be scrutinized properly in a week.... 'To call that extra time, extra scrutiny, is an absolute joke and a farce, and it's slap in the face to democracy in this province. Especially when we're talking about a piece of legislation that's going to use the notwithstanding clause to trample on the rights of Saskatchewan children,' she said....

"Cockrill was asked if he was comfortable overriding the rights of children with this legislation. 'I think over the next number of days we're going to get into a debate on the collision of rights and how the notwithstanding clause addresses that. I know I'm comfortable with the legislation that's been introduced today and how that will play out,' he said.

Government and Opposition MLAs will return on Monday. It is expected that extended hours that will have the house sit from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. CST could start Tuesday and run until the following Sunday. Premier Scott Moe had called the legislature back early to introduce the new legislation before the fall sitting starts on Oct. 25.... Moe told reporters on Tuesday his government called an emergency session to introduce and eventually pass the bill in order to protect the policy from court challenges.

"'With respect to the notwithstanding clause itself, that is part of the Charter and it was put in place so that elected members in the future would be able to determine which of those rights ultimately would be in place moving forward. And that is ultimately why it is being utilized here,' Moe said."

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-bill-137-notwithstanding-clause-1.6993335

Federal justice minister reacts to Saskatchewan’s plan to use notwithstanding clause | CPAC | October 5, 2023:

SK gov't to use notwithstanding clause in Charter to implement school gender policy

Saskatchewan gov't to use notwithstanding clause in Charter to implement Parental Rights and Inclusion school gender policy.

Sask. premier to use notwithstanding clause to veto judge ruling on school pronoun policy | CBC News | Jason Warick:

September 28, 2023 - "A Regina judge has ruled that the Saskatchewan government's naming and pronoun policy should be paused for the time being, but Premier Scott Moe says he'll use the notwithstanding clause to override it. Moe, responding to today's injunction issued by a Regina Court of King's Bench Justice Michael Megaw, said he intends to recall the legislature Oct. 10 to 'pass legislation to protect parents' rights.'

"'Our government is extremely dismayed by the judicial overreach of the court blocking implementation of the Parental Inclusion and Consent policy — a policy which has the strong support of a majority of Saskatchewan residents, in particular, Saskatchewan parents,' Moe said in a written statement Thursday afternoon. 'The default position should never be to keep a child's information from their parents.'

"Last month, the province announced that all students under 16 needed parental consent to change their names or pronouns. Moe previously said he stands by the policy and that the province will do everything in its power to protect parental rights.

"The notwithstanding clause is a provision that allows governments to override certain Charter rights for up to five years when passing legislation. The clause can only override certain sections of the charter which deal with fundamental freedoms, legal rights and equality rights.... Once invoked, the notwithstanding clause prevents any judicial review of the legislation in question.... 

"UR Pride [University of Regina Pride Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity] filed a lawsuit calling for the policy to be struck down. Their position was that it could cause teachers to out or misgender children and that policy violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Last week, lawyers for UR Pride argued for an injunction, pending a ruling in the lawsuit.

"The province's lawyers say the policy has been misinterpreted. They say parents should be involved when their children decide to change their names or pronouns....

"Megaw wrote that until there can be a full hearing, 'the importance of the governmental policy is outweighed by the public interest of not exposing that minority of students to exposure to the potentially irreparable harm and mental health difficulty of being unable to find expression for their gender identity.' Megaw ruled the policy cannot be implemented or enforced until its legitimacy has been decided by the court."

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/judge-grants-injunction-school-pronoun-policy-1.6981406

Parents should be told if minors switch gender, say provincial governments

Education Ministers in four Canadian provincial governments are changing school policies, requiring parents to be informed when minor-age children change gender identity at school. 

Saskatchewan mandates parental consent for name and pronoun changes at school | True North | Elie Cantin-Nantel:

August 22, 2023 - "The Saskatchewan government is requiring children under the age of 16 to obtain parental consent before they change their name or pronouns at school. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is the third premier to stand up for parental rights in the face of rampant gender ideology in public schools. The two others who have taken a pro-parent position on the issue are New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson....

"'Parents must be included in all important decisions involving their children,' said Moe. 'Our government has heard the concerns raised by Saskatchewan parents about needing to be notified and included in their children’s education,' said Education Minister Dustin Duncan in a news release.... The Saskatchewan government is also mandating that schools disclose information about sex-ed teachings to parents and provide them with the option to opt-out.... 

"Speaking to True North [video], Don’t Delete Parents founder Faytene Grasseschi said it’s 'becoming very clear across Canada that parents are voicing common-sense concerns'.... 'What is happening in New Brunswick, Manitoba and now Saskatchewan is waking up the nation, and I expect it will have an impact in other provinces as well.' added Grasseschi. 'Parents are just now waking up to the fact that some schools have been keeping things from them, and they frankly aren’t ok with it.'

"Not everyone in Saskatchewan is, however, on board with the government’s new parental rights policies. Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck accused Moe and Duncan of 'outing vulnerable kids' while NDP MLA Aleana Young accused them of being 'f***king cowards.'"

Read more: https://tnc.news/2023/08/22/sask-parental-consent-school/

New Brunswick’s fight for parental rights (feat. Faytene Grasseschi) | True North | July 2, 3023:

Canadian politicians stampeding away from policy of concealing gender transitions from parents | National Post | Tristin Hopper:

August 30, 2023 - "Canadian politicians are now stampeding away from a policy of public schools unquestionably affirming the self-described gender identity of children without informing their parents.... [T]he standing policy is that staff must immediately affirm the self-described gender identity of students ... and also withhold this information from parents upon request. 'Do not talk to anyone about (a student’s) identity, including parents/caregivers, to whom they have not already disclosed their gender identity,' reads the official guidelines on 'gender identity in schools' published by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

• "In a surprise move last June, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs amended Policy 713 — a document governing gender expression in public schools — to require parental consent before a student could socially transition.... 
• Last week, Saskatchewan also announced that parental consent would henceforth be required for a student under 16 to assume new pronouns or a new name (students over 16 can do it without parental consent).... 
• Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson announced plans earlier this month to amend the province’s Public Schools Act to broaden 'parental rights' surrounding gender identity. 'Parents want to know what’s going on in the day-to-day lives of their children,” Stefanson told reporters on Aug. 17....
•  And just on Monday, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce told a news conference that 'parents must be fully involved' in circumstances when a child decides to go by different pronouns at school.

"According to polls, Canadians are wildly in favour of this new tack. Even before Higgs went public with changes to Policy 713, a May Leger poll found that 57 per cent of Canadians favoured some form of parental notification in cases where a student was changing their gender identity. Only 18 per cent supported the status quo.... The results of an Angus Reid Institute poll released Monday were even more decisive. Of respondents, 78 per cent said that schools should inform parents if a student changes their pronouns, and 43 per cent said it shouldn’t be done without explicit parental consent. Only 14 per cent agreed with the statement 'parents should neither be informed nor have a say — it’s up to the child.'

"Progressive politicians and LGBT rights groups have been quick to call the proposed changes transphobic or even hateful. In a column for CTV, former NDP leader Thomas Mulcair said the likes of Higgs and Moe were 'promoting discrimination and intolerance' in a cynical bid for votes. Former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne accused Lecce of using parental rights to 'cover their trans and homophobia.'"

Read more: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/canadian-politicians-transitions-policy

Reaching net-zero by 2035 unrealistic, says Moe

Moe blasts proposed electricity regs as ‘unaffordable, unrealistic and unconstitutional’ | Western Standard | Shaun Polczer, Business Reporter: 

August 10, 2023 - "Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is ... [calling] the Trudeau government’s proposed net-zero electricity regulations: 'unaffordable, unrealistic and unconstitutional'... 

"[Moe] released a statement via social media channels [right] blasting the Liberal government — and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault specifically — for ignoring feedback from provincial governments and utility providers before moving ahead with the new rules.

“'Trudeau’s net-zero targets are simply not achievable in Saskatchewan and we will not ask our residents to pay the extraordinary price for the federal government’s divisive policies,' it read. 'Nor will we risk the integrity of our provincial power grid to defy the laws of thermodynamics.' Further, Moe said the new rules will drive electricity rates 'through the roof' and leave Saskatchewan with an unreliable power supply.

"The comments echo Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who said yesterday its important to have a reliable power system when the temperatures fall to -30.

"In a press conference Thursday morning, Guilbeault said the rules stress 'affordability' and reliability of the grid, even as he admitted power bills will increase about 2% — before subsidies — for most Canadians. Guilbeault estimated that it would cost $400 billion to upgrade the grid.... In July the Conference Board of Canada and others put that figure at more like $1.75 trillion.

"In March Guilbeault infamously said Moe would be breaking the Criminal Code ... if Saskatchewan ran coal-fired power plants after 2030, unless equipped with carbon capture. The Saskatchewan premier’s response? 'Come get me.'"

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/moe-blasts-proposed-electricity-regs-as-unaffordable-unrealistic-and-unconstitutional/article_d223429a-37a6-11ee-bde1-3f3e33bd5920.html

Sask. premier calls federal aim of net-zero by 2035 'impossible and unaffordable' | CBCSaskatchewan | May 16, 2023:

Canada's Liberals table 'Justin Transition' Bill C-50

Liberals table 'Just Transition' legislation in House | Western Standard | Shaun Polczer: 

June 15, 2023 - "The Liberals followed through on [a] long awaited threat to gut Alberta’s energy sector by introducing its so-called ‘sustainable jobs’ legislation in Ottawa Thursday morning. The formal title of the bill is 'An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy' but everyone east of the Ontario-Manitoba border knows it simply as the ’Just Transition Act.’

"Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson appeared alongside Labour Minister Seamus O’Reagan, union representatives and members of the NDP to announce plans to create a ‘sustainable jobs council’ and a ‘sustainable jobs secretariat’ under a five-year plan. In remarks televised from the West Block, Wilkinson said 'the country’s economic future will need aligning,' and thanked the NDP for their support. Although he pledged to 'work with the provinces,' ironically there were no premiers in attendance.

"Plans to introduce the legislation were announced in this spring’s federal budget. At an appearance in Edmonton in April, Wilkinson hinted the legislation would be delayed after strong opposition from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who called it 'short-sighted' and 'harmful' to the province....

"Bill C-50 has already received first reading this morning. Already Ontario’s labour unions, including the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) were voicing unqualified support. 'With the mounting impacts of climate change, such as devastating wildfires and extreme storms, Canadians are witnessing firsthand the urgent need for action,' CLC said in a statement."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/liberals-table-just-transition-legislation-in-house/article_5c1b0270-0b8e-11ee-a431-57f40a98b996.html

Liberals unveil Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act. So what's the plan? | CBC News | June 15, 2023: 

Here comes the Just Transition | Western Standard | Nigel Hannaford: 

June 15, 2023 - "When Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson introduced Bill C-50 this morning, he called it the ‘Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act.’ But don’t be fooled by the bait-and-switch messaging. The legislation Minister Wilkinson announced today that's already passed First Reading in the House of Commons, is part of the Liberal plan to replace Alberta’s hydrocarbon economy with some kind of green fantasy economy. A year ago, they called it the ‘Just Transition’ — oddly enough a phrase coined some time before by Alberta’s own NDP.... 

"According to Natural Resources Canada, the minister had with this legislation — Bill C-50 — advanced just ‘one of the 10 key action areas’ outlined in the government’s Interim Sustainable Jobs Plan, announced earlier this year. This bill provides for an advisory body, a series of five-year plans and ‘a sustainable jobs secretariat to enable policy and program coherence across federal entities etc.…’ Nine more ‘key action areas’ to go....

"The legislation is national in scope, but Alberta and Saskatchewan, being oil and gas-producing provinces, by definition bear the brunt. Not too many Liberal seats to lose out west, so that wasn't hard....

"Premier Danielle Smith [has] offered her government’s broad support to the federal government’s emission-reduction goals, but says ‘no’ to the latest Trudeau fatuity of capping emissions or achieving a net-zero electrical grid by 2035. In her ‘warning to Ottawa,’ she said, 'As premier I cannot allow these contemplated federal policies to be inflicted upon Albertans. I simply can't and I won't.' It was well said. Now may it be well done. Where's that Sovereignty Act?"

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/hannaford-here-comes-the-just-transition/article_15db10e4-0b9c-11ee-9403-17ae71e4da89.html

Provincial gov'ts ending hospital mask mandates

Most Canadian provincial governments have ended their facemask mandates for hospitals.  

Why mask mandates are lifting in hospitals across Canada | CBC News - Adam Miller: 

April 15, 2023 - "Mask mandates are lifting in hospitals, long-term care homes and other health-care facilities across the country, marking an end to some of the last remaining public health restrictions against COVID-19 in Canada. British Columbia and Saskatchewan are the latest provinces to lift universal mask mandates in health-care settings, while most other provinces have either previously removed them, left them up to individual hospitals to decide, or will likely soon follow suit....

"'Clearly masks are important in health-care settings, we've used them always, and I've been a big supporter of mask wearing when it's appropriate,' Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C. provincial health officer and chair of the council of chief medical officers of health, told CBC News. 'Nobody is telling you not to wear a mask, what we're saying is it's no longer mandatory by a provincial health officer order that everybody do it all the time.'

"Canadians can expect many areas of hospitals to still encourage masking in emergency rooms and departments with particularly vulnerable patients, like burn units and cancer wards — and health-care workers will still likely wear them in many patient-facing settings. 'If you want to or your provider wants to, masks will certainly be available. So I think it's going to be a gradual transition,' Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, told CBC Saskatchewan last week....

"Part of the reasoning behind the shift in policy is to remove the need for health-care workers, who have faced severe burnout throughout the pandemic, to constantly mask in every area of the hospital — while also still allowing them the freedom to continue to do so.... Dr. Alon Vaisman, an infection control physician at Toronto's University Health Network (UHN) and assistant medical professor at the University of Toronto, said removing universal mask mandates in all health-care settings would likely help to ease health-care worker burnout.... 

"Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, said hospitals should be able to independently set policies on masking depending on local COVID levels and expert advice. 'When you're talking about non-patient facing activities, I don't think that there's much benefit in having masks in place, he said. 'There is benefit in patient-facing activities to having people wear masks, but I think it's something that each hospital needs to make a determination on based on the local metrics and not really something for the government to necessarily be involved in.'

"Alberta is still requiring masks in patient-facing settings, Quebec and Ontario are leaving masking rules up to individual hospitals, while Manitoba has opted to still require masks in health-care settings for the time being.... 

"Canada avoided a severe winter COVID-19 wave despite a lack of most of public health restrictions, a busy indoor holiday season and a rapidly mutating virus — largely thanks to high levels of hybrid immunity from vaccination and prior infection.... But COVID hospitalization levels still remain stubbornly high in Canada, with 3,268 hospital beds occupied by COVID patients across the country according to the latest federal data, despite continuing to gradually decline since mid-January."

Read more https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mask-mandates-canada-hospitals-long-term-care-1.6811240

COVID-19 mask mandates dropped in more hospitals | CBC News, April 15, 2023:

Saskatchewan First Act passed

The Saskatchewan government has passed the Saskatchewan First Act, asserting the province's autonomy and sovereignty over its natural resources.

Sask First Act passes, indigenous groups protest | Western Standard - Christopher Oldcorn:

March 16, 2023 - "Bill 88, known as the Saskatchewan First Act (SFA), passed Thursday after the third and final reading, as indigenous leaders and supporters expressed dissatisfaction with the legislation. During the vote, indigenous, First Nation, and Metis leaders stood along with the NDP MLAs voting against the SFA. The SFA passed easily, with 40 Sask Party MLAs voting to pass it.

"The SFA protects 'Saskatchewan’s autonomy and exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources' and created a panel to review the economic impact of Justin Trudeau’s policies. Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said the SFA is 'historic legislation' which will stop 'intrusive federal policies' impeding the economic growth of the province.

"Premier Scott Moe spoke with the media following the vote and defended the SFA as it protects all Saskatchewanians, including indigenous people. 'This is very indicative of the ongoing conversation that has to happen around Bill 88 protecting our ability to provide that growth,' said Moe. 'This bill is not a division between that relationship and protecting treaty rights. This is a bill that's protecting our opportunity in this province from federal infringement.'

"The Western Standard asked Moe why there's a disconnect between what the government says the SFA does, and how indigenous peoples perceive it. 'There needs to be ongoing dialogue on that and as government's committed to doing that, committed to working through what Bill 88 is,” said Moe....

"Eyre said under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution the SFA does not infringe on any treaty rights and an amendment to the legislation added section 35 into the SFA. 'We have never shut out voices. We have had meetings, listening sessions, and dialogue sessions with communities ongoingly,' said Eyre....

"On Wednesday, NDP Justice and Attorney General Critic Nicole Sarauer attempted to have First Nations and Metis leaders testify in the SFA committee meeting. Still, the Sask Party blocked them from testifying.... FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron told the media 'Premier Scott Moe and his government have repeatedly used the treaties as a reason to exclude First Nations from some provincial revenue programs and natural resource revenue sharing'.... 

"'The province of Saskatchewan does not have the jurisdiction to claim exclusive ownership of natural resources,' said Cameron. 'The province was created after the signing of treaties. First Nations through treaties, maintain our rights to make decisions about their lands, resources, waters, and Nations. Treaties guarantee that First Nations would share in the revenue and resources derived from our homeland.'"

"MNS Vice-President Michelle LeClair is disappointed with the SFA. 'The Metis Nation Saskatchewan has been very direct and vocal in our opposition to the Saskatchewan First Act,' said LeClair.... 'This bill’s passage is a failure of the provincial government to recognize the Metis Nation as a partner in Saskatchewan, and it dismisses our citizens’ inherent rights.'"

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/sask-first-act-passes-indigenous-groups-protest/article_462aee90-c42f-11ed-b580-4f1845b345a0.html

Saskatchewan gov't rejects Rouleau conclusion

Saskatchewan Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre thanked the Rouleau Commission for its work, but noted that her government disagrees with its conclusion that invoking the Emergencies Act was justified. Other provincial parties' reactions were also negative.  

Negative reactions to the Emergencies Act Inquiry Report across Saskatchewan | Western Standard - Christopher Oldcorn: 

February 17, 2023 - "There is a universal negative reaction to the Emergencies Act (EA) Inquiry Report in Saskatchewan. The purpose of the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) was to determine whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government were justified in invoking the EA, formerly the War Measures Act. This was the first use of the EA.

"Trudeau used the EA to stop an anti-vaccine and COVID-19 restrictions protest in downtown Ottawa, which went on for several weeks and attracted worldwide attention. Trudeau invoking the EA is one of his most controversial decisions as it gave extraordinary powers to law enforcement to arrest and remove the protesters and tow away their vehicles. Also, the government could freeze the bank accounts of the protesters.

"Commissioner Paul Rouleau said the Trudeau government invoking the EA met a 'very high' threshold as a 'lawful protest descended into lawlessness, culminating in a national emergency.... Invocation of the Emergencies Act is a drastic move, but it is not a dictatorial one,' said Rouleau.

"Saskatchewan’s Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said 'Saskatchewan’s position has always been invoking the act was unnecessary and that appropriate and effective action to deal with the protests and blockades last year could have been taken under existing federal, provincial, and municipal laws.' Eyre 'is currently reviewing the extensive report findings and recommendations' and 'would like to thank the commission for its work.'

"Sask NDP Official Opposition Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer commented on the EA Inquiry Report. 'The use of the Emergencies Act was unprecedented and will have implications moving forward,' said Sarauer. 'Although we accept the findings of this report … we still believe that there was an opportunity to limit its use to specific regions impacted by blockades, rather than Canada-wide.'

"Buffalo Party’s Mark 'The Grizzly Patriot' Friesen is not surprised with the outcome....'We have judicial corruption across this country, at every level. Why would we expect any difference in the case of the Emergencies Act Commission?'

"Sask United Party Leader Nadine Wilson MLA said 'the vast majority of protesters were clearly exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest. As such, I do not believe the circumstances to invoke the Emergencies Act existed, and do not agree with Commissioner Rouleau's expansive interpretation of it.'

"Kelly Lorencz, The People’s Party of Canada Western Canada and Northern Territories lieutenant, found nothing unexpected in the report.... 'All this report has done is solidify many Canadians' discontent not only with this Liberal government but all elected officials in Ottawa,” said Lorencz.... The implications of this report have the potential to fuel further Western alienation sentiments and create an even bigger divide in Canada'... 

Nadine Ness of Unified Grassroots issued a statement [saying in part] ... 'I am disappointed, however, not surprised that Justice Rousseau ruled in this way. The man is a Liberals supporter and should have never been the one ruling over this.... It’s clear the legal definition was not met and the Liberals simply made up their own. This only further proves that we have lost the impartiality in our public service and to an extent our court system. To most Canadians and everyone else around the world, this will be seen as a dark stain in our history and to freedom as a whole.'"

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/negative-reactions-to-the-emergencies-act-inquiry-report-across-saskatchewan/article_26168b3e-aee3-11ed-b356-b3843c4c545f.html

"Saskatchewan premier discusses use of Emergencies Act," CPAC, February 18, 2022: 

Saskatchewan bill opposes federal gun grab

Sask introduces Firearms Act to protect firearms owners from Trudeau’s gun grab | Western STandard - Christopher Oldcorn

December 1, 2022 - "The Saskatchewan government has introduced the Saskatchewan Firearms Act (SFA) to protect lawful firearms owners from the Trudeau government’s firearms ban. Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said the government does not want to take guns away from responsible owners.

'This act will help address concerns of responsible firearms owners and enhance public safety across Saskatchewan,” said Tell. To protect the public, the Saskatchewan government supports policies going after firearms used by criminals. 'We take public safety seriously and support initiatives that reduce the criminal use of firearms while preventing gang violence and stopping illegal guns from entering our province,' said Tell.

"The SFA establishes 'licensing requirements for businesses or individuals involved in firearms expropriation.' The SFA requires and oversees 'fair compensation for any firearms being seized” and “require forensic and ballistic testing of seized firearms'.... The Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO) will administer the SFA and take on 'an expanded role in prosecuting non-violent regulatory firearms offences.... The SFO will have additional firearms officers to support the 'law-abiding firearms community,' and investigate 'incidents associated with mental health, domestic violence, and illegal activities involving firearms.'"
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/business/sask-introduces-firearms-act-to-protect-firearms-owners-from-trudeau-s-gun-grab/article_e472c53e-7194-11ed-96ff-cf3507b62b1e.html

Saskatchewan's first chief firearms officer promises to target safety issues, Regina Leader-Post, September 27, 2021:

With Saskatchewan Firearms Act, province pushes back against federal gun control | CBC News - Alexander Quon:

December 1, 2022 - "The Saskatchewan Firearms Act passed first reading on Thursday. A news release from the province touts the bill as establishing a 'provincial firearms regulatory system that will promote the safe and responsible use of firearms' and expanding the role of the Saskatchewan Firearms Office in prosecuting non-violent regulatory firearms offences. But under questioning from the media, provincial Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Christine Tell described a bill designed to push back against the federal government's expansion of gun control in Canada.... 

"She said the provincial government has concerns about the federal firearm buyback program. In May 2020, the federal government passed an order in council banning 1,500 assault-style firearms and certain components of newly prohibited firearms. It announced an amnesty until October 2023 to give owners of the firearms time to comply with the law.

"Tell has already sent a letter to the Saskatchewan RCMP's commanding officer Rhonda Blackmore, stressing that Tell did not want provincial policing resources involved in the federal program. Federal Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino has described that position as reckless and an "abdication" of the vital responsibility to keep citizens safe."
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/firearms-act-introduced-1.6670718

Saskatchewan asserts sovereignty over resources

Province Introduces The Saskatchewan First Act | Government of Saskatchewan (press release):

November 1, 2022 - "Today the government introduced The Saskatchewan First Act to confirm Saskatchewan's autonomy and exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources.... 

"'This historic legislation will help protect our economic growth and prosperity from intrusive federal policies that encroach upon our legislative sovereignty,' Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said. 'It is time to draw the line and assert our constitutional rights.' 

"The Act amends the Constitution of Saskatchewan to clearly confirm Saskatchewan's sovereign autonomy and asserts Saskatchewan's exclusive legislative jurisdiction under the Constitution of Canada over a number of areas, including:

• the exploration for non-renewable natural resources; 
• the development, conservation and management of non-renewable natural and forestry resources; and,
• the operation of sites and facilities for the generation and production of electrical energy.

"A strong Saskatchewan means a strong Canada," Eyre said. "This legislation asserts that the constitutional doctrine of interjurisdictional immunity applies to exclusive provincial legislative jurisdiction the same way it applies to exclusive federal jurisdiction." 

"This Act will also create an Economic Impact Assessment Tribunal that will define, quantify, and report on the economic repercussions of federal initiatives on provincial investment and Saskatchewan projects, businesses and people.

"For more information, contact: Noel Busse, Justice and Attorney General.... Email: cpjumedia@gov.sk.ca."

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2022/november/01/province-introduces-the-saskatchewan-first-act

4 provinces oppose federal gun buyback program

Four Canadian provinces have issued a joint statement opposing the Trudeau government's plans to use 'scarce RCMP and municipal police resources to confiscate more than 100,000 legally acquired firearms from Canadians.'

New Brunswick Joins Prairies in Opposing Use of Police for Ottawa’s Gun Confiscation Program | Epoch Times - Isaac Teo:

October 15, 2022 - "New Brunswick has joined forces with Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to oppose the federal government’s gun buyback program. The Yukon Legislature also recently passed a motion against the measures. In a joint statement on Oct. 14, New Brunswick, together with the Prairie provinces, called on the Liberal government to halt plans to use 'scarce RCMP and municipal police resources to confiscate more than 100,000 legally acquired firearms from Canadians.' 

"The joint statement was issued following a discussion on Ottawa’s firearms buyback program at the “Federal, Provincial and Territorial Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety” in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, from Oct. 12 to Oct. 14. The Prairie provinces had already written to their respective RCMP divisions, indicating that no provincial funding should be used to confiscate legal firearms.... The Epoch Times sought comment from Public Safety Canada, which replied that it had forwarded the request to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s office. No response was received by publication time.

"The government’s buyback program comes on the heels of 2020 legislation banning more than 1,500 models of what it termed 'assault-style weapons, including AR-15s. Ottawa has said the buyback program 'will be mandatory' and will require anyone who owns guns banned under the new legislation to sell them to the government at prices determined by the feds, or else have them 'lawfully disposed' of.

"Alberta Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro said the Liberal government contradicted its earlier claim that it would not have law enforcement administer the program due to high costs.... 'Make no mistake, the federal firearms confiscation program will cost us billions and will not improve public safety,' Shandro said, adding that the Alberta government is 'not legally obligated' to provide the resources and 'will not do so.' Alberta was the first province to announce its opposition to the buyback on Sep. 26. Following Shandro’s announcement, Mendicino said on CTV’s Question Period that Alberta’s attempt to challenge the constitutionality of the federal firearms prohibition is a 'political stunt'....

"Saskatchewan adopted Alberta’s position on Sept. 28. In the joint Oct. 14 statement, Christine Tell, the province’s minister of corrections, policing, and public safety, and Bronwyn Eyre, minister of justice and attorney general, said they are supportive of going after illegal guns, but not guns from law-abiding owners....

"On Oct. 13, the Yukon Legislative Assembly adopted a similar position as the Prairie provinces by passing a motion that 'urges the Yukon government to ensure that territorial policing resources are not diverted to assist in the implementation of the Government of Canada’s gun "buy-back" program.'

"Manitoba, which joined in pushing back on the feds’ buyback program on Sept. 28, said in the statement that the confiscation will have 'little impact' on criminals but will 'further erode' policing resources in the province....

"New Brunswick’s Public Safety Minister Kris Austin wants the RCMP to focus on policing instead of using their 'limited resources' to participate in the buyback program. 'New Brunswick’s bottom line is this: RCMP resources are spread thin as it is. We have made it clear to the Government of Canada that we cannot condone any use of those limited resources, at all, in their planned buyback program,' Austin said."

Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/new-brunswick-joins-prairies-in-opposing-use-of-police-for-ottawas-gun-confiscation-program_4798553.html

Federal inspectors trespassing, says SK premier

Saskatchewan warns that federal employees testing farmers’ dugouts for nitrogen levels could be arrested for trespassing | Todaysville - Duane Rolheiser:

August 22, 2022 - "An escalating battle between Western Premiers and the federal government over restricting the use of nitrogen fertilizer has reached a new level of tension. Premier Scott Moe is demanding to know why federal employees of Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault are 'trespassing' on private land in Saskatchewan.  

"Moe signed a strongly worded letter ... from Jeremy Cockrill, the Minister in charge of Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency. The letter dated Sunday, August 21st states farmers from at least 3 different communities in southern Saskatchewan have reported Government of Canada employees in marked vehicles have been trespassing on their private land.  When confronted, the agents have admitted to testing dugouts for nitrogen levels.

"On his official Facebook page Moe says 'We are demanding an explanation from federal Minister Guilbeault on why his department is trespassing on private land without the owners’ permission to take water samples from dugouts'....

"'We have received reports of this occurring in several places throughout our province. We have advised the federal government that this should cease immediately and if it does not, it will be considered a violation of the province’s Trespass Act. Violating this Act is serious, including a maximum penalty of $25,000 for repeat offenders, up to six months imprisonment following a conviction for a first or subsequent trespass offence, and a $200,000 maximum penalty for any corporation that counsels and/or aids in the commission of that offence'....

"The letter from Saskatchewan comes on the heals of another strongly worded letter from Manitoba’s Agriculture Minister Heather Stefanson. In Stephanson’s letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, she says this is no time to cut food supply and raise the price of groceries."

Read more: https://www.todayville.com/saskatchewan-warns-that-federal-employees-testing-farmers-dugouts-for-nitrogen-levels-could-be-arrested-for-trespassing/

Nitrogen cuts may be disastrous, warn SK farmers

Saskatchewan farmers, Conservative MPs decry fertilizer emissions proposal | Global News - Connor O’Donovan:

August 5, 2022 - "Saskatchewan agricultural stakeholders joined several Conservative MPs to discuss Ottawa’s proposal to reduce fertilizer emissions Thursday, telling reporters the policy is destined to reduce farm yields, threaten farm sustainability and hurt consumers in the process. 'It’s going to have a devastating impact to Canadian farm families and their ability to produce food. There will be a massive reduction in yield,'  said Foothills MP John Barlow....

"'That will make farming economically unsustainable in Canada. That is going to increase food costs as a result of lower yield,' Barlow said. 'Farmers across Canada have done everything they can to be as efficient and environmentally sustainable as possible. But reducing fertilizer use will force them to go back to tilling, using other chemicals and do more passes on their land which increases emissions.'

"The fertilizer emissions proposal is part of Canada’s larger plan to curb human-caused carbon emissions 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated to keep global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, net human caused emissions of CO2 will need to fall 45 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero around 2050 around the globe.

"Noting nitrous oxide has a 'global warming potential' 265 to 298 times greater than carbon dioxide, the federal government has stated goals of reducing emissions from synthetic fertilizers by approximately 4Mt of CO2e by the end of the decade  — equal to approximately half a per cent of Canada’s overall CO2 emissions according to government figures.

"Canadian Federation of Agriculture second vice-president Todd Lewis said while more communication is needed about exactly how the government wants farmers to measure and implement its strategy, the idea of having to reduce fertilizer use is concerning. He said reducing fertilizer while getting the same yield is 'a great goal' but was skeptical it could be achieved within the proposed timeline.... He agreed that Saskatchewan farms could suffer as a result of the plan.... 'When you hear straight out fertilizer reductions, that starts to hurt yields and if it hurts yields it’s gonna hurt our bottom line and make it more difficult to be sustainable in our industry'....

"Representatives from groups like SaskCanola, SaskWheat, SaskBarley, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture were joined by Barlow as well as Regina-Lewvan MP Warren Steinley and Regina-Qu’Appelle [MP and former Opposition Leader] Andrew Scheer] at the meeting."

Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/9038295/sask-farmers-conservative-mps-fertilizer-emissions-proposal/

Alberta government ends all Covid restrictions

Alberta to lift remaining COVID-19 restrictions | CBC News:

Scary headline, AlbertaPolitics.ca, April 2021.

June 13, 2022 - "As of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, the Alberta government will lift the province's remaining COVID-19 restrictions, meaning mandatory masking on public transit will come to an end, as will mandatory isolation. 'We need to live with COVID-19 while accepting that it will continue to be present. We'll continue to work to keep Albertans safe by ensuring access to vaccines, antivirals and rapid tests, through ongoing COVID-19 surveillance and by enhancing health-care system capacity,' Health Minister Jason Copping said in a statement Monday. 

"Though not required, isolation will remain recommended for those who have COVID symptoms or a positive test result. Other provinces like Saskatchewan and Manitoba have already lifted self-isolation requirements. 

"The province will still keep some health measures in health-care settings, such as masking. Alberta Health Services confirmed that masking will still be required at all acute care, continuing care and community locations, including immunization and lab collection sites. 

"The chief medical officer of health order affecting continuing care is expected to be lifted by June 30, the province said in a news release. Some measures in continuing care settings will remain in place through standards and policy, such as isolation of symptomatic residents, outbreak protocols and masking.... 

"'Learning to live with COVID-19 does not mean forgetting about it,' Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Monday in a news release. 'As we bring COVID-19 management in line with other respiratory diseases, it will continue to be vital that we receive our primary vaccine series and any additional booster doses we are eligible for, and continue good habits like washing our hands regularly and avoiding being around others if we feel sick.'"

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-lifts-remaining-covid-restrictions-1.6487506

Alberta, Saskatchewan to end all Covid restrictions

Sask. to end COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy on Feb. 14, mandatory masking to remain until end of month | CBC News - Alexander Quon:

February 8, 2022 - "Saskatchewan will end its vaccine passport policy on Monday, Feb. 14. That means businesses, workplaces and other public venues will no longer be mandated by the province to require proof of vaccination or a negative test. Currently, all Saskatchewan residents must show proof that they have received two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine to enter restaurants, bars and many other businesses. They also have the option to provide a negative COVID-19 test. Those requirements will be removed Monday....

"The provincial government confirmed that other current public health orders, including a requirement to mask in indoor public spaces and a requirement to self isolate after contracting COVID-19, will remain in effect until the latest public health order expires at the end of February.  Moe said the public health order will not be renewed. He said that means rules like mandatory self-isolation for those with COVID-19 will also be over at the end of the month. Moe and Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province's chief medical health officer, laid out the plan at a COVID-19 update on Tuesday....

""The province says eHealth Saskatchewan will continue to make proof of vaccination records and QR codes available to Saskatchewan residents to use where needed, including for travel and in other jurisdictions. Saskatchewan also announced that all Saskatchewan residents 12 to 17 years old are now able to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine ... five months or more after the child has received their second dose....

"Health officials have already reduced some restrictions, saying they want to begin treating COVID-19 like any other communicable disease. As part of that policy shift, the province stopped providing daily COVID-19 updates as of Monday.... Saskatchewan now requires all PCR tests for COVID-19 to be booked in advance via the 811 HealthLine and has reserved the tests for "priority populations at elevated risk to severe outcomes."
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/covid-19-update-feb-8-2022-1.6343563

Image courtesy CBC News

Alberta lifts COVID-19 measures, with restrictions exemption program now over | CBC News:

February 8, 2022 - "Albertans will no longer need to show their QR code to dine in restaurants or sit at entertainment venues. The changes took effect at midnight Tuesday. Premier Jason Kenney announced the three-step plan to ease public health measures in the province on Tuesday. As he'd previously promised, the restrictions exemption program — Alberta's version of the vaccine passport — was first to go....

"Effective midnight Tuesday, capacity limits were removed for smaller venues, including libraries and places of worship with a capacity of less than 500. Food and beverage consumption will be allowed in venues where audiences are seated. Larger venues will still have some limits: facilities with a capacity of 500 to 1,000 will continue to be limited to 500, while those with capacity for 1,000-plus people will be limited to 50 per cent. Also part of the first phase, children aged 12 and under will be exempt from all masking requirements; in schools, masking requirements will be lifted for students of all ages. Both those measures take effect on Monday....

"Step 2 comes into effect on March 1, if hospitalization numbers continue to trend down. Those changes include:

• Any remaining provincial school requirements (including cohorting) will be removed.
• Screening prior to youth activities will no longer be required.
• Capacity limits will be lifted for all venues.
• Limits on social gatherings will be removed.
• Provincial mask mandate will be removed.
• Mandatory work from home removed.

"The timing of Step 3 will be determined by hospitalization rates, Kenney said. This phase will see COVID-specific measures in continuing care removed and mandatory isolation becoming a recommendation only."
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/covid-alta-edmonton-kenney-1.6343576

Saskatchewan government expands civil forfeiture

Amendment could strip innocent people of their homes, critics warn | Regina Leader-Post - Arthur White-Crummey:

April 30, 2019 - "A Saskatoon defence lawyer said new civil forfeiture rules passed on Tuesday will line the pockets of his profession at the expense of people trying to hold onto their homes. 'I fully expect this to be a profitable area of practice, unfortunately, on the backs of our citizens, some of whom are going to be completely innocent of any wrongdoing,' Brian Pfefferle said of amendments to Saskatchewan’s Seizure of Criminal Property Act....

"The act governs the civil forfeiture process, laying out when and how the government can seize property allegedly connected to criminal activity. The changes mean that owners of property linked to sexual offences, gang or terrorist activity or impaired driving will have a harder time defending themselves. The burden will now be on them, rather than the Crown, to make their case. If they fail, the province could potentially take their vehicle, or even their home.

"Critics are especially worried that the amendments also apply to property subjected to community safety orders, which are not criminal. In their view, it means a person could lose their house without even being charged — let alone convicted — of an offence. 'Hopefully that doesn’t happen very often, but it’s certainly possible, because there’s no due process in that legislation,' Pfefferle said....

"NDP ... justice critic Nicole Sarauer [said] that perhaps 80 per cent of those facing forfeiture make do without a lawyer, as Legal Aid doesn’t doesn’t work on forfeiture cases. She warned that the changes will further stack the deck against them.... She said she’s seen community safety orders issued against an alleged drug dealer living at home with his mother.... 'For that mother now to have to lose their home because of this situation is quite devastating,' she said.

"Tammy Pryznyk, the ministry’s director of civil forfeiture, ... said her department chooses its cases 'wisely'. Sarauer said it’s dangerous for the legislation to leave that up to the Crown, adding there hasn’t been enough work to study the consequences of the legislation.... The criminal bar was not consulted on the amendments, officials confirmed.

"The money from civil forfeiture goes to support victims of crime, but also to pay for police operations. Pfefferle believes that creates 'bad optics'....

"Even if the safeguards work, Pfefferle thinks clients will be poorer for it. He’s said he’s already seen people spend thousands on legal bills while fighting forfeiture, and warned it will now happen more often. 'It’s going to cause significant costs for arguably innocent people,' he said."

Read more: https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/civil-forfeiture-changes-could-strip-innocent-people-of-their-homes-critics-warn

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