Regina News

Brandt Sports and Entertainment is proposing a transformation of Regina’s REAL District, turning it into a premier destination that offers world-class concerts and community events. The company outlined its plans in a submission to Wednesday’s Executive Committee meeting, where members of council are expected to hear from delegations and discuss the proposal by Brandt to purchase a large portion of the REAL District, including the Brandt Centre, Queensbury Centre, and the Agribition Building. Read more:

• What’s in the Brandt-REAL deal? Breaking down the agreement
• Former Regina mayor backs proposal to revive city’s REAL District
• Regina’s REAL District sale plan draws support, calls for caution

Thirteen delegations are scheduled to appear in relation to the proposal, including Brandt’s owner, Shaun Semple. In its presentation, Brandt says the district would hold more than 100 events each year, a number it said is comparable to Saskatoon and double the current amount. Rendering of new entry gate for Brandt Centre and Queen City Distillery. (Brandt/City of Regina) It outlines planned improvements to the Brandt Centre, including a new exterior, digital signage, a new sound system, an upgraded interior look, improved accessibility, new seat options and upgrades to mechanical and electrical systems. The upgrades would also inclue new digital dasher boards – described as a “first-in-Canada” addition – and a new digital “power ring,” an electronic display between the levels in the stands that surround the ice in the arena. Other buildings would also be upgraded to give the facilities a consistent look. Brandt says total investment would exceed $100 million Brandt’s own breakdown of the purchase price is as follows:

• $6.5 million purchase price;
• $1 million previously committed for distillery project;
• $73.5 million in deferred maintenance which is outlined in a previous consultant’s report;
• $15 million in “post-closing” investments promised within two years as a minimum;
• $2.5 million minimum to repave the parking lots (the city would contribute no more than $2.5 million as well);
• At least $2.5 million for a new entrance/exit from Saskatchewan Drive (city contribution capped at $2 million);
• $4.5 million to help cover expected operating loss for 2026 (the city commits $6 million);
• $7.5 million to help cover expected operating loss for 2027 (the city’s commitment is $3 million); and
• $550,000 to be deposited in a maintenance reserve fund each year (plus an annual inflation increase) for the International Trade Centre.

The total cost of the purchase would total $113,550,000. The company also included letters of support from live event producer Tait, the David Foster Foundation, and Cafarelli Concepts, which built the first 11 House of Blues locations. Brandt argued the current governance of the REAL District is “fragmented,” limiting performance and reinvestment. It said the number of events is running 50 to 70 per cent below comparable Western Canadian markets. Rendering of main stage at Queen City Distillery. (Brandt/City of Regina) It breaks down its proposed capital spending as $8.5 million for repaving and the new Saskatchewan Drive access; $10 million for the Brandt Centre retrofit; $30 million for the Queen City Distillers project; and $5 million for other district buildings. Those totals are minimums and do not include deferred maintenance. Brandt said by owning the facilities, reliance on public funding would be reduced, there would be a single point of accountability, the revenue model would integrate tickets, promotions, and food and beverage, relationships with promoters would be better, and the district would be active year-round. The timing is strategic, as well, with Regina set to host the 2027 Grey Cup. The company expects the revitalized REAL District would host between 90 and 120 events per year, and 25 to 40 concerts. Letters of support, opposition, and concern Former city councillor, Terina Nelson, has thrown her support behind the proposal, alongside Deveraux Group of Companies, Forthlane Partners, Country Thunder, Lex Capital Corp., the president of Merit Contractors Association, the owner of IKS Media and Technology and the Regina Hotel Association. Saskatchewan Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds wrote in favour of Brandt’s proposed improvements, but asked for continued engagement in the process. Other individuals raised concerns about a rush to complete this sale without first considering alternatives. Rendering of interior improvements to Brandt Centre. (Brandt/City of Regina) The speaking order also includes former mayor Pat Fiacco, Mike Tate of the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce, Shantel Lipp of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association, Regina and Region Home Builders’ Association’s Stu Niebergall and representatives of REAL and Canadian Western Agribition. If the Executive Committee votes to forward the recommendation on to city council, it will be on the May 6 agenda with another opportunity for delegations to speak to it.

Dozens of charges were laid against five people after the RCMP seized thousands of opioid pills, heroin, a loaded handgun and five vehicles in the Yorkton area.

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Conservative Party says it's "officially debt-free" after paying off the last portion of the $5 million the party owed from the 2024 provincial election campaign. The party says in a statement that it was able to pay off the debt while using leadership fees and remittances for less than three per cent of the amount owing. The Opposition Conservatives announced last week that its membership has jumped to more than 42,000 — a six-fold increase from the 7,000 members the party had in December. The spike comes as candidates in the Conservative leadership race had until April 18 to sign up new members in time to vote. Angelo Isidorou, the party's executive director, says he's proud to see the Conservatives "continue to scale up," with the debt being repaid a year ahead of schedule. He says the party now has "a growing war chest for the next election." The party is looking to elect its next leader among five candidates: Iain Black, Caroline Elliott, Peter Milobar, Kerry-Lynne Findlay and Yuri Fulmer. Ballots are to be sent out May 9, with the winner announced at its May 30 leadership convention. "We are already ahead of where our organization was in the 2024 election, where we lost a majority government by only 395 votes," Isidorou said. "Our mandate is clear — the next leader will become the next premier. None of this would have been possible without our grassroots supporters." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — The European Union says Prime Minister Mark Carney will be in Armenia this weekend as part of a summit focused on strategic issues. Carney's office has not publicly confirmed the visit, but European Council President Antonio Costa says on social media that the prime minister will be attending. The European Political Community summit will take place in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, with a focus on strategic co-operation for the continent's politics, security and infrastructure. The twice-annual summits were launched after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and include all EU members as well as others such as Iceland, Azerbaijan and Montenegro. Costa says Canada is the first non-European country to take part in the summit and that this highlights work "to defend peace, shared prosperity and multilateralism." Canada opened an embassy in Yerevan in 2023 and joined an EU security mission as ethnic tensions in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh escalated, with Azerbaijan displacing ethnic Armenians. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

A Saskatchewan tow truck owner couldn’t ditch a moose he found stuck in the ice on the side of the road. Clint Gottinger, owner of Rebel Towing in Kelvington, Sask., had two calls come in around 5:30 p.m. on Friday night, calling him to Wadena and Foam Lake. “It was quite a busy run at that lake,” Gottinger recalled. He’d only just left his yard when he came to a junction where he saw the moose in distress about 10 miles northeast of Kelvington. Read more:

• Moose wandering around Saskatoon rescued and relocated
• Moose are moving in: Saskatoon wildlife cameras show growing urban population
• VIDEO: Moose was on the loose in Saskatoon’s Stonebridge neighbourhood

“I was looking at him and … I couldn’t leave him,” Gottinger said. “The other tow jobs will have to wait.” Figuring he could find a way to free him from the ice, Gottinger decided to lower his deck’s truck to where the moose was and put a soft sling around the moose’s body to pull it out. “Sure enough, it worked great. I backed up as far as I could, put the deck down and I got right up to his chest,” Gottinger said. “I put that sling around, it’s nice and soft. I tried to get around his body, under his arms, but I couldn’t quite, so I winched a little bit, just around his neck.” The moose rides on Clint Gottinger’s tow truck after being pulled from an icy ditch. (Rebel Towing/Facebook) Gottinger said it seemed like the moose was helping a bit. Once the moose’s body slipped onto the deck, Gottinger saw the animal’s rear end pop out of the ice. He then repositioned the sling to winch the moose up under the deck. “Then it was easy,” Gottinger said. “Up the road he went.” The tow truck driver said the moose was tired and stressed out from fighting with the ice, so he came along for the ride. He learned from some neighbours that the moose had been in the ditch since early in the day. Bringing him back to his yard, Gottinger said he called his wife for assistance. “Bring out some blankets, I got a moose,” Gottinger said he told her on the phone. “She didn’t know what the heck I’m talking about but she came with some big blankets.” Gottinger and his wife laid some blankets out for the moose on the ground and covered him up with one, as well. Then, they left him to rest. “We let him calm down,” he shared. Later in the evening, the moose was still there and despite the offer of oats, he didn’t eat anything. By 11 p.m., the moose was standing when Gottinger checked on the animal. A moose was stuck in an icy ditch in April 2026 near Kelvington. (Rebel Towing/Facebook) The moose stuck around all Saturday and Sunday. Gottinger said. “He’d stand for a while, then he’d lay for a while. Then this morning (Monday) he was gone. “I named him and everything,” he said. “His name is Rebel.” While it wasn’t Gottinger’s first water rescue, it was his first moose rescue. “Us guys that have done this towing, we pretty much know how our equipment works, and I just looked at it (and thought) that deck will reach,” Gottinger said of his problem solving on Friday night. Then, he connected the soft sling as a helpful tool. “I pretty much had it mapped out in my head immediately,” he shared. “Just lucky it worked. “Meanwhile, though, I’ve got other people calling me.” Gottinger had to tell customers asking where he was that he was mid-moose rescue. “They were very good about it,” Gottinger said, calling the story one of compassion – specifically, from his customers. The moose, named Rebel, lies down in Clint Gottinger’s yard in blankets in April 2026. (Rebel Towing/Facebook) “People, they’re sitting on the side of the road waiting for tow, once they heard I was saving a moose, they were understanding.” Gottinger had to show pictures to the calls he responded to after the rescue, though. “No one believes that a tow truck driver is late because he’s winching a moose out of the ice,” he laughed. He said he hopes to see Rebel again, claiming the moose never compensated him for the tow. –with files from 650 CKOM’s Roman Hayter

Premier Scott Moe and the Sask. Party government would like to know what parents in Saskatchewan think of a social media ban for children. On Monday, Moe said his government would send out surveys in about a week, asking parents and families their thoughts on social media limits for children. This follows Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew’s announcement at a party fundraiser on the weekend that his province would be the first to implement a ban on children using social media and AI chatbots. Kinew wasn’t made available to speak to media afterwards to give further details. Read more:

• Drought fears linger as seeding begins on southwest Saskatchewan farms
• Artificial Intelligence Saskatchewan’s expo aims to grow community
• Saskatchewan flooding: Meadow Lake runoff slows, but snow raises new concern

Moe has spoken about such a ban previously, saying his government decided this shouldn’t be a purely provincial endeavour. “We think it’d be much more effective for this to be a Canada-wide initiative. We see an openness with the Prime Minister and the federal government to have that discussion,” said Moe. So, he said the government will send out a survey, asking parents and families their views on limits to social media – whether there should be a ban and at what age. He explained the province would then make that information available to the federal government. “We really encourage families and parents to be very open with their thoughts and send them back in. We’ll compile that data and have it available,” said the premier. Moe said everyone is aware of the challenges around the impact that access to social media is having on children. “I think this is actually a broader conversation that extends into some of the social and health challenges that we’re having in society today, and what role social media may play in that – in particular when it comes to young adults and youth,” said Moe. Members of the federal Liberal Party passed a non-binding resolution with a similar idea. The Prime Minister has said the idea merits consideration and the federal culture minister said the federal government is seriously considering a social media ban for kids. He said it would be left to an expert panel to say whether a bill should also cover AI chatbots.

8:30 – The war involving Iran has increased uncertainty in global energy markets, largely because the Strait of Hormuz has been closed, sometimes reopened, but mostly closed. We all know the impact that has had at the pumps, but to talk about what that means for Canada and our resource economy, Evan is joined by Heather Exner-Pirot, Senior Fellow and Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa. Listener Question: Are higher oil prices from overseas events something we just have to accept? Should the federal and provincial governments give us more help at the pump? 9:00 – Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced Canada’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund, reopening a long-running debate about how we manage natural resource revenues during boom-and-bust cycles. Greg Poelzer, a University of Saskatchewan professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability, points to Norway’s model as a clear lesson: invest resource revenues for the long term instead of using them to plug short-term budget holes. He joins Evan on the show. LQ: Should Canada park billions in a long-term fund when hospitals are short-staffed and people can’t afford groceries or rent? 9:30 – Open phones – Evan goes to the phones to chat with listeners about what’s on their minds today. Call 1-877-332-8255. 10:00 – Evan catches up with Saskatoon’s Chief of Police, Cam McBride, to talk local crime statistics, how the city is doing in 2026 and what information people in Saskatchewan should be aware of. LQ: Do you have a question for Chief Cam McBride? Call in at 1-877-332-8255. 10:30 – There is an exciting research breakthrough coming out of the University of Saskatchewan that could help diagnose aggressive forms of Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Chris Phenix, associate professor of chemistry in USask’s College of Arts and Science, is one of the leading researchers on the project who, like many, has a personal tie to the disease. LQ: Should governments invest more in research like this, even if results take years to reach clinics? 11:00 – The latest Canadian Food Sentiment Index shows a consumer who is still under pressure, but adapting to changes. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, food distribution and policy professor at Dalhousie University Agri-Food Analytics Lab and visiting scholar in food distribution and policy at McGill University, joins the show to talk about the latest report, which continues to show affordability at the top of mind for consumers and how Canadians are changing their shopping habits. LQ: How do you save money at the grocery store? 11:30 – India is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and a key partner for Canadian exporters, especially in Western Canada. There is strong political momentum on both sides to expand and diversify the relationship in the coming years, with Saskatchewan positioned as a central player in that growth. To talk more about this, Evan is speaking with Victor Thomas, President and CEO of the Canada-India Business Council. LQ: Is expanding trade with fast-growing countries like India a smart move or should we focus more on strengthening ties with traditional partners like the U.S.? 12:00 – Evan revisits his conversation with … TBD.

LANGHAM, SASK. — Why would anyone hang a dead animal on their wall? It’s a question Jolene and Cory Kallis hear pretty often at Tough Tines Taxidermy. Read more Saskatchewan Stories from Brittany Caffet:

• Repair Café giving broken items a second chance in Saskatoon
• Original 16: The story of Saskatoon’s Great Western Brewing Company
• The ‘giraffe’ of the orchestra: Meet Saskatoon’s bassoon soloist

When Jolene and Cory Kallis purchased this property near Langham, their first priority was to build their taxidermy shop. They constructed the building before even putting a house on the land. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) Their shop is filled with animals — mounted and preserved. There are pelts draped over tables, skulls carefully arranged, and tools that hint at the precision of the work. Listen to the story on Behind the Headlines: But surprisingly, it isn’t chaotic or grim. It’s orderly, intentional and almost reverent. For Jolene and Cory, the taxidermy industry isn’t about death; it’s about memory, preservation and respect. An incredible amount of creativity comes into play when creating pieces of taxidermy. It’s more than just a stuffed animal — an entire scene is often created to help tell a story. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) Jolene didn’t grow up in this world, and laughed as she described how it all began. “When I met my husband 11 years ago, he was big in hunting. I was not,” she recalled. “I was kind of tired of sitting at home waiting for him to get out of the blind, so I figured I should probably pick up a hobby.” That hobby turned into something much bigger. Cory taught her how to hunt, leading to a full immersion into a lifestyle she hadn’t expected. As their shared love of hunting grew, so did the need for a taxidermist. When Jolene Kallis was a little girl, she wanted to become a teacher. Instead, she became tanner and taxidermist. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) “Just before COVID, we both were waiting for some work to be done from a taxidermist, and we didn’t really understand why it took so long,” Jolene said. That question stuck with them, and pushed them to start learning the process themselves. Then, when the pandemic hit in full, it seemed like the world shut down. “And when everyone else was quiet at home, we started learning a new career,” she said. What they discovered quickly was that taxidermy isn’t just about mounting animals. It actually begins much earlier. “If you don’t have a tannery to prepare everything, you don’t have a business,” Jolene explained. Cory Kallis was hesitant when Jolene suggested they add a tannery to their taxidermy business. But he admitted he was wrong to doubt her idea. The couple refers to this space as the backbone of their business. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) It was the missing piece in an industry struggling with long delays. Many taxidermists rely on outside tanneries, with some backed up for years. As a result, Jolene and Cory decided to do it all themselves. “We tan everything from weasels to buffalo,” Jolene noted. For Cory, the draw of the art form runs deeper than processes or logistics. It’s emotional. “White-tailed deer are one of the most beautiful animals that is on our Earth,” he said, gazing around at the mounts proudly hanging on the walls of his shop. “They’re amazing, extremely intelligent. It’s just amazing to sit and watch them in the wild.” Cory Kallis has been hunting for as long as he can remember. He said he has developed a deep respect for animals through the years, and uses that experience daily in his work as a taxidermist. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) He said that admiration didn’t disappear when he became a taxidermist. Instead, it intensified. “When we got into this, I had a pretty good grasp on the animal itself. It just became a passion instantly to be able to take something that you harvest, bring it back to life and turn it back into something beautiful,” he said. That word — beautiful — comes up often when Cory talks about his work. “The more we do over the years, the harder you work to find that beauty in every animal,” he explained. “Every animal is different. Every creature is different. Every animal has its own personality.” From deer to birds to more exotic animals, hundreds of creatures have come through the door of this small shop. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) It’s that individuality that drives the pressure he feels with every project he handles. “These people bring these in from hunts from all over the world,” he said. “First thing on my mind is it is my responsibility to nail these.” When taxidermy is done badly, it shows. And it matters. “When you do wait that two-and-a-half to three years to get something back, and you go pick it up and it looks like it was about to be hit by a truck… it’s really disheartening,” Cory explained. Tools of the trade. Knives are a given, but some may be surprised by the number of files and precision tools needed to ensure each mount is perfect. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) There’s a misconception with taxidermy that it’s all about trophies, but Jolene pushed back on that idea. “It is part of our Canadian heritage. Everything from a trapped beaver to a coyote needs to be prepared into something,” she said. To her, taxidermy is simply an extension of something people already live with every day. Look around any home in Saskatchewan, and there’s a good chance you’ll see something that falls that’s been tanned or preserved. “It’s no different than the leather on a belt around your jeans,” Jolene explained. Jolene painstakingly sews the bear rugs produced at Tough Tines Taxidermy. She said it’s an intensive process, but the result is worth the effort. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) Beyond heritage or craftsmanship, there’s a more personal layer to the work as well: the stories. “That is our favorite part of this career,” Jolene said, “To sit and just hear your story. What adventure did you go on?” At the shop, families come in together. Parents and kids, friends, and hunters returning from trips across continents. Cory said he sees those stories as the real reason why the work matters. “I have animals that I harvested 15 years ago, 20 years ago, that I still sit and stare at,” he said. “And it takes me right back to that evening, or that afternoon where I harvested it. Who was with me, how it went down from start to finish. They have a story.” The first mount the couple tackled was this white-tailed deer. They said it was the start of a steep learning curve. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) And the stories aren’t reserved for record-breaking trophies. “A young lady brought her very first whitetail in last year,” he recalled. “A lot of people would look at that and judge. ‘Why you would mount that?’” “It doesn’t matter how big it is,” Cory continued. “You have the whole your whole life to shoot a trophy deer, but the story, to me, is more important than the size of the antlers.” The work itself is demanding, time-sensitive and exacting. “You can’t call a customer and say ‘Something happened,’” Jolene said. “You need to ace it.” This business isn’t only about fur. Many clients opt for a European mount, a minimalistic way of keeping an animal’s head as a display. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM) In theory, a single project could be completed in about eight weeks. In reality, they’re frequently juggling dozens at once. They push to be faster than the industry standard, often returning pieces within a single season instead of years. Standing in their shop, surrounded by preserved animals from Saskatchewan and far beyond, it’s easy to assume the business is all about display. But spend a few minutes with Jolene and Cory, and that idea fades. It isn’t about death on a wall – it’s about holding onto something that would otherwise disappear. Their work is about making sure the story doesn’t end where the hunt does. At Tough Tines Taxidermy in rural Saskatchewan, Cory and Jolene Kallis turn harvested animals into lasting memories. From a hunter’s first deer to exotic species, every mount preserves a story. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

After a review, Michaela Kleisinger has been hired as the head coach of the University of Regina Cougars women’s basketball team.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed … Prime Minister Mark Carney promises 'good news' in spring economic update Prime Minister Mark Carney is suggesting there will be "good news" about Ottawa's fiscal situation when the federal government tables its spring economic statement later today. The mid-year update will offer Canadians a look at how the war in Iran and new spending items like a boost to the GST benefit are affecting federal finances. Carney told reporters Monday that the Liberals are "good fiscal managers" and have made tough decisions about cutting spending to keep federal finances on a sustainable track. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre describes the Liberals' spending strategy as "credit card budgeting" and is calling on the government to make deeper cuts to put the deficit back on a track to balance. --- Liberals formalize majority, pass motion to restructure committees The federal government moved quickly to make use of its new majority powers on Monday, hours after three Liberals who won recent byelections took their seats in the House of Commons. The Liberals passed a motion to restructure committees to give them a majority of seats on committees, and passed a motion to limit debate on the motion to make the changes, with opposition MPs accusing the Liberals of a power grab. Committees study legislation and other government business and have the power to call witnesses and require the production of documents. Government House leader Steven MacKinnon says the changes reflect the "long tradition" in Parliament that majority governments also hold a majority of seats on committees, but Opposition House leader Andrew Scheer decried the move as undemocratic. --- OPP officer dead after crash on Highway 401 in Cobourg: police An Ontario police officer who died in a highway crash east of Toronto is being remembered as a dedicated member whose life was taken "far too soon." Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique says hearts are broken as officers mourn the on-duty loss of Sgt. Brandon Malcolm. Northumberland O-P-P officers were called Monday just after 5:30 p-m to a single-vehicle crash involving a police motorcycle on the eastbound Highway 401 in Cobourg, and Malcolm died at the scene. Investigators are looking into the circumstances of the crash, and Carrique says there's no evidence to suggest another vehicle was involved. --- Rescuers recover last victims from Indonesia train wreck that killed 14 and injured dozens Rescuers finished removing victims from a damaged commuter train car Tuesday, confirming that the crash outside Indonesia’s capital killed 14 women. The crash occurred Monday when a long-distance train crashed into the rear car of the stopped commuter train at Bekasi Timur Station outside Jakarta — a car that was designated for women only (a common accommodation to stop harassment). Bobby Rasyidin, CEO of state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia, said a total of 84 injured people were taken to hospitals for treatment. The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation said authorities believe the incident began when another commuter train hit a stalled taxi near Bekasi Timur Station, leading staff to stop a second commuter train at the station, where it was struck by a long-distance commuter train. --- Parents who don't allow kids to have smartphones say social media ban would ease their minds Some parents say a proposed government social media ban would make their efforts to protect their children more effective. Demand is mounting for the federal government to act quickly to prevent kids under 16 from using social media. Jennifer Gill says she worries about what kind of content her three youngest kids might see online, such as sexual images and violent videos. Rebecca Snow, with advocacy group Unplugged Canada, says governments have already set age limits for things like drinking and smoking, so it makes sense to implement one for social media, too. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — A cluster of wildfires are burning in British Columbia, many of them on land that is already parched, marking the beginning of a season that has some officials planning for how to conserve water. The couple of dozen fires burning are mostly in the southern and central Interior, a swath of the province that federal drought monitors list from "abnormally dry" to "severe drought." The Canadian Drought Monitor says a wet March in B.C. did not result in much improvement, and while drought rankings in several regions were downgraded, "long-term deficits" in the central Interior forced the dry label to be maintained. Rick van Kesteren, an information officer with the BC Wildfire Service, says the province has seen 93 April fires so far, with area burned slightly below the 10-year average. But he says drought conditions are an area of concern, noting that there is record-low snow in some valleys in the Interior, which increases the likelihood of early-season grass fires. B.C. has seen average snowpack at 92 per cent of normal, but there is significant variability across the province, with low snow levels in areas of Vancouver Island, the South Coast and the southern Interior, which could mean water shortages and drought. Long-range forecasts suggest much of Canada could be hotter than normal over the coming months, while forecasters suggest El Nino, the warming phase of a recurring climate pattern tied to shifting waters in the Pacific Ocean, is expected to take hold this summer. The Metro Vancouver Regional District, which normally limits lawn watering to once a week starting May 1, has announced residents will be banned from watering their lawns at all. Linda Parkinson, director of policy, planning and analysis with water services, says the snowpack the district relies on is at about 50 per cent of normal. She says Metro Vancouver, which has 21 municipalities, including Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and Delta, uses about 1.1 billion litres of water a day in the off-season but that can jump up to 1.7 billion during a warm summer. "That over 50 per cent increase is driven by outdoor water use. And of that outdoor water use, lawn watering is the biggest piece," she says. Parkinson says normally the district's water reservoirs, which are full during the winter, begin to empty just in time for the melting snow to fill them back up. This year, hotter-than-normal temperatures could melt what's remaining of the snowpack early, meaning there would not be room for the water to be stored in the reservoirs and it would instead overflow into rivers. Enforcing lawn watering restrictions is up to bylaw staff in each municipality and the fines for breaking the ban are different depending on where you live. Van Kesteren says the province saw a record 2,400 people apply to be one of the 1,300 seasonal firefighters this year, but there's no way of knowing yet what type of fire season they will be facing. He says a lot will depend on the amount of rain the province gets in May and June. "There's also little to no scale in long-range precipitation forecasting. It just remains to be seen," he says. "We're preparing for the worst and just really hoping for the best." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press

Some parents who have already limited their kids' access to social media say a proposed government ban would make their efforts to protect their children far more effective. They say their kids face peer pressure to join the platforms, and even have access to computers at school where they can access the sites without their parents knowing. Demand is mounting for the federal government to act quickly to prevent kids under 16 from using social media, with advocates pointing to a New Mexico court ruling that found Meta knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed information about child sexual exploitation on its social media platforms. And a Canada-wide survey carried out last month by Angus Reid found three-quarters of more than 4,000 respondents were in favour of a ban like the one in Australia, where youth under 16 are prevented from setting up accounts on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. Jennifer Gill, who lives in Charlottetown, P.E.I., says she knew from the time her three youngest kids — who range in age from 12 to 14 — were little that she wouldn't let them use social media until they were adults. That's because she saw the negative effect it had on her now-28-year-old eldest daughter's mental health as a teenager. She says she worries about what kind of content her younger kids might see online, for instance sexual images and violent videos that aren't age appropriate. "The government's not doing a very good job of letting parents know the harm. It's just being normalized, honestly. The RCMP called sextortion, I think the wording was a 'public safety emergency for youth,'" she said. "So that's terrifying." And while Gill has worked hard to make sure her house is a safe place for her kids, even restricting their access to the internet when she's not around to supervise, it's a different story when they're out of sight. "As soon as they get on the school bus, they sit next to somebody with a smartphone who can show them anything. They can show them porn, ...they can show them viral videos of people being murdered. These are things that kids have access to on the phone," she said. Rebecca Snow, who founded the Toronto chapter of Unplugged Canada, a group that encourages parents to hold off on giving their kids smartphones until they're at least 14, said governments have stepped in to protect kids from doing other things that might be bad for them, like drinking and smoking. It makes sense to set an age limit for social media, too, she said, given the growing body of evidence that it's bad for young people. She said she set a boundary with her 12-year-old daughter Lyra early on, but it's much harder for parents who only realize the detrimental effects of social media after buying their kids a smartphone. Lyra said many of her peers have the devices, and some of them question why she doesn't, telling her she's "too old" not to have one. She used to feel that way too, she said. "I used to not really know about all the harmful things on social media and stuff and the people that could steal your information or do bad things. So I didn't really know why (I) shouldn't be on it," Lyra said. Though Lyra is more accepting of her parents' rules now, in the past it led to conflict in her family. "It sucks as parents that we're the ones who have to do something," Snow said. "And that's why we would love to see legislation around this, because it shouldn't really all be in our hands." Snow is concerned about how accessing social media will affect her kids' mental health, and how it might lead to so-called "attention fragmentation," where the brain constantly switches between different stimuli, potentially shrinking kids' attention spans and leading to cognitive difficulties. Even Snow, who has gone out of her way to learn about the effects of social media on kids, said her efforts to keep her daughter off of the apps have sometimes been in vain. Snow said Lyra has access to an iPad, and asked if she could download CapCut, an online video editing tool developed by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok. Snow thought it sounded fine, until she saw how her daughter was using it: she was scrolling through TikTok-like videos. Each of the video templates on the app has examples of how it's been employed by other users, and that's what she'd been looking at, Lyra said. "I didn't realize that's what this was," Snow said. "And so I looked into it a bit, did some digging online. I was, like, 'Oh, right. It's just yet another app that I don't want my kid to have.' It's quite exhausting as a parent." Snow deleted the app from Lyra's iPad. Calls to take such decisions out of parents' hands appear to be working. Federal Liberal party members recently passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban, and Culture Minister Marc Miller said earlier this month the government was "very seriously" considering it. On Saturday, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced his government would move to ban children from using social media accounts and artificial intelligence chatbots. Details on the age limit or how the province would implement such a ban have not been revealed. "These tools have been designed by ... people who understand our psychology, who understand our biology. And they have designed these tools and optimized them to hack our children's reward system in their brain," Kinew said. "These are forces that contribute to anxiety and depression. These are forces that lead to young women being trafficked." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney says the Liberals are "good fiscal managers" — and he'll have the chance to prove it when the federal government tables its spring economic update Tuesday afternoon. The federal government typically tables mid-year updates between annual budgets to revise its economic and fiscal projections. These updates can include new spending and are sometimes referred to as "mini-budgets." The Liberals' fall budget — the first under Carney's leadership — projected a deficit of $78.3 billion for the last fiscal year, with deficits declining and averaging around $64 billion annually over the five-year horizon. The federal fiscal monitor for April 2025 to February 2026 shows the deficit came in at $25.5 billion over the first 11 months of the last fiscal year. March typically sees a large one-month jump in the deficit, though some analysts still expect the federal government will post a lower deficit than projected in Budget 2025. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Carney suggested there would be "good news" on the federal government's fiscal position in the spring update. A reporter asked the prime minister why the deficit would come in lower than projected. "Because we're good fiscal managers," Carney replied. "We focus on the numbers. And we were determined to get spending down with a lot of very … difficult decisions. You can't do everything at the same time," he added. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on the Liberals to slash spending and get the deficit on track to balance. He calls the Liberals' approach to spending "credit card budgeting" and argues it will cost Canadians through higher inflation and interest payments down the road. Poilievre did not suggest a timeline for balancing the budget when asked by reporters Monday. "Let's figure out how badly Mark Carney messes up the books before we announce how long it will take for Conservatives to clean it up," he said. The prime minister has justified deeper deficits by citing the need to build major projects, ramp up defence spending and transition Canada's economy away from reliance on the United States. On Monday, he announced the creation of a sovereign wealth fund with an initial $25-billion capitalization to invest alongside the private sector in nation-building projects. Since the fall budget, the federal government also has unveiled new affordability measures — including a boost to the GST benefit for lower-income households and a pause on the federal fuel excise tax until Labour Day — that will add new expenses to the fiscal outlook. In a video statement released on Sunday, Finance Minister François-Phillippe Champagne touted those efforts, saying "bringing down everyday costs is at the heart" of the fiscal plan. Many economists expect the federal government will receive additional revenues from the oil price shock tied to the war in Iran, though uncertainty over how long the Middle East conflict will last is sure to cloud Ottawa's forecasts. Champagne acknowledged in his statement that "volatility is omnipresent" and said the government's plan is aimed at protecting economic sovereignty. Carney pushed back Monday when a reporter suggested the government's revenues would be better because of higher inflation. He noted the annual rate of inflation has been within the Bank of Canada's target range of one to three per cent for the entirety of his time in office. Statistics Canada also has revised up past gross domestic product data since the fall, giving the federal government a better starting point for many of its fiscal guideposts. The Liberals had a minority mandate when they tabled their first budget in November and legislation enacting the spending plan only came into force in March, with a handful of amendments from opposition members of Parliament. After a Liberal sweep of three April byelections, the party's new MPs were officially sworn into their seats Monday — meaning Carney now has a formal majority government and more power to get bills passed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. Craig Lord, The Canadian Press

COBOURG — Sgt. Brandon Malcolm was a respected police officer whose life was "taken far too soon" while on duty in a highway crash east of Toronto, said Ontario Provincial Police commissioner Thomas Carrique on Monday. "Hearts are broken," Carrique told a news conference. Officers were called earlier in the day to reports of a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on Highway 401 in Cobourg. Malcolm, who joined the OPP in 2020, was pronounced dead at the scene. Carrique said Malcolm was an accomplished member who took part in the police service's Golden Helmets motorcycle team. The team travels the province putting on shows at fairs, festivals and parades -- showcasing "superb riding skills." "His career goal was to become a police officer," he said. "I will be forever grateful to him for his service. He has been taken far too soon under such tragic circumstances." In an online statement, David Sabatini, president of the Ontario Provincial Police Association, said Malcolm's death is a reminder of the dangers police face. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also wrote on social media that his thoughts were with Malcolm's loved ones. Investigators are looking into the circumstances of the crash. Carrique said while it's early, there's no evidence to suggest another vehicle was involved. Highway 401 remains closed in both directions between Cobourg and Port Hope. Anyone with further information, including witnesses or those with video footage, is asked to contact the OPP. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026. The Canadian Press

The Green Zone Replay – Monday, April 27 2:35 – Are the Oilers done? The Oilers find themselves down 3-1 to the Anaheim Ducks in the opening round of the NHL playoffs. Did anyone predict that the Ducks would be up in this series over the back-to-back Stanley Cup finalists? 3:05 – Dropping The Gloves with Drew Remenda Was it a goal? Was it not a goal? Did the refs get it right? We ask Drew about the Ducks OT winner.3:35 – CFL Draft preview Britton Gray joins Jamie and Locker to preview tomorrow’s CFL Draft. The Saskatchewan Roughriders pick 9th overall. 4:05 – Martin Biron, Sabres Live The Buffalo Sabres stomped the Boston Burins on Sunday and lead their series 3-1. After such a long hiatus, is this Sabres team able to go deep in the playoffs? 4:35 – What does the future hold for the Oilers? Will the Oilers be able to survive those mighty Ducks and get into the second round of the NHL playoffs? If they don’t what needs to change for the Oilers this summer?5:05 – Britton Gray, Green Zone Regina reporter The Ottawa Senators were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes and a lot of questions remain on what the Sens should do in the off-season. Will Brady Tkachuk be back? Sens fan Britton Gray weighs in.

A Sask Ai Expo welcomed a crowd of all ages from different backgrounds to learn about AI and how it is moving forward fast.

OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Mint says it has initiated a full review in response to allegations some of its gold comes from a region of Colombia where drug cartels control mines. Mint spokesperson Deneen Perrin says as soon as the mint learned of the allegations raised by the New York Times newspaper, it "immediately and fully" suspended the refining of any material from the supply chain in question. In a report published Monday, the newspaper suggests some of the mint's gold comes from Colombian mines controlled by the Clan del Golfo drug cartel. The report says that before the Colombian gold arrives in Canada, a Texas intermediary mixes it with American gold and that the mint considers the resulting mix to be entirely North American. Perrin says that of the more than five million ounces of rough gold refined by the mint last year, mixed material accounted for five per cent of total volumes. She says the mint continuously reviews its business dealings and if an issue is found, as in this instance, it takes immediate action. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026. The Canadian Press

The high-risk overdose alert will continue in the Queen City after 29 overdoses, and three deaths from suspected overdoses in the city between April 24 and 26, according to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health. Earlier this month Regina Fire and Protective Services and Regina’s only safe consumption site, Newo-Yotina Friendship Centre, reported an elevated number of overdoses since April 1, with many requiring multiple doses of naloxone, which treats opioid overdoses. Read more:

• Former Regina mayor backs proposal to revive city’s REAL District
• What’s in the Brandt-REAL deal? Breaking down the agreement
• Data centre protest graffiti sprayed across RM of Sherwood building

From April 1 to April 22, 140 overdose-related calls were recorded, the ministry said in an earlier statement, with a number of patients needing multiple doses of naloxone. “Multiple calls have resulted in unconsciousness, and cardiac arrest, requiring CPR and advanced emergency medical treatment,” the ministry said. In its April 27 alert, the ministry said several samples tested by the friendship centre were found to contain both fentanyl and benzodiazepines. It warned there could be other unknown substances circulating throughout the city and that naloxone only counters the effects of opioids. The latest overdose alert will expire on May 4. The city of Saskatoon also issued an overdose alert earlier this month after the closure of the city’s only supervised consumption site. In that alert, the Saskatoon Fire Department said it had responded to more than 150 overdose-related calls from April 1 to April 12. Symptoms of an overdose can include slow or no breathing, gurgling, gasping, or snoring, clammy and cool skin, blue lips or nails and difficulty waking up or staying awake. The Saskatchewan government provides free Naloxone kits and training on how to administer it to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as to anyone who might witness an overdose. The training also covers overdose prevention, recognition and response. A list of places where the free kits are available can be found online. Emergency departments across the province also carry the kits, and they can be purchased at some pharmacies as well.

• If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction you can call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677. This toll-free, 24-hour hotline aims to prevent deadly overdoses by connecting people who are alone and using drugs with peer volunteers who can call for help if needed.

Read more:

• Former Regina mayor backs proposal to revive city’s REAL District
• What’s in the Brandt-REAL deal? Breaking down the agreement
• Data centre protest graffiti sprayed across RM of Sherwood building

Saskatchewan’s premier is giving a nod of approval to the federal government’s announcement Monday of a sovereign wealth fund — but Scott Moe is also adding a few notes of his own. The Prime Minister said in the announcement that the Canada Strong Fund will invest in major Canadian industrial projects in energy, infrastructure, mining, agriculture, technology and more. It will start with $25 billion, meant to be invested alongside private investors. Carney compared it to a national savings and investment account. Read more:

• What’s in the Brandt-REAL deal? Breaking down the agreement
• Data centre protest graffiti sprayed across RM of Sherwood building
• LISTEN: Former Regina mayor backs proposal to revive city’s REAL District

A short time later, Premier Scott Moe called the media together to give his thoughts on the fund, calling it a good initiative for the country. “It really speaks to what we need to do in this nation, in working together at all levels of government to ensure that we can aspire to achieve what the Prime Minister said a number of months ago — being the strongest economy in the G7 and Canada becoming an energy superpower,” said Moe. To invest that money alongside private money, Moe said the country needs to have an environment to attract the investment. He took the opportunity to repeat a frequent talking point of his, with Moe saying the federal government could do more in the regulatory environment. He pointed to the industrial carbon tax, Bill C-69, and the tanker ban on the West Coast, specifically. “The opportunity that we have is to really restructure, and I would say fix, some of the wrongs that have been introduced in the regulatory environment, to attract that private sector investment and really allow our economy to become all that we know it can become,” said Moe. The Sask. Party government has mused about creating a sovereign wealth fund in recent years. Moe said it couldn’t be done in a year when the government runs a deficit, and in years where there was a surplus, he said the government had instead made the decision to pay down the debt. “If we are able to find our way to a surplus situation in the years ahead, that would be a choice we’d make at that time,” said the premier. Moe said there are concerns about the country putting $25 billion into a fund when it’s already expecting to run a deficit — the premier thought that would be a concern for Canadians generally. “The broader thought of having a sovereign wealth fund, I think, is a good discussion to have. And I would say, the way for us to get there is for us to really make the efforts, concrete efforts, in ensuring that we can attract that private sector investment and expand the industries that are creating wealth and jobs across this nation, including in our province,” explained Moe. In his announcement on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney suggested there would be good news on the federal deficit in the spring economic update on Tuesday. Read more:

• What’s in the Brandt-REAL deal? Breaking down the agreement
• Data centre protest graffiti sprayed across RM of Sherwood building
• LISTEN: Former Regina mayor backs proposal to revive city’s REAL District

   

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says Prime Minister Mark Carney's newly announced sovereign wealth fund is a good step for Canada to work together. Read More