Saskatchewan News

EDGEWOOD, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — Katie Pasitney, whose mother co-owns the British Columbia ostrich farm where hundreds of the birds were shot dead in a cull ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, says she is focused on creating change fo

EDGEWOOD, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — Katie Pasitney, whose mother co-owns the British Columbia ostrich farm where hundreds of the birds were shot dead in a cull ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, says she is focused on creating change for other farmers. Standing on the highway overlooking the field where the cull took place Thursday night, Pasitney says the CFIA's so-called stamping-out policy is "broken" as it fails to prevent mounting outbreaks of avian influenza in B.C. and other parts of Canada. She says the farm near Edgewood in southeastern B.C. is "ground zero for change" in outbreak response, but adds her family will "never recover from this." The owners of Universal Ostrich Farms had been fighting the cull order issued during an avian flu outbreak last New Year's Eve, but their hopes were dashed Thursday as the Supreme Court of Canada said it would not hear their case. The cull went ahead that night, with sounds of gunfire starting at about 6 p.m. from within a hay-bale pen built by the CFIA, a method Pasitney describes as inhumane. A statement from the CFIA says using "professional marksmen" was the "most appropriate and human option" to kill the flock of about 300 to 330 birds. Pasitney's voice filled with emotion as she described her father, who uses a wheelchair, crying because he felt he couldn't protect his family and their ostriches. "In a way I feel like I failed 'cause I couldn't protect my mum," she said through tears during an interview Friday as dead ostriches were loaded into containers in the field behind her, though the view was largely obstructed by the hay-bale enclosure. "Our land that had so much life 24 hours ago is a cold, empty shell," Pasitney said. "We're going to use that as motivation and we're going to change Canada." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2025. Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press

At its annual convention, the Sask. Party focuses on reconnecting with urban voters while Moe faces a leadership review.

Ryley Mantei was arrested four times in an 11-month span in 2024 and early 2025.

After losing their 10 previous provincial football championship games, the Holy Cross Crusaders were looking to create a different result on Friday. Read More

Temperatures are expected to be well below normal in the southeast.

Premier Scott Moe is to face a leadership vote at his Saskatchewan Party's convention in Saskatoon after capturing the party's fifth-straight majority.

In 1986, four hockey players were killed when a bus carrying the Swift Current Broncos hit black ice and spun off the Trans-Canada Highway just east of their southwestern Saskatchewan city. Read More

Dianne Burrows knew the late Howard Leyton-Brown as a talented violinist and conductor. Only later did she discover he had served as a bomber pilot and flight instructor during the Second World War. Read More

BRANDON — The costs of child care, food and other items are among the topics on the agenda at this weekend's Manitoba NDP convention. The annual gathering is a chance for party delegates to debate policies, and one resolution calls for increased funding for child-care centres. Other resolutions call for a higher minimum wage, more financial aid for post-secondary students, and new measures to increase food security and affordability in northern communities. Delegates are also set to hear from Premier Wab Kinew. The governing New Democrats are halfway through their mandate after winning the 2023 election. Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Manitoba, says the NDP is in a fairly good position — running high in opinion polls and raising a lot of money. "I would say that the party is in fairly good shape and there don't seem to be any major conflicts within the party," Adams said in an interview. The NDP have continued to show signs of electoral strength since winning 34 of the 57 legislature seats in 2023. The party won a byelection last year in the Tuxedo constituency in Winnipeg, which had previously always voted Progressive Conservative. The NDP came close to an upset in August in the Spruce Woods constituency, a largely rural Tory stronghold, but fell 70 votes short. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2025. Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press

SASKATOON — Premier Scott Moe is to face a leadership vote today at his Saskatchewan Party's convention. Moe received an approval rating of 97 per cent at the last gathering two years ago.

SASKATOON — Premier Scott Moe is to face a leadership vote today at his Saskatchewan Party's convention. Moe received an approval rating of 97 per cent at the last gathering two years ago. The convention follows last year's election that saw Moe's government win a fifth-straight majority but lose significant ground in the province's two major cities. The party lost all its Regina seats and held on to only one riding in Saskatoon. Party members have said they were disappointed in the results and have urged Moe to do better on addressing urban issues. Members are also set to decide on a motion that would strip voting powers from permanent residents and youth, and instead allow only Canadian adult citizens to vote on party matters. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2025. Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press

Supplemental light key to production.

By Joel Westheimer and Marc Spooner Read More

Following the tradition of the Chickadee being named after a grassland flier the new offerings are the Mallard (overstable) and Blue-Winged Teal (understable).

The aftermath of the Second World War changed society in many ways. The impact on First Nations was no less dramatic. Read More

Move over millennials. Gen Z is the next generation of consumers and businesses are looking for ways to capture their attention and their dollars.

OTTAWA — Many Canadian travellers to Europe are being asked to reveal more about themselves as officials begin to usher in new security measures.

OTTAWA — Many Canadian travellers to Europe are being asked to reveal more about themselves as officials begin to usher in new security measures.

OTTAWA — Many Canadian travellers to Europe are being asked to reveal more about themselves as officials begin to usher in new security measures. European countries are rolling out a border management system to register people for short stays and, starting late next year, many visitors will need to obtain electronic travel authorizations in advance. The first initiative, the Entry/Exit System, is intended to modernize border management across the 29 European countries using the system by electronically registering non-European nationals' entries, exits and entry refusals. The system, which is set to be fully in place by April 10, applies to visitors with short-stay visas as well as travellers — including many from Canada — who do not need a visa to stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The system uses various means, including electronic kiosks, to collect facial images and fingerprints to verify identities. Officials say the biometric data will help determine whether people are exceeding their permitted stay and contribute to the fight against organized crime and terrorism. The Entry/Exit System was set up because European countries have for too long lacked a centralized overview of people entering, leaving and staying, said Uku Sarekanno, deputy executive director of Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency. "In Europe, if you look at the figures, irregular migration is down," Sarekanno said during a recent visit to Ottawa to meet counterparts. "At the same time, the topic as such is very high on the political agenda." The new measures address these voter concerns and help build "trust in the system," he added. Beginning some time late next year, the second measure — the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS — will come into effect. The travel authorization will be an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of 30 European countries. In 2016, Ottawa began requiring most visa-exempt visitors flying to Canada to have such a document, known as the Electronic Travel Authorization. Beginning late next year, the ETIAS travel authorization will be available for purchase through an online portal for 20 euros. Applicants under age 18 or older than 70 are among those exempt from payment. Officials say most applications will be processed within minutes, although some might take longer. The travel authorization requirement will give European border officials advance warning of who is coming before they get on a flight, Sarekanno said. "The risks need to be better managed." The ETIAS travel authorization, linked to a visitor's passport, will be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. The document allows the holder to enter participating countries as often as they wish for short-term stays. Officials caution, however, that the travel authorization does not guarantee entry and a border guard will still ask to see a passport and other documents. Travellers will be advised to apply for a travel authorization before purchasing an airline ticket or booking accommodation. Officials warn that online scammers are already trying to profit off the ETIAS — even though it doesn't exist yet. Sarekanno said officials hope the new measures will lead eventually to a faster and more seamless experience for travellers at European borders, and free up border officers for other tasks. "But it all takes time," he said. In the next few years, he added, "we will be busy with all the implementation of it, and then we can build on top of that." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2025. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press