News Talk 980 CJME

Regina Fire and Protective Services crews were called to a mobile home fire on Garuik Crescent around 12:35 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames coming from the home. Crews worked to bring the blaze under control while ensuring the area was secure.All occupants had safely exited the home before crews arrived. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and officials have not released a damage estimate. Residents were asked to avoid the area as firefighters and investigators worked on the scene. Read more:

• Two people charged in ongoing investigation into Regina’s 10th murder
• Financial fraud cases in Regina up by 78 per cent in 2025: Police
• Man charged with impaired driving after allegedly hitting pedestrian on Eighth Ave

OTTAWA — When Nancy Payne's son was killed in Afghanistan in 2006, his superior told the Lansdowne, Ont., mother that her son should never have been there in the first place. "They knew that they had somebody good. He could have gone a lot, a lot further had he not gone to Afghanistan," Payne recalled. "Yeah, that's what his boss said: 'I shouldn't have let him go cause he had great potential.'" Cpl. Randy Joseph Payne was killed in action on April 22, 2006, while serving as a member of the military’s “close protection team” — a unit tasked with safeguarding VIPs, like the prime minister, or chief of defence staff. Randy had been guarding Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, now retired, at the time he was killed, only three months into his deployment, and two years after he joined the Armed Forces as a military police officer. "He loved what he was doing," Payne said. "You know, that was Randy. All the excitement and the adrenalin, yeah, that was him." Fraser wasn’t with the unit when a roadside bomb struck their armoured vehicle, known as a G-wagon, while they were returning to Kandahar Airfield. Randy was one of four soldiers killed in the explosion. It was the deadliest attack on Canadian Forces in four years at the time. Randy was the 15th Canadian soldier to be killed at the time. “General Fraser had left by helicopter the night before. So the next day, Randy and the crew were heading back to the base in Kandahar,” Payne recalled. “So I think the people that did it, the Taliban, thought that Fraser was in the vehicle that Randy was driving, and Fraser had taken off the night before. So they took out four innocent people.” On Tuesday, Nancy will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on behalf of all mothers of Canadian soldiers who have died in combat. Earlier this month, she was named this year's national Silver Cross Mother by the Royal Canadian Legion. Each year the legion recognizes a mother of a soldier who has died to represent all mothers who have had a child die while serving in the military. "It's a great, humbling feeling for sure that they entrusted this to me," she said. "It's a great honour for sure." Along with the wreath-laying, she's had a full schedule in the national capital meeting with dignitaries and attending events. "I'm not young anymore so it'll be a challenge, for sure," she said, lightheartedly. Nancy has laid a wreath at a local Remembrance Day ceremony every year since Randy was killed, but this year will be the first in a long while she'll also attend with her husband, as they usually attend different ceremonies in their region. “We spread ourselves around so we’re not both at the same one, so we’re out and about in the community,” Nancy said. The Payne family comes from a long line of service to the Canadian Armed Forces. Her husband, David, served 30 years in the CAF infantry, her other son Chris had a 20-year career in the military, and her uncle served in the Second World War. Even Randy's son is now a combat engineer with the CAF. When Nancy has laid her wreaths, she said she reflects on what it must have been like for the members of her family to go to war. "Especially in the last hours, minutes, what they went through," she said. "And then I think of Randy, of course, what it was like for them." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Nick Murray, The Canadian Press

BEL13VE! The promotional playoff phrase for a generation of Rider Nation was no more prominent than the final minutes of an emotional and heart-stopping finish to the West Final. “I’m sure there’s people at home going ‘what are you doing?’,” pondered Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris on the reaction to head coach Corey Mace kicking a field goal with under three minutes to go when the team had the ball on the five yard line in need of seven points to tie the game. Read more:

• Jamie Nye: Riders played to win, no matter who played quarterback in Winnipeg
• Jamie Nye: Trevor Harris deserves another year with the Riders, if he wants it
• Jamie Nye: Upon review, the CFL’s replay centre should be overturned

Most everyone at home, in the press box, and probably a few more on the Roughriders sideline, were thinking the right call would have been to go for it and try to score the tying point right then and there. Instead, to the surprise of many Mace decided to kick, despite going for it on third and goal from the two earlier in the game. I even uttered to my Game Day co-host Darrell Davis, ‘What?!’ I also might have added a few expletives along with it. But Mace believed, like he has all season. He trusted his defence would get the ball back and instead of a touchdown to tie, he trusted that the offence would get the ball back and score a game winning touchdown. The defence did get the ball back but the offence failed to move the ball. Mace had another decision many questioned. To go for it from third and 10 on your own side of half with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter. Mace didn’t waver in his belief that his defence could get the ball back again. And they did. A.J. Allen, the unheralded linebacker, who started the season as a backup, came up in another big moment for the Roughriders with a sack on second and three to bring down Nathan Rourke, his former teammate from his youth in Burlington, Ontario. The ball was kicked back to Trevor Harris and the Roughriders to begin what is one of the most impressive drives in Harris’ illustrious career as he threw the game winning touchdown pass to Tommy Nield with 11 seconds left to put the Riders up for good in a 24-21 thriller! But did Harris doubt the call two minutes earlier by his head coach? Absolutely not. “I trust Corey Mace. He knows what he’s doing,” uttered a matter-of-fact Harris as his teammates celebrated in the locker room down the hall. Belief and trust are the hallmarks of what has made the 2025 Roughriders the best team in the CFL and the favourite going into Grey Cup Sunday against the Montreal Alouettes. The Roughriders trusted the 39-year old pivot had at least one more good year and he payed them back with a most outstanding player calibre season. The Roughriders trusted receiver after receiver to step up with a rash of injuries and Joe Robustelli and Nield became household names in Saskatchewan. The Roughriders trusted a rookie in Ali Saad to become an every down defensive tackle so they could field an offensive line of four Americans, and Saad performed at a level to match that of veterans Mike Rose and Micah Johnson. The Roughriders trusted Antoine Brooks Jr to be the starting SAM linebacker so all-star linebacker C.J. Reavis could play safety to stabilize the secondary. Brooks has become a huge playmaker, including a sack and plenty of pressure on Nathan Rourke in the West Final. Mace trusted Brett Lauther to be able to overcome what was turning into a disaster of a season as kicker to get the job done and he’s repaid him by only missing one of his last 15 kicks. So as Rider fans may have questioned all of the above decisions, including the punt and the field goal and the personnel, Coach Mace has some advice. “Just have faith, maybe I guess. Just have faith.” It’s gotten them this far, after all. Read more:

• Jamie Nye: Riders played to win, no matter who played quarterback in Winnipeg
• Jamie Nye: Trevor Harris deserves another year with the Riders, if he wants it
• Jamie Nye: Upon review, the CFL’s replay centre should be overturned

Jill and Rick Van Duyvendyk answer all your gardening questions in Garden Talk on 650 CKOM and 980 CJME every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. Here are some questions and answers from the Nov. 9 show:Read more:

• Garden Talk: Can I plant organic garlic from the grocery store?
• Garden Talk: How to protect your precious potted peonies over winter
• Garden Talk: Last-minute garden activities to take care of this fall

These questions and answers have been edited and condensed for clarity. Q: Is now the time to put a Christmas cactus in the dark for a few days? A: You can definitely put the Christmas cactus in the dark for a few days now. Changing the temperature, changing the light cycle and even taking them out of the pot and transplanting them are going to force it to get some blossoms going. If you haven’t done any pruning, taking the tips off will help promote new growth as well, and that’s where it will bloom too. When you bring it back out into sunlight put it near a window that has like a slight draft but won’t freeze the plant. If the temperature gets to 3 or 4 C or lower close the window. It’s a desert plant and in the desert it gets cool in night To know when to water it, want to stick your finger down into the soil about two inches and it should feel dry to the touch before watering. If there’s moisture in there, leave it alone. When it is in full bloom, you can water it a little bit more but when it’s still in the budding stage, watch that you’re not over-watering it. If you have picked up a Christmas cactus from the store or the nursery, it sometimes has a decorative pot cover that doesn’t have any drainage so make sure to dump out any the excess water that has run through because otherwise you’re going to get root rot. Christmas cactus leaves have a round part and then a jagged edge on the tip. If you break the tip off you can plant them in the soil and create little new plants. Q: What do I do if a chokecherry has black knot? A: Look for is any other branches not only have the black on them but also just the swollen part because that’ll be black next year. Trim those off at least six inches below the affected part. When you trim, keep cleaning your pruners with some bleach or rubbing alcohol. Around the end of April or beginning of May, the black knots open up and shoot their microscopic spores out and they will land on either the same tree or another chokecherry tree in the area, so get it out as soon as you can. Don’t put the trimmings in the compost. Bl;ack knot is a fungus that only affects the chokecherry family so it’s not going to spread to your elm tree or to your apple tree but it is important to make sure that it goes to landfill. If black knot gets into the main trunk and you see big lesions, it’s time to take the tree down. You can spray dormant oil on the tree in April to prevent the spores from growing. Spary as soon as it is warm enough above zero that you can use a hose and sprayer attachment. You need to hit all the branches so just using a little pump sprayer is not going to do it. If your outside taps are still turned off in April, run a hose out through a window to spray your tree down. (Submitted) Q: My plum tree has never produced, and now the trunk is looking a bit odd. What is going on? A: It looks like you have either fungal or spider mite issue on the leaves. Don’t be too concerned about the trunk. If you were missing all the bark on like one half of the tree or a ring all the way around then that would be a problem. When you have any issues with the trunk, it is best to put a trunk wrap around the tree at this time of the year and take it off in May. Do that every year to help keep the sun off and keep the rodents away. If you really want to try to revive a tree that that’s having issues there’s a product from Dirtngrow called Rage Plus, an organic fertilizer that fixes the root system and helps it take up nutrients. It is like Vitamin C when you have a cold. Q: Can I plant strawberry runners in the ground now? A: It’s going to be hard to put them in the ground right now because they’re not going to get rooted in. You could try putting them in the ground and mulching them well, but you can also set them on the ground and mulch them well. You could also put them into some peat moss or sawdust or put them into pots and put them into cold storage where it’s kept a not more than -5 C and not more than 5 C. If you have a heated garage that stays a consistent temperature, but not 10 or 15 C, that would be perfect. Check they don’t go bone dry. Q: How can I help my Saskatoonberry seedlings survive the winter? A: Leave it alone for now. Next year every three weeks from around Mother’s Day to mide July fertilize them. Use between one and two litres of water every time mixed with the fertilizer in an amount recommended on the package. Q: Can I safely prune my apple trees now? A: Now is the time. One thing with your fruit trees is to watch those crossing branches and when the leaves aren’t on the tree, you can see them a lot easier. Take care of water sprouts and branches that come out of the tree and turn and go straight up through the middle. Read more:

• Garden Talk: Can I plant organic garlic from the grocery store?
• Garden Talk: How to protect your precious potted peonies over winter
• Garden Talk: Last-minute garden activities to take care of this fall

The Government of Saskatchewan says a new piece of legislation will provide certainty and stability for resource companies and ensure the province remains a very attractive place for investment by opening up new areas for mining. The Mineral Resources Amendment Act, 2025 was tabled in the Saskatchewan Legislature on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Energy and Resources, the act allows for designated subsurface development areas to be established, enabling companies “to apply for access to mineral resources that would otherwise remain underground.” Read more:

• Creighton copper mine on track for commercial production for mid-2026
• Sask. govt lays out lithium royalty structure as demand for critical minerals grows
• Saskatchewan is Canada’s most attractive jurisdiction for mining investment: Survey

Under the new legislation, resource companies can apply to the minister of energy and resources for a designated development area in cases where a private mineral rights owner can’t be contacted, or if “reasonable efforts have been exhausted to negotiate an agreement.” The ministry said it has designed a fair, transparent process to make sure the interests of mineral rights holders are protected while advancing development to benefit everyone in the province. “Our government is focused on making Saskatchewan a great place for resource companies to explore, invest, build and develop projects for the benefit of all Saskatchewan residents,” Colleen Young, Saskatchewan’s energy and resources minister, said in a statement. “This bill sets up our world class mining sector for continued growth, ensuring a strong economy and a secure future for our province.” The new legislation was welcomed by Pam Schwann, president of the Saskatchewan Mining Association. “These changes enable a win for all parties — while responsibly developing Saskatchewan’s mineral resources,” Schwann said in the government statement. “The ability to openly communicate issues with the Government of Saskatchewan and collaboratively develop solutions is a key reason why Saskatchewan is a globally competitive mining jurisdiction.” Schwann’s comments were echoed by Trevor Berg, an executive with Nutrien. “Developed through strong collaboration between industry and government, this legislation provides greater certainty for producers accessing Saskatchewan’s potash resources,” Berg said in a statement. “By maximizing opportunities for safe and efficient mining, it ensures the province can fully benefit from its world-class mineral assets while delivering lasting value to our communities and economy.” Lawrence Berthelet, of the Mosaic Company, said the changes will open up more value for resource companies working in Saskatchewan. “By enabling companies to tap into stranded assets — that will otherwise never be mined – we are able to produce more potash which means creating millions of dollars in more value for Saskatchewan people, the government and enhancing our ability to mine effectively,” Berthelet said in a statement. “This forward-thinking approach will help secure continued growth for the provincial economy.” According to the ministry, Saskatchewan has been ranked first in Canada for mining investment by the Fraser Institute, and the province is expected to continue that trend by attracting more than $7 billion in overall mining investments this year. Read more:

• Creighton copper mine on track for commercial production for mid-2026
• Sask. govt lays out lithium royalty structure as demand for critical minerals grows
• Saskatchewan is Canada’s most attractive jurisdiction for mining investment: Survey

Saskatchewan’s Jamaican community is coming together to help families and hospitals recover after the Category 5 storm Hurricane Melissa killed 32 people and damaged over 100,000 houses when it struck Jamaica on Oct 28. The Saskatchewan Jamaican Association (SJA) says western Jamaica suffered the worst damage, leaving thousands without homes, power or access to health care. Read more:

• Regina chef fears for family after Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica
• No Canadians reported dead from Hurricane Melissa, Ottawa offers to help region

“The condition in Jamaica is devastating,” said Mavis Ashbourne-Palmer, president of the SJA, “People are hungry, hospitals are destroyed, and children have nothing to eat.” To help, the association will hold a fundraising lunch on Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shiloh Assembly Apostolic Church (1600 Broadway Avenue) in Regina. Tickets cost $30 or $40 and include a chicken or fish meal, and all proceeds will go toward purchasing and shipping emergency supplies to Jamaica, with a focus on rebuilding damaged hospitals. Ashbourne-Palmer says the group is also collecting non-perishable food, clothing, hygiene products and medical supplies, including sterile gloves, blood pressure monitors, and oxygen masks. “People are really suffering and don’t know where to turn,” she said. “It’s very important for us to come together to help the needy.” In a statement issued on Nov. 3, the SJA outlined the most urgently needed medical items, from portable pulse oximeters and catheters to wheelchairs and surgical tape, noting that hospitals in the hardest-hit regions face critical shortages. Donations can be made by e-transfer to the SAJ, by cheque or through coordinated drop-offs. The SJA says all funds and supplies will be sent to reputable organizations in Jamaica that work directly with frontline health care providers. Among those assisting in the relief effort is Mike Thomas, executive director of Football Saskatchewan, and the son of one of the association’s founders. Thomas said the devastation is unlike anything he has seen, even compared to Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. “To see what the island used to look like and what it currently does, is unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my lifetime, and even for my parents, they’ve never experienced anything like that.” His parents, who live in southeastern Jamaica, were spared the worst but relatives along the north coast saw significant property damage. “Every little bit counts,” Thomas said. “Even if you’re not of Jamaican or Caribbean descent, it still matters, because we’re all human and want to do the humanitarian thing.” Ashbourne-Palmer said another fundraiser is planned for December as the association continues to coordinate support. “We know we’re resilient people,” she said. “But without your help, we can’t accomplish what we want to accomplish for the Jamaican people.”

Wadena RCMP have arrested two people after a truck they say was stolen south of the town on Nov. 5 ran out of fuel. Saskatchewan RCMP said in a news release on Nov. 8 that officers from the Wadena detachment found the truck “in the early morning hours” with the help of the public and the two people who had gotten out were arrested at the scene. Read more:

• Sask. RCMP briefs: Occupants of green Jeep sought after First Nation shooting
• Woman charged with second-degree murder after three men shot dead in Turtleford: RCMP
• Boy charged with first-degree murder after man’s death in Whitewood

Police also said that a search of the area by a police dog found a firearm and quantity of suspected drugs. The 36-year-old driver of the vehicle from Yellowquill First Nation has been charged with fleeing from police, resisting arrest, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. The 23-year-old passenger, also from Yellowquill First Nation, has been charged with possession of stolen property and resisting arrest. Both men appeared in Wadena Provincial Court on Nov. 6. Read more:

• Sask. RCMP briefs: Occupants of green Jeep sought after First Nation shooting
• Woman charged with second-degree murder after three men shot dead in Turtleford: RCMP
• Boy charged with first-degree murder after man’s death in Whitewood

President Donald Trump's administration is demanding states “undo” full SNAP benefits paid out under judges' orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings, marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger program used by 42 million Americans. The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of “catastrophic operational disruptions” if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court's stay. Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued to force the Trump administration to maintain the program in November despite the ongoing government shutdown. They won the favorable rulings last week, leading to the swift release of benefits to millions in several states, and the Trump administration belatedly said the program could continue. On Friday night, however, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused the two rulings ordering the SNAP disbursement while the nation's highest court considered the Trump administration's appeal. That led the Department of Agriculture on Saturday to write state SNAP directors to warn them it now considers payments under the prior orders “unauthorized.” “To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, wrote to state SNAP directors. “Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.” Penn warned that states could face penalties if they did not comply. It was unclear if the directive applies to states that used their own funds to keep the program alive or to ones relying on federal money entirely. The Department of Agriculture did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a Republican, on Sunday called the directive “shocking” if it applies to states, like hers, that used their own money to prop up the program. "It’s one thing if the federal government is going to continue its level of appeal through the courts to say, no, this can’t be done,” Murkowski said. “But when you are telling the states that have said this is a significant enough issue in our state, we’re going to find resources, backfill or front load, whatever term you want, to help our people, those states should not be penalized.” Democratic Gov. Maura Healey of Massachusetts said SNAP benefits were processed and placed on EBT cards before the U.S. Supreme Court order Friday night, in line with the previous guidance from the USDA. She said that if Trump attempts to claw back the money, “we will see him in court.” “Massachusetts residents with funds on their cards should continue to spend it on food,” she said in a statement Sunday. “President Trump should be focusing on reopening the government that he controls instead of repeatedly fighting to take away food from American families.” Democrats have hammered Trump for targeting the anti-hunger program during the government shutdown, contending the administration could have maintained it even with other parts of the government idle. More than two-dozen states represented by Democratic attorneys general on Saturday warned in a court filing that, even before the Supreme Court put the rulings on hold, the Trump administration was refusing to reimburse them for legally-ordered SNAP payments. Wisconsin, for example, loaded benefits onto cards for 700,000 residents once a judge in Rhode Island ordered the restoration of benefits last week, but after the U.S. Treasury froze its reimbursements to the state, it anticipates running out of money by Monday, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration warned in a lengthy statement on Sunday. The lack of money could leave vendors unpaid and trigger escalating legal claims, the states warned. “States could face demands to return hundreds of millions of dollars in the aggregate,” the states' filing at the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals says. That situation "would risk catastrophic operational disruptions for the States, with a consequent cascade of harms for their residents,” the filing concludes. Evers issued a quick response to the Trump administration’s demand to undo the payments. “No,” the governor said in a statement. “Pursuant to and consistent with an active court order, Wisconsin legally loaded benefits to cards, ensuring nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, had access to basic food and groceries," Evers said. “After we did so, the Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement full SNAP benefits for November and would ‘complete the processes necessary to make funds available.’ They have failed to do so to date." Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland said in an interview on CBS on Sunday that “in the past six days, we've received four different measures of guidance” from the Trump administration. He fumed over the latest that threatened to punish states that paid the full benefits. “There is a chaos, and it is an intentional chaos, that we are seeing from this administration,” Moore said. __ Riccardi reported from Denver and Bauer from Madison, Wisconsin. John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, and Lisa Mascaro in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. Scott Bauer And Nicholas Riccardi, The Associated Press

A 44-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman are facing charges after the death of a man a home in the 1000 block of 12th Avenue on Nov. 1. Regina Police Service (RPS) is conducting an ongoing investigation of the city’s 10th homicide of the year after a 19-year-old man was shot dead just before 1 a.m. Read more:

• Financial fraud cases in Regina up by 78 per cent in 2025: Police
• Man charged with impaired driving after allegedly hitting pedestrian on Eighth Ave

The name of the victim has not been released at the request of the family, police said. RPS said on Nov. 9 in a news release that they have charged both the man and woman with being an accessory after the fact to murder. The woman, who cannot be named because of her age, also faces charges of possession of a firearm knowing it’s possession is unauthorized and possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order. On Nov. 4, RPS asked people who lived in in the area of Saskatchewan Drive to Victoria Avenue, Montreal Street to Wallace Street to search their properties for the firearm used in the shooting. Police did not say in the release on Sunday if the firearm had been located. The man has been scheduled to appear in Regina Provincial Court on Nov. 10, while the woman is scheduled to appear in Regina Provincial Youth Court also on Nov. 10. Regina murders in 2025 Regina’s first homicide of 2025 was on Feb. 18 when a 46-year-old man was found dead in the 1500 block of 12th Avenue, near Carmichael Outreach. Regina man Dennis Hotomaine, 39, has been charged with first-degree murder. Christopher Seaton, 42, was the victim in Regina’s second homicide of 2025 after his death in a home the 400 block of East College Avenue on April 10. James Dubois, a 36-year-old Regina man, has been charged with first-degree murder and a 42-year-old man and and 38-year old woman, both from Regina, have been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder in connection to Seaton’s death. In the city’s third homicide of the year, 23-year-old William Campbell was killed in the 800 block of Victoria Avenue on On April 24. Four people have been charged in connection with his death. The city’s fourth homicide happened on May 30 when police found the body of 22-year-old Wahkia Ewalk in Marshall Crescent around 2 a.m. Angus Fox, 32, and Herb Fox, 34, were arrested in Edmonton and charged in connection to the death. When the body of 35-year-old Regina man Aron Lunan was found in a rural area near Grand Coulee on June 10, police named him as the city’s fifth murder victim. A 36-year-old woman was charged with murder after a man was killed in a collision with a vehicle on July 8 the 2200 block of Lindsay Street in the city’s Al Ritchie neighbourhood in the city’s sixth homicide. The seventh homicide of 2025 happened on July 14 when 53-year-old Brando Peji was killed in the 3000 block of 4th Avenue in the North Central neighbourhood. Three people have been charged. Two people were charged in relation to the city’s eighth homicide after a woman was found dead in a home in Regina’s North Central neighbourhood on July 25. A 26-year-old man was charged in Regina’s ninth murder after the death of the unnamed victim on Cameron Street on Oct. 9. There were six homicides in the city in 2024. Read more:

• Financial fraud cases in Regina up by 78 per cent in 2025: Police
• Man charged with impaired driving after allegedly hitting pedestrian on Eighth Ave

VICTORIA — An animal sanctuary in B.C.'s interior says it is facing a "heart-breaking" experience after discovering a positive case of H5N1, also known as avian flu. Critteraid based in Summerland B.C. says in a social media post dated Nov. 7 that its team and volunteers are "devastated" following the discovery because their animals are at the centre of everything, and "the emotional weight of this moment is immense." Critteraid says on its website that it provides a home for a variety of rescue animals with 54 animals listed on its website. They include house pets, barnyard animals such as pigs, goats and cows, as well as ducks and chickens. The post says that the situation has required "immediate action" and "coordination" with Interior Health, veterinary professionals and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the organization promises to handle the situation with transparency and accuracy. The post goes on to say that staff and volunteers are "simply consumed with this horror" and that the "situation is still active and regulated." The announcement comes shortly after the cull and disposal of what CFIA says were 314 ostriches at Universal Ostrich farm near Edgewood, B.C. Neither CFIA nor Critteraid were immediately available to comment on the case, but Critteraid says in its post that it might not be able to respond to questions right now, because its full attention is on the sanctuary and the animals. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9. 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press

Sol Zanetti won his bid this weekend to succeed Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois as co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire, and acknowledged the "steep slope" ahead for the leftist party. A fervent separatist, the representative for the Jean-Lesage riding triumphed Saturday over his Taschereau colleague, Etienne Grandmont, as well as former party candidate Yv Bonnier Viger, garnering 50.4 per cent of the vote in the first round. He will share the leadership role with Ruba Ghazal. Zanetti was supported during the campaign by several former legislators from his party but not by current members of his caucus, who preferred Grandmont. Zanetti, an erstwhile philosophy professor, told some 400 activists at his victory speech in Quebec City that the threat of authoritarianism around the globe makes action all the more urgent. He also stressed the need to reconnect with what he called Quebec's "heritage as dreamers," including his vision of seeing the province become a country. Québec solidaire is lagging in the polls as it seeks to revive its political fortunes ahead of a provincial election next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. The Canadian Press

MONTREAL — This year, one Montreal-area city councillor will be chosen by an effective flip of the coin. In the on-island suburb of Montréal-Est, a pair of candidates in the recent municipal election battled it out to a tie, meaning the winner must now be determined by draw. Candidates Audrey Bordeleau and Julie Larivée each won 81 votes in the Nov. 2 election, with fewer than a third of the 517 registered voters in the district participating. The municipality says a judicial recount on Friday confirmed the tie, which saw 10 ballots rejected. The winner is slated to be selected in a lottery in line with provincial law, with the event taking place at the local city hall and open to the public. The Montreal area saw several tight contests last weekend, with at least three candidates winning by fewer than a dozen votes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. The Canadian Press

HALIFAX — The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia support individual judges who choose to ban the wearing of poppies in their courtrooms. In a statement released today, Chief Justice Deborah K. Smith and Chief Judge Perry F. Borden said that judges have an obligation to ensure the courtroom is unbiased and impartial. The statement says banning a symbol such as the poppy is not intended to undermine veterans but to ensure everyone knows they are in a neutral space. The judges gave an example of a non-veteran charged with assault of a veteran walking into a courtroom where officers are wearing poppies, suggesting it could make the accused doubt the neutrality of the process. Earlier this week, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston posted on social media that he was shocked to find out that staff in the provincial court system need permission from the presiding judge before wearing a poppy in the courtroom. Houston called the practice wrong and disgusting, and said he may introduce legislation enshrining the right to wear a poppy in the workplace. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Emily Baron Cadloff, The Canadian Press

It was a night only Rider Nation could love — cold, snowy, and unforgettable. Fans packed Mosaic Stadium through sub-zero temperatures Saturday night, refusing to leave until the final whistle as Saskatchewan pulled off a dramatic last-second win over the B.C. Lions to claim the Western Final. The victory sent the Roughriders to their first Grey Cup in 11 years, and the stands erupted with cheers, snow flying as fans hugged, shouted, and waved green flags in the icy wind. Read more:

• Cyclones roll past Wildcats 51-8 to win 5A provincial football title
• Saskatoon Holy Cross beat Regina Miller 21-16 in 6A football final
• U of S Huskies complete comeback over Regina Rams to win Hardy Cup

Swift Current fan Jared Clark (second from right) celebrates with friends near Mosaic Stadium after the Riders clinched their first Grey Cup berth since 2013 on Saturday. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME) Swift Current fan Jared Clark said the win proved doubters wrong. “Everybody said this is not a Grey Cup team,” Clark said. “Well, guess what? Our Week Five team is back, plus (wide receiver Kian) Schaffer-Baker. We dropped a couple of balls tonight, but we pulled it together and got a win. This is a Grey Cup team. The 2025 Riders are winning the Grey Cup.” Clark said he layered up in winter gear and credited “a lot of green and a lot of alcohol” for staying warm. He plans to watch next week’s championship from home as the Riders face the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg. Another diehard fan, Tyrieque Brown, was still buzzing long after the game ended. “I was in three sections at a time, hopping up and down, going crazy,” Brown said, laughing. “If there was any Rider fan the loudest in that stadium, it might have been me, or the guy with the flag beside me.” Brown said he believed from kickoff that the Riders would find a way to win. “We always have faith — it’s the 13th man for a reason,” he said. “We could be down 20 points and Rider fans always got each other, always got the boys’ backs.” When the game-winning touchdown sealed it, Brown celebrated in full Rider fashion. “I took my cowboy hat off and chucked it,” he said. “Then I threw both gloves, one each way, yelling ‘we’re going to the Grey Cup’.” Brown said he plans to travel to Winnipeg for Grey Cup weekend, joining his parents who already have tickets. Until then, he’s keeping his green gear close. Fans Zach Gamble (left) and Noah McKay celebrate Saskatchewan’s comeback win in the Western Final on a cold Saturday night in Regina. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME) Fans Zach Gamble and Noah McKay said they never stopped believing, even as the game came down to the wire. “Once I saw that big catch from Schaffer-Baker, I was hopeful,” Gamble said. “And when that passing touchdown hit, golly, that was crazy,” McKay said. McKay said his adrenaline erased the cold. “The team left us down until the last two minutes,” he said. “Then the adrenaline kicked in. Last two minutes, I was standing there, just feeling good.” The pair were just seven and eight years old during the Riders’ 2013 championship run. McKay said his stepdad carried him on his shoulders during the victory parade back then, and this time he plans to celebrate on his own two feet. As Saskatchewan prepares for the 112th Grey Cup, Rider Nation is already planning another green-and-white takeover in Winnipeg. Read more:

• Cyclones roll past Wildcats 51-8 to win 5A provincial football title
• Saskatoon Holy Cross beat Regina Miller 21-16 in 6A football final
• U of S Huskies complete comeback over Regina Rams to win Hardy Cup

MONTREAL — Thousands of protesters are expected at Montreal's Bell Centre today to demand the suspension of a new law that changes how doctors in the province are paid. Organized by four medical federations, the demonstration targets a bill that Premier François Legault forced through the national assembly late last month. Known as Bill 2, it ties part of physicians' remuneration to performance targets and threatens steep fines for those who use pressure tactics to boycott the changes. Doctors argue it muzzles them and could drive physicians out of Quebec, with medical associations opting to challenge it in court. In response to the discontent, Health Minister Christian Dubé announced Tuesday he was suspending a pair of provisions in the bill. The protest is slated to kick off downtown at 2 p.m., following up on a protest in Quebec City last weekend. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. The Canadian Press

For the third time in Canada West history, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and University of Regina Rams lined up against each other in the Hardy Cup Final at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon on Saturday. The all Saskatchewan matchup was bound to be an instant classic looked back on for generations and the 88th Biosteel Hardy Cup did not disappoint, with the Huskies winning winning 25-24 after last taking the championship when they beat UBC Thunderbirds 23-8 in 2022. The Rams were looking to repeat as Canada West Champions after they beat the Huskies 19-14 in 2024. Read more:

• ‘The play you dream about’: Tommy Nield’s late touchdown sends Riders to Grey Cup
• Cyclones roll past Wildcats 51-8 to win 5A provincial football title
• Saskatoon Holy Cross beat Regina Miller 21-16 in 6A football final

The first quarter was a defensive clinic, with a Lukas Scott 31 yard field goal giving the Huskies an early 3-0 lead. Scott also started off the second quarter the same way before Rams quarterback Owen Sieben found the end zone twice and a filed goal from Ty Gorniak brought the score to 17-6. The Huskies managed one more field goal, making it 17-9 at halftime. The Huskies offence wasn’t able to get anything cooking in third quarter either, and an errant snap recovered by Rams linebacker Brandon Wong gave the Rams a 24-9 lead going into the fourth. The momentum shifted after Huskies quarterback Jake Farrell found receiver Liam Piccinin to make it 24-16, and a Rams fumble on a Huskies punt led to Farrell airing one out to receiver Mason Grabowski, bringing the score to 24-22 after a failed two-point conversion. With 25 seconds left in the game Scott hit his fourth field goal for the 25-24 final score, completing the comeback. “(We) got super close (and) I just knew I got to hit this one for the boys,” said Scott. “Earlier this year I ended up missing a game winner and I was just thinking back to that and I really wanted to be able to lift up the boys, and that’s exactly what I did.” “I believe in the kid,” said Huskies head coach Scott Flory.  “We knew with the game on the line we were going to go to him and just knew he could make the play.” Rams head coach Mark McConkey said the loss will sting for a bit. “There’s nothing I can say to them that would cheer them up,” he said. “It’s a gut-wrenching loss — there’s two good teams, there’s a good football game (and) unfortunately they just made more plays than we did near the stretch.” McConkey said despite the result a new standard has been set for the Rams organization. “The foundation is being built and this is a program that wants to be in this game every single year,” he said. “That’s the goal. We just got to keep moving forward.” Flory said he’s really proud of his group for what they overcame in the game. “(They’re) a resilient group, I’ve been saying that all year,” he said. “We made it hard on ourselves with a few turnovers, a couple of missed plays here and there, but at the end of the day you got to make the plays when the plays are needed.” He said it’s important that the team enjoys and embraces the moment. “We’re one of four teams that still gets to play football in this country, so that’s pretty cool.” The Huskies will now host Queen’s University in the Mitchell Bowl on Nov. 15 at 2:15 p.m. — with files from CKOM News Read more:

• ‘The play you dream about’: Tommy Nield’s late touchdown sends Riders to Grey Cup
• Cyclones roll past Wildcats 51-8 to win 5A provincial football title
• Saskatoon Holy Cross beat Regina Miller 21-16 in 6A football final

This year, Regina Police Service say about $10 million has been lost to financial crimes, including fraud, counterfeit and identity theft incidents, which are up 78 per cent from the same period from the previous year. Currently, investigators are managing more than 100 active fraud investigations, police said in a statement issued on Nov. 6. Read more: 

• Scams and digital fraud on the rise in Saskatchewan
• Financial fraud takes $5.3M from northern communities in 4 months: RCMP
• Artificial intelligence scams getting harder to detect, says expert

On July 7, police received a report of an internal fraud incident involving a female employee at a local business who had withdrawn significant amounts of money from company accounts, and misappropriated a total of $248,000. On Oct. 16, a 36 year-old woman was charged with theft and fraud. Investigators are working on dozens of other cases affecting both individuals and businesses in Regina. One local company involved a former employee who was accessed business funds, obtaining over $200,000 for personal gain. Another business lost more than $290,000 after a former employee issued and cashed unauthorized corporate cheques. “RPS investigators also uncovered suspected money laundering activity connected to a local automotive business, where proceeds from drug trafficking were believed to have been moved through vehicle sales,” said police in a statement. Police said in one case, “a resident discovered his bank account had been compromised after identification was stolen from his vehicle, resulting in several months of unauthorized transactions that went without notice,” said police. Another investigation involved a suspect using fake ID to cash counterfeit cheques at different business locations. Police noted Regina residents are still, nearly daily, falling victim to online and telephone scams or reporting the suspicious activity. The Regina Police Service reminds the public and business community to be wary against fraud attempts and to protect their financial information:

• Make sure the requests for payment or personal information is from a legitimate business or individual.
• Regularly check accounts for unauthorized transactions.
• Immediately report suspected fraud to police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre collects information on fraud and identity theft and provides  information on past and current scams affecting Canadians. As of June 30, 2025 it had recorded 17,094 fraud victims across the country with reported losses of $342 million. Fraud reports can be made online here. Read more: 

• Scams and digital fraud on the rise in Saskatchewan
• Financial fraud takes $5.3M from northern communities in 4 months: RCMP
• Artificial intelligence scams getting harder to detect, says expert

According to the City of Saskatoon’s 2025 civic services surveys, residents appreciate the quality of life their city offers, from neighbourhood parks to reliable services. The survey showed that most residents still feel positive about life in their city, while also identifying a few key areas for improvement. Read more: 

• Saskatoon councilors consider options for dedicated police transit officers
• City council approves building purchase for permanent winter warming space
• Deferral of Saskatoon’s downtown arena deal ‘could mean a better contract’

The city’s governance and priorities committee will receive a report detailing the survey’s findings at its Nov. 12 meeting. “The surveys continue to confirm that residents value the services the City provides and feel a strong connection to their community,” Carla Blumers, Saskatoon’s director of communications and public engagement, said in a statement. “At the same time, the results highlight areas where residents want to see more action, particularly around housing, homelessness and public safety.” According to the city, 82 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with life in Saskatoon, which was consistent with survey results from 2024. “Nearly seven in 10 rate the city’s quality of life as good or very good, and more than half say things have improved or stayed the same over the past three years,” the city said in a statement. In the survey, respondents cited homelessness, crime and housing as priority areas that need improvement. Homelessness was the top concern for 35 per cent of respondents, followed by crime and public safety at 21 per cent and housing at 11 per cent. Eighty per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the quality of services the city provides, an increase of five per cent over 2024’s survey results. “And 79 per cent say they receive good or very good value from the services provided,” noted the city. Residents indicated the top-rated city services included drinking water quality, fire protection, electrical reliability, water main repairs and garbage collection. Top priority areas that need improvement include policing, snow and ice road maintenance and traffic management. In last year’s survey, only police services were highlighted as a key area for improvement. “The 2025 results provide a strong foundation for future planning,” Blumers said. “The City will use this feedback to inform decisions on strategic priorities, budgeting and service delivery, and to identify opportunities for continuous improvement,” the city noted. Read more: 

• Saskatoon councilors consider options for dedicated police transit officers
• City council approves building purchase for permanent winter warming space
• Deferral of Saskatoon’s downtown arena deal ‘could mean a better contract’

TORONTO — Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week: Champagne in Calgary Federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne will be at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on Monday to pitch the Liberal government's budget. The minister's plan includes almost $90 billion in net new spending items over five years. Bank of Canada The Bank of Canada will release Wednesday its summary of deliberations for its decision to cut its policy interest rate last month to 2.25 per cent. The report is expected to offer some insight into the discussions the central bank had before making its rate cut. The Bank of Canada has one more scheduled rate announcement before the end of the year. Loblaw results Grocery and drugstore retailer Loblaw Cos. Ltd. will release its third-quarter results and hold a conference call with financial analysts on Wednesday morning. The results come as shoppers continue to navigate food inflation. Linamar earnings Auto parts company Linamar Corp. will release its third-quarter results and hold a conference call with financial analysts on Wednesday after the close of trading. The company announced a deal last month to expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint with an agreement to buy select North American assets of Aludyne Inc. Economic data Statistics Canada will release a pair of reports looking at how the economy fared at the end of the third quarter. The agency is set to publish its monthly survey of manufacturing and wholesale trade reading for September on Friday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:LNR) The Canadian Press

Christopher Best told his family not to worry about the pictures of polar bears he was snapping and posting on social media as he worked at a radar site in Nunavut. "Chris said, 'Well, yeah, they're not close to us,'" his mother, Shelly Cox, said he told his stepfather on a call shortly before he was killed by a bear on Aug. 8, 2024. "'God, Dad,' he said, 'You know, I know difference, right?'" A report into Best's death by Nasittuq Corporation, the company that operates North Warning System' sites stretching from Yukon to eastern Labrador, says the 34-year-old went outside with his camera at the remote installation on Brevoort Island. He had been told a bear was nearby, says the report. Best went out a door with a large sign warning of polar bears and rounded the corner of a building, thinking the animal was off in the distance. But Best didn't appear to know there was a second bear. The report says surveillance video shows that bear cut off a route for Best to run to a building for safety and charged. The first bear then joined the attack. "I don't think he would have went out if he would have known that second bear was there," Cox said in an interview from her home in Goose Bay, N.L. She said the tragedy could have been prevented and that changes are needed, such as fences and motion-sensor monitors with alarms, to make radar sites safer. The report says there had previously been no known fatalities or injuries from a bear attack during operation of the North Warning System or its predecessor, the DEW Line, for seven decades. Best grew up in Labrador, said Cox. He liked reading and photography, and had worked a variety of jobs, from cleaning barbecues in Toronto to working as an assistant on the reality TV show "Alone." He also had earlier stints as a custodian and a general labourer on North Warning System sites. She said he was good with computers and was hired by the company again to do logistics work. Due to the sensitive nature of the radar sites, she said, he was waiting for security clearance before he could begin that job and agreed to something else in the interim — fuel tank cleaning. Best and other members of a tank cleaning crew arrived at the site the day before the attack. The report says they spotted a bear and took photos from the safety of a vehicle, which Best posted online. Best asked a wildlife monitor at the site to let him know when bears were around so he could take more pictures, says the report. That employee saw Best at the end of the work shift on Aug. 8 and told him a bear was outside. Some radar sites are inland and rarely experience bears, the report says, including ones where Best previously worked. It also wasn't uncommon for workers to take hikes after-hours at those sites. The Brevoort site was different, however. A problem bear was killed there in 2023, after it repeatedly tried to enter buildings and couldn't be deterred. Due to the bear risk, workers at Brevoort were allowed to smoke inside the technical services building near an exhaust fan. One worker there looked out a garage door window and saw the bears attacking Best and yelled for a gun. There wasn't a gun, so he ran to the accommodations building and alerted the wildlife monitor, who went and fired a non-lethal bear-banger from a 12-guage shotgun. The report says both bears ran but one turned back and charged, forcing the monitor to fatally shoot it. Another employee arrived with a weapon and kept watch while others loaded Best into a truck and brought his body inside. An RCMP officer delivered the news to Cox at her home early the next morning. "We were just in shock," Cox said. "I stayed up all night, too, just waiting for someone to get up so I could tell my family." The report makes several proposals to improve its safety policies, including requiring any worker going outside after-hours to get permission from a manager or supervisor. It also says public address system announcements should be made when bears are known to be outside. Best underwent training for polar bear awareness, the report says, but some documentation for course completion was missing. It also proposes fencing be erected at some areas in the camp. The report notes a substance believed to be from a grease trap was found in snow near the attack but it probably had no more effect in attracting bears than smells from the facility's kitchen. Employment and Social Development Canada says its report on the death is not yet complete. In an email, it says that under the Canada Labour Code, federally regulated employers must protect the health and safety of employees and fines can be imposed for infractions. Nasittuq said in a statement it wasn't able to comment since the federal government report isn't finished. "We care deeply for the safety and well-being of all our employees and feel for everyone who continues to be affected by this tragic incident," it said. Best's camera, along with the SD card containing his photos, were eventually sent to his mother along with the rest of his belongings. Cox said she's still trying to get all the details she can. "I don't care. I want to know everything. That's just the person I am. I'm not letting it go." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Rob Drinkwater, The Canadian Press