News Talk 980 CJME

Following in Alberta’s footsteps, Saskatchewan recorded the same two top names for boys and girls last year that Alberta did in 2024. Olivia and Noah were the most popular names in Saskatchewan last year, according to a release from the provincial government. Read more:

• Henry and Sophia were the most popular Sask. baby names in 2024
• Survey says: Sask. parents to be polled about kids on social media
• Rebel with a cause: Tow truck puts customers on hold to rescue moose

Forty-nine babies were given the name Noah last year. Olivia was used 43 times, according to the province. Rounding out the top 3 for each gender, Jack (48) and Muhammad (44) were the second and third most popular boy names in the province last year. For girls, Lainey (37) and Nora (37) took the second and third positions. The top baby boy and girl names in Saskatchewan in 2025. (Government of Saskatchewan/Screenshot) Lainey jumped into the second-most popular name from being ranked twentieth in 2024. The previous year’s top contenders, Henry and Sophia, both remain on the top-20 names list, but have dropped to eleventh and sixth on the lists, respectively. The is significant overlap between the 2024 and 2025 top 20 names lists for Saskatchewan. New boys names on the 2025 list included Weston, Luke (Lucas appeared on the list in 2024), Thomas, Benjamin and Grayson for boys. Nora, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Sophie, Willow and Chloe were new additions to the 2025 list for girls. Previously popular names Asher, Elijah, Owen, Beau and Daniel were not included in this year’s top 20, along with Violet, Scarlett, Emily, Grace, Isabella, Aurora and Ivy. According to the province and eHealth, “Muhammad flew up the list. Appearing for the first time ever in 2023 in 20th place, Muhammad tied with Oliver and William as the third most popular name for baby boys born in Saskatchewan last year. “Hudson and Theodore continue to climb the list. Grayson returns to the list after being absent since 2021, and Weston appears among the top names for baby boys for the first time in 13th place.” As for the ladies, the province noted that “Reigning champion Olivia took the top spot back from Sophia – making Olivia the most popular name for baby girls born in Saskatchewan for nine of the past 10 years.”

Changes are coming to the Canadian Football League (CFL), beginning next year with season starting at the earliest date in its history. The newly-announced changes include updates to the season schedule and changes to the league’s playoff format. Read more:

• Saskatchewan to host 114th Grey Cup in 2027
• ‘The city will come alive:’ Regina mayor, Sask. premier excited to host 2027 Grey Cup
• WATCH: Thousands of Rider fans pack the streets, Legislative Grounds for Grey Cup parade

In 2027, the season will begin on Victoria Day Weekend, “anchoring the start of each new CFL campaign with an iconic Canadian holiday and the unofficial start of summer,” the CFL said in an online statement announcing the changes. “From May to Thanksgiving, long weekends will serve as defining moments in the regular season, creating new tentpole CFL traditions in addition to the league’s legendary Labour Day Weekend games,” the statement read. The CFL is announcing two connected changes that will both come into effect starting in the 2027 season! pic.twitter.com/Jy6F3iIvba— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) April 28, 2026 The new start of the season will result in an earlier fall postseason to maximize warmer weather for fans attending games and playing conditions for players. Commissioner Stewart Johnson said the CFL will be front and centre throughout the summer, with the league also “establishing CFL long weekends, from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, to create can’t-miss events for fans in the stadium and those watching at home.” Four additional playoff games are set to be added into the fall schedule for the league, also. Teams that finish in the top two positions in the divisions are guaranteed at least two playoff games. Starting next season, the first- and second-place teams in each division will square off in first-round playoff games. The winners earn a bye to the Grey Cup semifinals and home-field advantage. The losers move to the second playoff round (elimination games). Teams outside of the top-two divisional finishers will be seeded from No. 5 to No. 9, with the final seed not qualifying for post-season play. The fifth and sixth seeds will host the seventh and eighth seeds for play-in games that will be held the same weekend as the divisional contests. The play-in winners advance to the second round while the losers are eliminated. The following weekend, the division showdown losers will host the play-in victors. The winners go on to the Grey Cup semifinals while the losers are eliminated. The division showdown victors will host the elimination game winners, with matchups based on regular-season records. The winners advance to the Grey Cup game, which will be held Nov. 7. “Postseason re-seeding – regardless of division – and two victories being required to advance to the championship introduces the possibility of postseason rematches, and new playoff and Grey Cup clashes,” the CFL statement read. “More games. More drama. More entertainment. That was the mission and that’s exactly what this format will deliver,” Johnson stated. “We’re raising the stakes so every game carries real consequences – more teams in the hunt, right to the end.” The changes come after an agreement has been reached with the CFL Players’ Association (CFLPA) on the refreshed playoff format, with the new structure being integrated into the existing collective bargaining agreement, according to the league. The NBA is one of several major sports leagues that have adopted a “play-in” format.  Play-in games are played after the regular season allowing lower-seeded teams to compete for the final playoff spots. The 2026 CFL season begins on June 4. More to come. –with files from The Canadian Press

The Yukon government says a Singapore-based private company has been chosen as a potential buyer for the defunct Eagle Gold mine that was the site of a catastrophic storage failure in 2024. A statement from the government says the court-appointed receiver has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Boroo Ltd. for the sale of the Eagle Gold mine and "certain related assets." No price tag has been disclosed, but the agreement signed on April 23 gives the potential new owner 90 days to complete additional due diligence and negotiate the terms of a potential sale. The receiver's website says that along with negotiating the sale, Boroo will start discussions with the Yukon government and the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun about agreements that would need to be in place for mining operations to restart. The mine, near Mayo, Yukon, suffered a catastrophic failure in June of 2024 at a site used as part of extracting the gold, spilling about two million tonnes of cyanide-soaked ore into the environment. Its previous owner, Victoria Gold, was put into receivership by a court months later and PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. was appointed as receiver. The PricewaterhouseCoopers website describes Boroo, as a private mining company that operates, develops, and acquires mining assets around the world, and is recognized as a specialist in operational turnarounds and responsible mine development. The company's website lists assets in Peru and Mongolia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026 Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press

In a story published on April 19, The Canadian Press incorrectly reported that researchers from the University of Ottawa published a study in June 2024 about how the Pathways Alliance of oil companies was misleading the public with its environmental claims. In fact, researchers from University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Rutgers University produced this research.
 The Canadian Press

EDMONTON — An Edmonton lawyer is calling on Elections Alberta to close a loophole allowing Premier Danielle Smith's government to advertise in favour of her fall referendum on sweeping immigration reform. Provincial law prohibits the government from advertising or publishing certain information related to a referendum if the vote is taking place alongside a general or municipal election. Legislation passed last year saw the same rules be removed for stand-alone referendums similar to what Smith's government has called for October. Lawyer Avnish Nanda says it's an unfair loophole that's letting the government publish one-sided information in order to a secure a mandate for proposals he's worried will demonize immigrants. Nanda is calling on Elections Alberta to enforce the same advertising prohibition leading up to the vote, a move he says the agency has the power to do. The government unveiled a new website for the referendum last week and it says the goal is to provide Albertans with information on what their vote would mean. At least nine questions will be on the fall ballot, including proposals to charge non-permanent residents a "reasonable fee" for health care and education and instituting a one-year residency requirement for eligibility for some other social programs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press

Insults, complaints that Canada is so mean, warnings the U.S. doesn’t need us.  It’s all standard operating procedure. The key is whether Mark Carney knows the Art of Dealing with the huckster playbook. Murray Wood delivers sharp, insightful commentary with a blend of wit, skepticism and straight talk. Whether he’s exposing political maneuvering, celebrating cultural icons or unpacking life’s everyday quirks, he never holds back. Read more:

• Prime Minister Mark Carney announces Canada’s first sovereign wealth fund
• Drought fears linger as seeding begins on southwest Saskatchewan farms
• Hospitality Saskatchewan says change to liquor laws could help struggling service industry

Listen to more commentary from Murray Wood: Mon., April 27: The City of Regina is using some interesting math to justify why it should sell a big chunk of its exhibition association property to a private buyer. Murray Wood wonders, what’s the big rush? Fri., April 24: Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look back at the week’s news and decides who’s hot… and who’s not. This week’s list includes the winter that just won’t end and stores that ignore warranties. Thurs., April 23: Murray Wood says Pierre Poilievre has suffered some bad timing in his career as Conservative leader, but the question is whether or not time will be on his side going forward. Wed., April 22: Murray Wood says the Food Fuel and Fertilizer Global Summit happening in Regina this week underlines why the 21st century belongs to Saskatchewan. Tues., April 21: Murray Wood says the debate about whether Saskatchewan should change it’s clocks like other provinces is being replaced with a new one: Will other provinces stop changing their clocks and be in synch with us?

TORONTO — Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra says he is looking at a social media ban in schools and would like to go further than what Manitoba has planned. Calandra says the province will be working closely with the federal government on a social media ban for kids under a certain age. He also says he is considering implementing an "outright ban" of cellphones on school properties, with some medical exemptions. At a press conference today in southwest Ontario, Calandra said most ministers of education across the country are in agreement that it has not been beneficial to allow students to have access to phones and social media in school. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew's government recently announced that it plans to ban children from using social media accounts and artificial intelligence chatbots, starting in classrooms. Federal Culture Minister Marc Miller has said the government is seriously considering a law enforcing age limits on social media use, as Australia has done. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. Allison Jones, The Canadian Press

From four people walking away from the RM of Sherwood council with little to no explanation to the reaction of some councillors in Regina to the REAL district proposal, we should be demand more accountability. The Mills Minute is a daily commentary heard on 650 CKOM and 980 CJME, where Sarah Mills offers sharp insights, strong opinions, and a touch of wit on the stories that matter to people in Saskatchewan. Read more:

• Renderings reveal vision for Regina’s Brandt Centre, other REAL facilities
• Council agenda sheds light on RM of Sherwood resignations
• Minister refuses comment on mass resignations in RM of Sherwood

Listen to more commentary from Sarah Mills: Mon., April 27: Like most negotiations, Canada and the U.S. are laying their cards on the table publicly, but Sarah Mills says in Canada’s case, there’s a little bit of spin mixed in as well. Fri., April 24: After months of waiting and wading through FIFA’s Kafkaesque ticket-buying process, Sarah Mills finally has tickets to see England in the World Cup, thanks to help from a colleague. Thurs., April 23: Sarah Mills says there are great health-care costs associated with smoking, but those costs are also associated with obesity, so will governments start passing laws to say what people can eat and drink? Wed., April 22: Sarah Mills says the tale of the Regina husky Missy escaping her vet to head to her favourite doggy daycare is the heartwarming, bring-a-smile-to-your-face story that we need in this world. Tues., April 21: A soon-to-be learner driver in Sarah Mills’ house is making her pause and think about some of the bad habits drivers display on the roads, and what they are being taught.

Saskatoon police have been active on city streets, conducting two recent commercial vehicle check stops and laying charges in two vehicle-related incidents. On April 16 and 22, officers with the Saskatoon Police Service’s traffic unit and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan inspected commercial vehicles in the city’s north end, alongside vehicle equipment regulation technicians. Read more:

• Homicide victim remembered by family as loving dad, full of life
• Saskatoon police investigate man’s death as a homicide
• VIDEO: More than 52 Saskatoon crashes during latest spring storm

Police stopped 113 vehicles to inspect and issued 63 tickets alongside 47 warnings. According to police, 73 vehicle and trailer violations were identified and 25 vehicles and trailers were seized, towed or taken out of service. One driver was determined by police to be under the influence of drugs and one vehicle was impounded because of driving faster than the 50 kilometres per hour speed limit. “The Saskatoon Police Service thanks members of the public for their accommodation during these traffic safety initiatives,” police said in a release. Man charged for evading police in stolen vehicle A man is facing various charges after “an incident where a stolen vehicle evaded police late Saturday night,” according to a release from Saskatoon police. Around 11:30 p.m. on April 25, officers conducting routine patrols in the area of 22nd Street West and Avenue I North found a vehicle that had been reported stolen. “Officers were quickly able to confirm the vehicle had been stolen and initiated their vehicle’s emergency lights as the suspect vehicle travelled northbound on Circle Drive; it did not stop for police,” said the release. Police said officers continued to follow the vehicle. A tire deflation device  at 45th Street West was “successfully deployed,” but the vehicle continued driving. Officers then used a vehicle to stop the suspect vehicle on Highway 16. Three people were inside, according to observations by Saskatoon and Corman Park police officers. “The driver of the vehicle did not comply with police commands and a conducted energy weapon (CEW) was discharged by police.” All three people were then arrested, police said, and officers noticed “what were believed to be self-inflicted injuries” on the vehicle driver. Life-saving measures were provided by officers until EMS arrived and brought the man to hospital for treatment. The man, a 36-year-old, has been charged with evading police, dangerous driving, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and three counts of breaching court-imposed conditions. Arrest made in break in, vehicle theft Saskatoon police arrested a man after a break-in that resulted in a vehicle being stolen on Saturday. Around 12:15 a.m. on April 26, police officers responded to a business in the 300 block of Confederation Drive after receiving a report of a break and enter. The caller told police a window had been broke and the overhead door to a shop was opened. Officers arrived and investigated the scene. Surveillance video showed a suspect break the business’s window and enter the shop, then steal a vehicle and flee the scene, according to a police news release. The vehicle was found a few hours later in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue North. Police said the suspect, 34, was arrested. He is charged with break and enter and operating a vehicle while being prohibited from doing so, according to police.

TORONTO — FIFA's marketplace for resale World Cup tickets no longer has seats listed for Toronto matches after a new price cap law came into effect. The Ontario legislation bans people and platforms from reselling seats to events in the province for more than face value. FIFA said its resale platform is being reconfigured to comply with the legislation that became law Friday and are expected to be relisted once the system changes are complete. The organization behind the tournament running from June 11 to June 19 says listings for Toronto's World Cup games haven’t been deleted but are in limbo while it makes the changes. FIFA's marketplace still has listings for World Cup games in every other host city but Toronto. Resale platform StubHub also continues to sell seats above face value to World Cup matches in Toronto. On Tuesday afternoon, the company had many tickets to Canada's first game — a faceoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina — listed for a few thousands dollars. A handful in the lower bowl were also priced at $72,705 apiece. Last week, the company said it had yet to comply with the new Ontario legislation because of insufficient guidance. StubHub spokesperson Jack Sterne told The Canadian Press on Tuesday that issues still linger even after the company had a "productive conversation" with Stephen Crawford, minister of public and business service delivery, recently. "While there are still many outstanding questions, we appreciate their willingness to meet and are updating our systems to comply with Bill 97 going forward," Sterne said in an email, referring to the price cap law. He did not say what the outstanding issues are. Giulia Paikin, a spokesperson for Crawford, confirmed Tuesday the province was working with StubHub to help the company become compliant. Businesses that do not comply will face penalties starting at $3,000. The tab can reach up to $250,000 for continued non‑compliance. The Ford government put forward the legislation earlier this year after fans became outraged when resale tickets for the most recent World Series and Taylor Swift's Eras tour were being priced by resellers at several times the face value. The government said the resale cap would "protect fans and consumers from exploitative, professional resellers who artificially drive up ticket prices." Others worried it would entice eventgoers into making purchases in informal markets, which are more prone to scams, and drive up the original price of tickets. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday it will leave OPEC effective May 1, stripping the oil cartel of one of its largest producers and further weakening its leverage over global oil supplies and prices. The UAE's decision had been rumored as a possibility for some time, as it pushed back in recent years against OPEC production quotas it felt had been too low — meaning it wasn't able to sell as much oil to the world as it had wanted. “Having invested heavily in expanding energy production capacity in recent years, the bigger picture is that the UAE has been itching to pump more oil,” Capital Economics wrote in an analysis. “The ties binding OPEC members together have loosened,” it said, particularly after Qatar withdrew from the cartel in 2019. Regional politics are also likely at play. The UAE has had increasingly frosty relations with Saudi Arabia, OPEC's largest producer, over political and economic matters in the Mideast, even after both came under attack by fellow OPEC member Iran during the war. No immediate impact likely for world oil markets The UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC won’t necessarily have any immediate effects in markets. That’s because world oil supplies are sharply constrained by the war in Iran, which has closed off the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil supplies — including much of the UAE's — is transported. On Tuesday, Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded above $111 a barrel, or more than 50% above its prewar price. OPEC's market power had already been waning in recent years as the United States ramped up its production of crude oil. Saudi Arabia had been pumping over 10 million barrels of oil a day before the war. The U.S. pumps more than 13 million barrels a day. U.S. President Donald Trump has been a steady critic of the cartel during his two terms in the White House. The UAE, which joined OPEC through its emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1967, had been producing around 3.4 million barrels of crude a day just before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on Feb. 28. Analysts say it has capacity to produce roughly 5 million barrels a day. In its announcement on Tuesday, made via its state-run WAM news agency, the UAE said it also would leave the wider OPEC+ group, which Russia had led to try to stabilize oil prices. “This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production,” the UAE said, adding that it would bring "additional production to market in a gradual and measured manner, aligned with demand and market conditions.” The UAE’s withdrawal removes one of OPEC’s few members with the ability to quickly increase production, said Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy. “A structurally weaker OPEC, with less spare capacity concentrated within the group, will find it increasingly difficult to calibrate supply and stabilize prices," he said. Saudi Arabia, UAE increasingly at odds Saudi Arabia and the UAE increasingly have competed over economic issues and regional politics, particularly in the Red Sea area. The two countries had jointly fought against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels in 2015. However, that coalition broke down into recriminations in late December, when Saudi Arabia bombed what it described as a weapons shipment bound for Yemeni separatists backed by the UAE. As tensions rose in recent months, Saudi broadcasters long based in Dubai, the economic hub of the UAE, have pulled back to the kingdom. “This exit of OPEC fits into the UAE need for flexibility with key energy consumers as well -- including a future relationship with China and a more competitive relationship with Saudi Arabia," said Karen Young, a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. The UAE hosted the United Nations COP28 climate talks in 2023, a conference that ended for the first time with a pledge by nearly 200 countries to move away from planet-warming fossil fuels. But the UAE still plans to increase its production capacity in the coming years, even as it pursues more clean energy at home, a move decried by climate activists. “The demand for power is going to go up and up and up,” U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told an Abu Dhabi oil conference in November. “Today’s the day to announce that there is no energy transition. There is only energy addition.” He drew widespread applause from his Emirati hosts. ___ Associated Press writer David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, contributed to this report. Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has not signed any new pharmacare agreements with the provinces and territories a year after it was first elected, and one province says that's unfair. Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister Lela Evans says the federal government stopped negotiating, and that her province has been excluded from a program it wants to be part of. The first phase of pharmacare was launched in 2024 and is meant to cover the cost of contraceptives and some diabetes medications. The Pharmacare Act requires Ottawa to negotiate the terms of funding agreements with provinces and territories. The previous Liberal government inked deals with Manitoba, P.E.I., British Columbia and Yukon. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham wrote to Carney in February to say the lack of new deals is creating a fractured approach — the fourth such letter he's sent to Ottawa since October. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026. Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press

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.

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:

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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
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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)

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