News Talk 980 CJME

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more:

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

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

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

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

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

   

A pair of CFL Draft analysts believe the Saskatchewan Roughriders will stick to their identity when it comes to their pick. Saskatchewan will select ninth overall in the first round after the team claimed the Grey Cup with a win over the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg. Read more:

• Michaela Kleisinger back as U of R Cougars head coach
• Tigers roar back against Prince Albert Raiders in Game 2
• Regina Pat Canadians lose in semifinals at Telus Cup ending repeat hopes

While the team has lost some Canadian receiver depth with the release of Ajou Ajou after he violated the league’s gender-based violence and harassment policy, TSN’s Marshall Ferguson said everyone understands the importance of controlling the line of scrimmage. “It’s hard for me when I think of a Corey Mace-coached team to not imagine him continuing to set the tone for what he wants that team to look like by investing in pass-rushers, defensive linemen, and defensive tackles,” Ferguson said. “I don’t think he’s going to have to reach for something in those early couple of rounds but it will always be a priority, in my mind, for Corey Mace because he knows that that is what wins and loses football games. “I just think the defensive line is one I always have in mind for the Riders because I know how much that means to their team culture with Corey Mace as the head coach.” TSN’s Duane Forde said with the Ajou situation, Tommy Nield signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Mitch Picton not currently signed to a contract, there is still depth on the Riders’ roster. “There’s still Sam Emilus, there’s still Kian Schaffer-Baker, there’s still Dhel Duncan-Busby. They have built some remarkable depth in that group that I would say it’s not necessarily a pressing need.” Forde said, like Ferguson, he thinks the Riders could target a lineman. “For me, and this draft class, more depth on the offensive line than the defensive line, particularly when you look at the interior defensive line,” Forde said. He went on to explain this year’s defensive tackle position could have been very deep but a number of factors led to it weakening. One example was the possible top defensive tackle, Rene Konga, had a stellar pro day with the Louisville Cardinals and could have jumped onto some NFL team’s drafts. He did not end up getting drafted, but reports are he has signed with the Miami Dolphins. Forde also mentioned former University of Regina Ram Tarick Polius would have been seen as a top prospect in this draft but he was charged in a drug bust in early 2025. There were also a few other players who would have been eligible for the draft, but haven’t submitted their citizenship papers. “If you think (the Riders’) early needs are offensive line and defensive line, you probably go offensive line early because I don’t know how many interior defensive linemen there are in this draft class that necessarily warrant an early pick,” Forde said. When it comes to the offensive line, the Riders have five Canadians signed to contracts — centre Logan Ferland, offensive guard Zack Fry, as well as Dayton Black, Daniel Johnson and Erik Andersen. Andersen was named the U Sports top offensive lineman this past season. Forde also pointed out that the Riders have drafted Kyle Hergel and Sidy Sow recently, who have been looking to stick with NFL teams. If one or both of them were to come up to the CFL, Forde said that could affect how the Riders approach the draft. If the Riders were to go early with a wide receiver, Ferguson believes Mississauga, Ont., athlete and University of North Dakota pass catcher Nate DeMontagnac is someone who could be interesting for the team. “When I think about the receiver situation there recently, that’s somewhere you want to continue to stoke the flames so it can burn as bright as possible, not just a year or two down the road, but five to 10 years potentially if you keep doing that year-over-year and finding good body types,” Ferguson said. “DeMontagnac is a productive guy that is long and reminds me kind of like a Kian Schaffer-Baker — you can imagine him running those crossing routes in between the hash marks, catching a pass and running away from everyone.” The draft gets underway on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Read more:

• Michaela Kleisinger back as U of R Cougars head coach
• Tigers roar back against Prince Albert Raiders in Game 2
• Regina Pat Canadians lose in semifinals at Telus Cup ending repeat hopes

A former mayor of Regina is giving a clear nod of approval to a potential sale of some facilities at the city’s REAL District. Michael Fougere spent 23 years on Regina City Council, including five terms as a councillor in Ward 4 and two terms as mayor. During an appearance on The Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday, Fougere said he likes the offer the city is considering, which would see several buildings at the REAL District sold to the Brandt Group. Read more:

• Regina’s REAL District sale plan draws support, calls for caution
• City of Regina plans partial sale of REAL District to Brandt, promises cost savings
• Uncertainty around REAL makes booking live events challenging: CEO

The offer includes the sale of the Brandt Centre, Queensbury Centre, Canada Centre, Agribition Building and other older buildings for $6.5 Million, in addition to a commitment from Brandt to invest $15 million into the facilities over the next two years. Fougere said the long-term result of this deal, if it goes ahead, could be greater investment in the REAL District that wouldn’t happen otherwise, because the organization’s current business model is struggling. Mosaic Stadium and the REAL District in Regina. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME) Listen to the full interview with Fougere, or read the transcript below: The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity. GREG MORGAN: What did you think, initially, and have you taken any extra time to digest and dig a little deeper to see if it’s in our best interest? MICHAEL FOUGERE: I like this deal a lot. This is going to solve some big problems for REAL, and therefore the City of Regina, and it’s going to call for investments that would otherwise not be taken. The value of these buildings is less than the cost of repairing them. Brandt must invest $15 million in two years. That kind of equity investment is not going to happen by the city, and those buildings will be fixed up. I think this will be a great addition to the property itself. We retain the ownership and control of what I consider to be the major, newer buildings: Mosaic Stadium, Co-operators Centre, AffinityPlex, (the International Trade Centre). But we are divesting buildings that are just simply old, like the old Commercial Cattle Barn, the Stockman’s Building and the Agribition Building. We’ll work with them to fix the parking lot to the west of Mosaic. The Canada Centre Building is also going to go over to Brandt, so we’ll see what happens, but I do believe that there’s no other way for the city, at this point, to fix those buildings on the property. REAL has been struggling. They asked, a couple of years ago, for $12.7 million just to stay afloat, so the business model right now does not work. So, the question is, what do we do? Is this the best deal? We could always look for something different, but Brandt stepped forward and put a deal forward that I think is reasonable and fair and will really animate that property over time, so I’m pretty pleased. A lot of citizens seem to focus on just $6.5 million, and that it seems like a ridiculously low assessment, and question if the land is worth more. What do you think about that? FOUGERE: There’s no question that the city would have done an appraisal of the building and the land. That would be done. The issue is that the buildings themselves have no value to them. They’re falling apart, or beginning to fall apart, and they’re not in good shape and they need to be fixed. That’s why the value is where it is. I’ll accept that number as being part of due diligence. There are a few clauses, including that the buildings to be purchased by Brandt are going to be exempt from property taxes for five years. Do you think the city is giving the Semples too many breaks in this deal? FOUGERE: No, I don’t think so, because there’s no tax being paid on those buildings right now. I think this is part of the package of saying “Take the risk – a risk the city cannot, and REAL cannot actually assume right now – in exchange for the equity investment of at least $15 million,” and I know that there’ll be more investments that will happen across the piece. That’s just what’s in the proposal today, and that’s fair at that tax jump for five years. What I’m hearing from you is that this sort of private investment makes a new arena probably a little more hopeful, because it was never going to happen without private investment. In the long-term, do you think this deal could prove promising economically? FOUGERE: Oh, for sure. I think there’s no question that this just begins to put in place a vision for that property that a private owner can do, in the context of what the city owns as well, to be something that would not happen otherwise. A new arena, as far as I know, is not part of this agreement at all. It might happen, but I think that’s down the road a ways. I think there will be investment in the stadium right now. That’s my understanding. I hope that people take the long view of this. The long view is an animation and investment of that property that otherwise would not take place, because REAL’s business model is struggling, and they just simply cannot provide for the repairs of those buildings.

A 24-page non-binding agreement will be the basis for final discussions between the City of Regina and Brandt Properties on a sale agreement for a large portion of the REAL District. The “term sheet”, as it is called, is to be considered a “working draft for discussion purposes only,” according to the documents filed for Wednesday’s Executive Committee meeting. Read more:

• Regina’s REAL District sale plan draws support, calls for caution
• Brandt CEO shares vision for new distillery, entertainment complex at REAL District

The committee is made up of the mayor and all 10 councillors, and based on how it votes, the deal will be forwarded to the May 6 council meeting for final approval to enter detailed negotiations. Here is a breakdown of the term sheet: Master agreement The first step is to enter into a Master Purchase Agreement, which will lay out the conditions for each step that follows. On or before July 1 of this year, the agreement to buy the Canada Centre (also known as the Avana Centre) is expected to close. Brandt would be provided early access to the building, which it intends to use as offices and construction-related activities area for its conversion of the Agribition Building into Queen City Distillers. The remaining building sale, with the surrounding land to be leased, would be expected to wrap up by Sept. 1. The final date is Dec. 31, 2027 to complete the sale and subdivision of the land. The Brandt Centre. (980 CJME file photo) Purchased assets Brandt is proposing to buy the following: • The Brandt Centre (built in 1977 and originally known as the Agridome.) • The Agribition Building (built in 1972.) • The Canada Centre Building (built in 1983 and also known as the Avana Centre.) • The Queensbury Convention Centre (built in 1986 and originally known as Queensbury Downs) — this also includes the REAL administrative offices. • The Ag-Ex Building and Banner Hall (built in 1977.) • The Commercial Cattle Barn (built in 1985) and the Stockman’s Building (built in 1988.) • The land leased to McDonald’s. • Parking lots B, C, D, E, F, and G. • The digital sign at the Lewvan Drive entrance. • Intangible property of REAL related to the purchased buildings — this includes things like contracts, customer lists, records, websites, social media accounts, and phone numbers. • Equipment and furnishings used in the buildings being bought. Bunge International Trade Centre. (REAL District website) Lease of the ITC Brandt is also agreeing to lease from the city, for one dollar per year, the Bunge International Trade Centre (ITC) built in 2017, as well as the parking lot to the north (Lot M) and two fabric buildings on Lot M. The company would be expected to operate the ITC on the city’s behalf, provide parking access, and keep it maintained to the standard of a first-class convention centre. It would also contribute to a capital reserve fund, at an amount starting at $550,000 per year and then adjusted for inflation. Excluded Assets Here’s which buildings are not included in the sale: • The Co-operators Centre (built in 2010.) • he AffinityPlex (built in 2004 and originally known as the Credit Union EventPlex.) • Mosaic Stadium (completed in 2016) and Confederation Park. • Parking Lot L. Transition As soon as city council gives its approval of the term sheet, the city and REAL will start co-operating to help relocate affected tenants, so that Brandt can begin using the Canada Centre as soon as possible. This does not include the offices of Canadian Western Agribition, which are expected to remain in the Canada Centre. If, for some reason, Brandt and the city are unable to reach a final agreement and Brandt has already begun occupying the Canada Centre, the company would then start paying rent at commercial terms. This early access would not include any change to the permitted land use, or any alterations to the building that would require a development or building permit, unless Brandt got the required permits first. Purchase price Brandt would pay REAL and the city $6.5 million, beginning with $500,000 as of the first closing date and the other $6 million on the second. The final amount may be adjusted based on details like owed vacation pay, pre-paid services, and so on. Post-closing investment Brandt has promised to invest at least $15 million into the assets it’s buying within two years of the second closing date (expected to be no later than Sept. 1.) If it doesn’t, the city would have the option of effectively cancelling the whole sale and getting back the purchased assets. Operating cost adjustment The city has agreed to help cover operating costs of the purchased assets for the first two years. The amounts the city would pay to Brandt are $6 million the first year, and $3 million the second. Each amount would be paid in equal quarterly instalments. Right of first refusal If the city decides it wants to sell any of the excluded assets, including the ITC, it has to offer Brandt the right to buy those assets at the same price before selling them to anyone else. Brandt would have 30 days to respond. If it declines, the city can sell them to someone else, but only at the same price or higher. A cow gets dolled up for the Agribition competition. The term sheet says there will be ongoing access to community events like Agribition. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME) Step 1. Building sales and pad site leases The sale is happening in stages. The first step is for the buildings themselves, with the land to be leased to Brandt. That lease will include development rights, but any development has to follow the zoning regulations including the existing master site plan. REAL, which currently has a master lease for the exhibition grounds, would see that lease adjusted to remove the sold buildings. Following the September closing date, Brandt would take over that master lease temporarily. This would also make Brandt the exclusive food and beverage operator for the excluded assets, and the company would keep all revenue from those services. Already-signed contracts would be assigned to Brandt, for things like FROST Regina. (City of Regina/X) Operating agreement Brandt and the city would then work out an operating agreement. While Brandt would be able to run operations, events, and long-term planning with full autonomy, there would be rules for operations and shared spaces. This is meant to cover things like concerts, Agribition, parking coordination, security, snow removal, public access, etc. The agreement would cover some specific areas of concern: • Existing bookings. Already-signed contracts would be assigned to Brandt, for things like the 2027 Grey Cup, SUMA convention, Mosaic Cultural Festival, FROST Regina, Canada’s Farm Show, and Remembrance Day Services. • Ongoing access to community events like Agribition and Queen City Ex at commercial rates. • Cost-sharing for common areas like parking and utilities. This includes the mechanical systems shared by the Queensbury Centre (being sold) and the AffinityPlex (not being sold). They will try to separate utilities between purchased and excluded assets. • Parking. Brandt will provide a certain number (to be determined) of parking stalls for Saskatchewan Roughrider games and other Mosaic Stadium and ITC events at no cost. • There will be no parking fee charged for Rider games, community events, Agribition, or the Queen City Ex. • Parking will continue to be managed based on the stadium parking plan and the Riders’ lease. All sides will continue efforts to avoid scheduling conflicts between Mosaic Stadium and other REAL District events. • The “community events” mentioned above do not include private for-profit events that are not open to the public. • All sides will also work to avoid conflicts with existing agreements related to naming rights, pouring rights, advertising, sponsorship, or branding. • Brandt will have access, at commercial rates, to the assets remaining under city ownership for major events and shows that require a combination of facilities. (However, there will be no cost for those facilities for the Grey Cup or Agribition.) • There will be an ongoing governance committee including REAL, the city, and Brandt. • The city will pay Brandt $500,000 a year, with annual inflation adjustments, as an operating fee. The agreement will automatically renew every five years to a maximum of 99 years, unless terminated earlier. Services agreement Brandt will also become the service provider for the facilities remaining under city ownership, except for Mosaic Stadium and Confederation Park. Brandt will manage existing sponsorships and have the right to sell new sponsorships, splitting any new revenue with the city 50/50. Brandt will continue the existing food and beverage services agreement with Compass Group Canada. However, a new food and beverage deal would have to be made for Mosaic Stadium. Existing agreements All other contracts and agreements tied to the assets Brandt is buying will be moved to Brandt. This includes naming rights. Since there isn’t currently a naming rights deal for REAL District itself, Brandt can rename the district and keep 100 per cent of the revenue of any new naming rights deal. Employees Unionized employees of REAL who work in the purchased assets would become Brandt employees and the existing collective bargaining agreements with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) would continue. According to the administration’s report, REAL employs 208 IATSE members and 485 members of RWDSU, as well as 50 out-of-scope employees. REAL and the city will be liable for any termination costs or damages for any non-unionized employee who is not offered employment by Brandt, or who turns it down. Conditions Approval is needed from several parties before this step can be completed. That includes the food and beverage provider (which may also cancel the agreement); REAL’s banks; Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority; and consultation required with the Riders, Agribition, and the provincial government. Step 2: Subdivision and Land Sale After the first step is completed (on July 1 and Sept. 1), next up are the final agreements to sell the affected land. This includes subdividing the parcels to separate the land being sold from the land the city is keeping. The city has to pay any costs associated with this. The city also will have to apply for any needed changes to zoning or the Official Community Plan. This would include allowing Brandt to continue to operate the property as it already is, and permission for the future development of an entertainment of a commercial business. They’ll have to negotiate access and servicing agreements and use a legal measure to ensure continued public access and parking. This final step is planned to wrap up Dec. 31, 2027. Brandt is agreeing to provide access to its purchased facilities to events like Queen City Ex. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME) Brandt covenants There are a number of legal measures that are expected to be part of the final agreements that hold Brandt and the city to a number of conditions. One main reason the city administration is recommending this sale agreement is Brandt’s promise to continue to operate the REAL District for the hosting of recreational, cultural, sporting, entertainment, convention, agri-business, and other special events. But the city also acknowledges that market conditions may change over time and Brandt’s operation has to be commercially viable. So they agree Brandt may make changes to the operation over time, as long as it doesn’t change the primary use of the site to something completely different like manufacturing, industrial, or residential. There is a 10 year “post-closing period” during which Brandt may decide in good faith that it’s no longer financially viable to operate the REAL District. If it decides that, or shuts down operation for two consecutive months, the city may force a buyback of the property at the current market rate. Brandt may decide to sell the property to someone else. If it does, everything agreed to would transfer to the buyer. In the meantime, Brandt is agreeing to provide access to its purchased facilities to Agribition, Queen City Ex, and other community events at commercial rates and subject to market demand. In fact, Brandt will take over operating the Queen City Ex, consistent with the format and scope that it’s always been known for, but only as long as it’s commercially viable and subject to market demand. Under the agreement, Brandt would get the right to host two events per year at Mosaic Stadium. (Saskatchewan Roughriders/Submitted) City/REAL covenants Under this agreement, Brandt would get the right to host two events per year at Mosaic Stadium and keep food and beverage profits from those events. The city would provide Regina Police Service traffic services as well as fire and bylaw enforcement. Brandt would have to pay all other costs and pay the city a $12/ticket commercial event licence fee. The agreement also gives Brandt access to Confederation Park for the events. Brandt also agrees to resurface the parking lots within one year of the final closing date, but the city will have to put up half the cost, up to $2.5 million. The city will also work on a potential south access to the REAL District from Saskatchewan Drive, described as a “right in/right out” intersection across the CPKC rail line. If it can be done for up to $2 million, the city will pay the cost. Brandt may agree to pay the overage, or for the two sides to find another access solution. Brandt has a 99-year lease for the Queen City Distillery in the Agribition Building, as well as a Facility Use Agreement for the Regina Pats in the Brandt Centre. Both will be cancelled, since Brandt will own both buildings. Property tax exemption If city council approves, Brandt will get a five-year property tax exemption on the property it’s buying. After five years, it can apply for further exemptions but if they don’t get council approval, the city would then agree to provide an operating grant equal to the taxes being paid. The document says any third parties leading the purchased properties for commercial use would still have to pay property taxes. Exclusivity Before the final closing date, the city is promising not to shop around for a deal with another prospective buyer. If REAL receives such an offer, it’s supposed to break off any discussions and inform Brandt. Then, for 20 years afterward, should the city build a new arena as a Brandt Centre replacement, and Brandt is not involved, the company would then have the right to sell back to the city the Brandt Centre, Queensbury, Ag-EX and Barn Buildings. Risks The administration’s report to council outlines how the deal attempts to cap or negotiate out any risks involved. One of the biggest risks is the city’s ability to force Brandt to live up to its obligations. Requiring a commitment by Brandt to spend $15 million within the first two years is meant to reduce that risk. The administration concludes that the proposal’s terms are reasonable and favourable to taxpayers, but it will be up to council to decide. Read more:

• Regina’s REAL District sale plan draws support, calls for caution
• Brandt CEO shares vision for new distillery, entertainment complex at REAL District

OTTAWA — Defence Minister David McGuinty confirms Canada is looking into getting involved in a program run by a coalition of countries to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet. But McGuinty says Canada has not yet made a final decision on whether to obtain observer status in the Global Combat Air Programme, run by Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy. The Global Combat Air Programme grew out of Britain’s Tempest program, which was launched to design a replacement for the Eurofighter Typhoon. McGuinty made the comments today in French when questioned by members of a Senate committee. The minister says Ottawa is still reviewing a plan to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets from U.S.-based Lockheed Martin after committing funds to buy 16 of the aircraft, but adds that the option of buying jets from other countries is still on the table. The Liberal government has been reviewing the purchase for more than a year now as U.S. President Donald Trump has pursued his ongoing trade war with Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — The defence counsel for William Majcher, a former Mountie accused of preparing to coerce a Canadian resident for the benefit of the Chinese government, says the case against him is "purely circumstantial," and hasn't proved Majcher was referring to his alleged target in an email that was a central piece of evidence. Ian Donaldson says there's no usable evidence showing his client "ever knew anything" about the man. Donaldson told Majcher's British Columbia Supreme Court trial that the email at the centre of the Crown's case does not name the person Majcher described as a "crook" he hoped to convince to agree to a settlement with Chinese authorities. He says it would be "unsafe" to infer the subject of Majcher's 2017 email was Kevin Sun, a Vancouver-area real estate mogul the Crown has accused Majcher of preparing to extort as a "proxy" for Chinese authorities. Majcher pleaded not guilty to one charge under Canada's Security of Information Act as his judge-alone trial got underway in Vancouver on April 20. Crown prosecutor Ryan Carrier previously told the trial that Chinese authorities turned to Majcher — who was operating an asset recovery business based in Hong Kong — after the RCMP decided to stop assisting in the pursuit of Sun, and the former Mountie's alleged actions were an "affront" to Canadian sovereignty. But Donaldson told Monday's hearing the Crown's "purely circumstantial" case against Majcher failed to prove that he was referring to Sun and that he had a settled intention to commit the alleged offence at the time he wrote the email. If a fraudster were living in Canada on the proceeds of crime, it would be in the public interest to pursue that person, Donaldson added. Majcher's defence counsel elected last week not to call any evidence at the trial. The trial has heard Sun was accused of defrauding a Chinese state bank and absconding to Canada with about $120 million in the early 2000s. It has also heard Majcher's email to a colleague in June 2017 related to an effort to recover proceeds from a fraud matching the details of Sun's alleged crime. Prosecutor Ryan Carrier previously quoted Majcher as writing in the email that he hoped to "impress upon the crook that we hold the keys to his future." An earlier court ruling indicates Majcher added "the Chinese want to use this as a precedent case to settle economic crimes quietly and expeditiously." The April 1 ruling also includes an email in which Majcher apparently wrote that if the "target" co-operated, he hoped to settle the matter within a few weeks. "If he fights then (there) will be extradition request and lengthier process but we feel he is motivated to co-operate as we can guarantee him his passport and no jail time." Only Chinese authorities would be in a position to make promises that Sun would receive a passport and avoid jail time if he co-operated, Carrier said Friday. He said Majcher is charged under the section of Canada's security legislation that deals with preparing to commit an offence under the same law, including actions for the benefit of or in association with a foreign entity or terrorist group. Majcher's intended message for Sun was the Chinese government "is coming for you," Carrier said, adding a "veiled" reference may amount to extortion. With Majcher's help, he said Chinese police were able to "project" their power beyond China's borders into Canada, constituting unauthorized foreign interference. Donaldson said Monday the Crown's evidence came down to a few sentences in an email that was otherwise lawful. "It would be wrong in principle to extract a sentence or two, construe those in the most negative possible fashion, in order to conclude that that was the only reasonable inference, that these were steps preparatory, specifically directed toward carrying out a coercive-based offence." He said prosecutors hadn't proven Majcher intended to act unlawfully, and to find him guilty the court would have to conclude that "mental element" was present. Donaldson told Devlin she could not look at Majcher's statement that he hoped to "impress upon the crook that we hold the keys to his future" and come to the conclusion the remark reached the standard for criminal coercion. Before the trial, the court found Majcher's arrest at Vancouver's airport in 2023 occurred without reasonable or probable grounds, breaching his Charter rights. The court had also ruled that a warrant authorizing a search of another former Mountie's home as part of the investigation into Majcher was invalid. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026. Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press

Wray Musqua’s sister says she didn’t expect her brother to be killed “so violently” as police piece together Saskatoon’s sixth homicide case of the year. Saskatoon police said officers on patrol received a call around 10:55 p.m. on Friday about an injured person in the 2200 block of 22nd Street in the Mount Royal neighbourhood. Officers said they found a 55-year-old man who was unresponsive and was taken to the hospital, where he died the following day. Bonnie Musqua said police told her that her brother was involved in an altercation where he was stabbed and injured. He then went across the street to the McDonald’s where he collapsed. “He was stabbed in the heart,” Bonnie said. The investigation is ongoing and Bonnie said the family doesn’t have the exact details surrounding the killing, but she said she knows how her brother would have reacted during that altercation. “He would have fought for his life, basically, and that’s what he did.” Bonnie said Musqua went straight into surgery, was in a coma and on lung support, but ultimately his body started to fail after losing too much blood. “We were all praying when he took his last breath,” she said. “It was sad, but it was comforting to know that he went in prayer.” Musqua was ‘larger than life,’ loving father to 15 children Musqua, from Keeseekoose First Nation, was the second youngest of 11 siblings. Bonnie said he grew up in a traditional lifestyle with loving parents. “When Wray was growing up, he was always so big, larger than life,” Bonnie said. “He was always so energetic, ever since he was a kid.” “My dad used to say he could be a lawyer,” she said. Diane Musqua said her little brother comes from a family of educators, teachers, social workers and a long line of chiefs. “There were even hopes and dreams that maybe he would come home and be a leader,” she said. “That’s how intelligent he was.’ Musqua’s sisters said he was involved in traditional ceremonies, was protective over his loved ones and was a loving father to 15 children. Bonnie said when Musqua was 14 he decided he was ready to go out and experience the real world. “He was extremely smart and that’s probably why he survived out here in Saskatoon.” Bonnie said her brother was drawn into a street lifestyle at a young age, and while he would return home, it became a struggle at times to keep him there. His sisters noted he wasn’t always involved in the street lifestyle and said he was a hard worker and laborer, as well as a boxer. “He’d get up in the morning and he’d go find a job,” Bonnie said. “The people that he was around sometimes (had a) negative influence with gangs and stuff like that.” Diane said because of this, her brother had been in and out of the jail system, noting “it’s a different lifestyle where you can’t just break free from it.” “He was always loved, and we were always there for him,” Diane said. “We knew that this kind of situation or this kind of thing would take him, but it is still so traumatic for us.” Diane said she hopes and desires that this type of street lifestyle ends with her brother’s story. “It’s never too late to change your lifestyle, there’s always opportunity for you to change,” Diane said, noting there are resources available for addictions and trauma. “Life is precious and our people can’t continue to go down and destroy each other,” Diane said. “We want people to learn that he came from a loved family and we want our people to get healthy.” So far no charges have been laid in connection to Musqua’s death but Saskatoon Police said the Major Crime Section is investigating and further details would be provided when available. Saskatoon homicides in 2026 The first homicide investigation of 2026 was a 25-year-old man with stab wounds who died at St Paul’s Hospital on Feb. 3. An 18-year-old man was charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault on Feb. 7. His charges were later downgraded on Feb. 27 to being an accessory after the fact to manslaughter, accessory after the fact to aggravated assault, public mischief and obstruction of justice. The second homicide case of the year began when a man died after a shooting in the 900 block of 22nd Street West in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood on March 14. A 17-year-old boy was then charged on March 17 with second-degree murder, using a firearm while committing an indictable offence and possessing a firearm while prohibited. The city’s third homicide investigation of 2026 began after a 61-year-old woman died in a Riversdale house fire in the 400 block of Avenue I South on April 3. No arrests have been made. The fourth homicide investigation of the year wasn an investigation into the death of a 39-year-old man in hospital after he was found unresponsive on Avenue X South just before 4 a.m. on April 6. Police have made no arrests. The fifth homicide investigation of the year began as a suspicious death investigation after a person died on Avenue W North on April 15. Police said the victim, who has not been identified publicly, died at the scene despite first aid attempts by paramedics. Saskatoon had eight homicide investigations in 2025.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the creation of the country's first-ever sovereign wealth fund on Monday, called the Canada Strong Fund. Carney pitched the new fund as a way for Canadians to invest in nation-building projects in areas that include energy, infrastructure, mining, agriculture and technology. Here's what you need to know about sovereign wealth funds and how they operate. What is a sovereign wealth fund? A sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment vehicle. The standard objective is to invest wisely in assets, such as stocks, bonds and real estate, and earn a good rate of return to grow the fund and bolster public finances. The idea has been around for a long time, although these funds really took off in the 1990s. There are now more than 100 sovereign wealth funds in the world that hold upward of $10 trillion in assets, according to The International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds. Some countries have several, and just last year President Donald Trump ordered the creation of a federal U.S.-owned fund. Paul Calluzzo, an associate professor at the Smith School of Business, said sovereign wealth funds often operate a lot like households using excess cash to invest. "The idea is that if you invest responsibly as well, you can have a lot more money down the line than if you just spent it today," he said. "You can also spread out that windfall over time, so that future generations can also benefit." But Calluzzo said the Canadian government's objective is to make the economy more resilient. "Creating more resilience might be investing not internationally, but domestically, in a way that makes the Canadian industry more self-sufficient and more independent," he said. Norway's sovereign wealth fund has grown into the world's largest, valued at roughly $2 trillion. It took revenue from North Sea oil production and invested it outside the country in financial assets such as bonds and equity stakes. Some sovereign wealth funds also have secondary goals beyond generating returns. Persian Gulf states use their sovereign funds to diversify outside of the fossil fuel industry, insulating them from economic developments such as oil price swings. Norway's fund supports its national pension system. What do they typically invest in? Jordan Eizenga, who leads Deloitte Canada’s infrastructure and real estate practice, said which sectors a sovereign wealth fund will invest in depends on the state's overall goals and strategy. "You could invest in renewable power, you could invest in parts of the defence supply chain, you could invest in aviation — you can invest in anything that the country or the board deems to be in its strategic interest," he said. Canada's new fund will be managed by a Crown corporation that will invest in "strategic" domestic projects — in areas such as advanced manufacturing, energy and mining — along with companies, according to a government background document. Ottawa will consult Canadians over the coming months on specific aspects of the fund, Carney said on Monday, adding that the overall goal will be to "grow wealth for Canadians over the long term." Calluzzo said sovereign wealth funds often invest in many of the same companies as individuals. "Norway has a small stake in almost every publicly traded company in the world. So, really spreading it out into public financial markets, but they're not limited to public markets," Calluzzo said. "They can also invest in private markets through things like private equity or private credit or through direct infrastructure investments, which is more similar to what the Canadian fund looks like it's aiming to do." How are they funded? Capital for sovereign wealth funds is often drawn from dedicated revenue streams, such as natural resource wealth. They can also be supported by surpluses from foreign exchanges. Carney said the federal government will put up an initial $25 billion in public funds over three years to invest in domestic projects, alongside private investors. The prime minister said individual Canadians can invest in the fund, suggesting it would be similar to purchasing a government bond, where the initial investment is protected. How does this fund differ from funds like CPP Investments or Caisse? Calluzzo said there are some key differences to investment vehicles such as the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Quebec's public pension fund manager, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The CPP and La Caisse are pensions with defined benefits and contractual obligations to pay their beneficiaries. The new Canadian sovereign wealth fund also has a specific mandate to invest in domestic projects. But CPP and La Caisse have fiduciary responsibilities that push them to diversify globally. Eizenga said it is best to think of a sovereign wealth fund as having two goals: one to seek returns, and the other being economic development. The CPP has a goal of obtaining the best risk-adjusted return for pensioners, while La Caisse has a mandate involving the development of the Quebec economy. "The way a sovereign wealth fund would differ from CPPIB is it would have additional goals," Eizenga said. "Those goals could be about enhancing the productive capacity of Canada, developing specific industries, ensuring sovereignty, maybe driving key industries that would make us more secure for the future." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026. Daniel Johnson and Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press

Regina Police Service is investigating after graffiti was found on the windows and walls of the RM of Sherwood administrative building on Monday. Phrases like “F— AI LETS RIOT” and “HEAR US” was spray painted in black at the building in Regina’s Harbour Landing neighbourhood. Read more:

• Landowners push for safeguards around proposed data centre near Regina
• What is a data centre? Expert explains amid Regina debate

The RM has been met with fierce backlash from protesters as it continues to move ahead with construction of the Bell Canada AI data centre. Protestors concerned about artificial intelligence and against a proposed AI data centre in the RM of Sherwood demonstrated outside a council meeting on April 20 as councillors inside voted for the agreement to move ahead. (Geoff Smith/980 CJME) Ray Orb, the interim reeve of the RM, said he found out about the vandalism on Monday at 8 a.m. “I wouldn’t think that people would have to go to those kind of lengths to get their message across,” he said. “I think we’ve heard their message loud and clear. “There are some people that are upset with AI and the data centre, but there are also people that are are more comfortable with it now.” Orb said video surveillance from the building has been turned over to police. Police said nobody has been arrested or charged yet. “It’s really unfortunate,” Orb said about the vandalism. “Of course, it is a little bit of unsettling.” The reeve said he hopes “cooler heads will prevail.” “The project is going ahead — whether some people like it or not — but you know, we urge people to to remain calm and just wait for more information from the RM as the project unfolds,” he said. “People will learn more about it and the benefits of the data centre.” Regina Police Service said it was investigating the vandalism that had anti-AI phrases like “F— AI LET’S RIOT.” (Abby Zieverink/ 980 CJME) Construction on 300 megawatt data centre project has broken ground. The project is expected to generate $12 billion in economic value for the province through job creation and tax revenue. Premier Scott Moe condemned the graffiti before question period at the Legislative Building on Monday. “It’s really unfortunate with respect to the investment — which is the third largest investment in Canada — and a new space for us in this province,” he said. “There are fair questions around that particular project, there’s also strong and good answers around that particular project.” Moe said more industries are using AI to become more efficient and sustainable, and the province has a responsibility to house that data. Read more:

• Landowners push for safeguards around proposed data centre near Regina
• What is a data centre? Expert explains amid Regina debate

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Supreme Court is set to weigh in on two legal challenges filed over the provincial government's decision to allow a liquefied natural gas pipeline project to go ahead on a 12-year-old environmental review. Two petitions take aim at the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline after the government deemed the project "substantially started," meaning it wouldn't need a new environmental assessment. The pipeline's construction was authorized in 2014, and a deadline to start it was extended to 2024, spurring the court challenges from Gitxsan Hereditary Chief Charlie Wright and environmentalist groups opposed to the project. Wright says in legal submissions that the challenge isn't about opposing the pipeline itself, but rather the route it's expected to take through "one of the last remaining untouched areas" of his home territory without proper consultation. Environmental opponents to the pipeline, the Kispiox Valley Community Centre Association, the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition and a local resident claim the project has not been substantially started. Shannon Lea McPhail with the Skeena coalition says in a statement that the project stalled for a decade and the work to satisfy the substantial start condition was "last minute," alleging the province appeared willing to "bend over backwards … to keep this zombie project alive." The cases are scheduled to be heard together for six days in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026 The Canadian Press

Michaela Kleisinger will be back with the University of Regina Cougars women’s basketball team. The U of R started a review last week of the hiring process after social media comments said the team had elected to move on from Kleisinger, who was the interim head coach. Read more:

• Tigers roar back against Prince Albert Raiders in Game 2
• VIDEO: Saskatchewan Rush eliminated by Toronto Rock in NLL quarterfinals
• Regina Pat Canadians lose in semifinals at Telus Cup ending repeat hopes

On Monday, a statement from Dr. Jeff Keshen, the university’s president and vice-chancellor, provided an update on the review. “The University of Regina has determined that certain important factors, including the interim coach’s demonstrated performance and the strong competitive record under her leadership, as well as her deep connection to the institution and the broader community, were not given the necessary weight and merit,” the statement read. “In light of these considerations, an offer has been made and accepted by Michaela Kleisinger to lead the Cougars women’s basketball team as head coach. This decision reflects the University’s commitment to excellence in sport, inclusive leadership, and the future of Cougars women’s basketball.” Kleisinger is a former player who spent five years as a member of the U of R Cougars women’s basketball team. During that time, she averaged 13 points, 7.2 rebounds, and six assists per game. She joined the coaching staff for the 2022-23 season under the team’s long-time head coach Dave Taylor. Taylor left the U of R to become the head coach of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds last season, and Kleisinger was named the interim head coach of the Cougars. Under Kleisinger, the team overcame the chaos of the off-season and held a 17-3 conference record, with the team ranked among the best in Canada at times. Kleisinger was named the coach of the year at the team’s varsity sports awards ceremony. CJME News has reached out to Kleisinger for comment. Read more:

• Tigers roar back against Prince Albert Raiders in Game 2
• VIDEO: Saskatchewan Rush eliminated by Toronto Rock in NLL quarterfinals
• Regina Pat Canadians lose in semifinals at Telus Cup ending repeat hopes

REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is calling Ottawa's new sovereign wealth fund a good initiative. But Moe says if Prime Minister Mark Carney really wants to unlock investments in major projects, then the government should walk back a number of environmental policies he says are getting in the way. Carney says the fund will be used to invest in major Canadian industrial projects across a variety of sectors and that it would receive a $25 billion endowment to start. The prime minister says he expects the fund to support projects that come with national benefits, but Moe says ditching Ottawa's impact assessment process and signing a new agreement on industrial carbon pricing would go a lot further in boosting the economy. The premier also says his province has discussed creating its own sovereign wealth fund, but a string of recent deficits has stopped the idea from getting off the ground. Moe says it's a concern that Carney will need to work through as well, considering Ottawa is projecting deficits of more than $50 billion for the next five years. "I think that would generally be a concern of Canadians. However, the broader thought of having a sovereign wealth fund, I think, is a good discussion to have," Moe told reporters in Regina Monday. "If it's going to truly be effective and be able to apply dollars into it that are not coming from being loaned from a bank or an institution, you're only going to do that through the growth of your economy." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026. The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney's new advisory council on Canada—U.S. trade met for the first time today, ahead of trade negotiations with President Donald Trump's White House that are set to begin over the coming months. Carney recently struck the new committee in preparation for the scheduled review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA, which must start by July. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc chaired the closed-door meeting of the council's roughly two dozen members, which include leading Canadian business and labour leaders. LeBlanc's office says the committee reviewed Canada's priorities for CUSMA renewal talks but did not say what those priorities are. The trade advisory group includes former Conservative party leader Erin O'Toole and former premiers Jean Charest and P.J. Akeeagok. The advisory panel also welcomed a new member today: Eliot Pence, the founder of the Canadian defence tech firm Dominion Dynamics. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026. The Canadian Press