Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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 ...
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Environment is eliminating walk-in services at 19 of its field offices in the province.
In a media release Thursday, the ministry announced it was discontinuing front-counter services at offices in Assiniboia, Big River, Buffalo Narrows, Estevan, Humboldt, Ile-a-la-Crosse, Kindersley, Leader, Lloydminster, Maple Creek, Moose Jaw, Outlook, Pinehouse, Preeceville, Shaunavon, Southend, Spiritwood, Wadena and Weyburn.
The change will begin in Preeceville on April 2, with the majority of the offices changing on May 14. Big River and Ile-a-la-Crosse will cut their services on Aug. 30, with Southend to follow on Oct. 1.
Of the 16 part-time and three full-time staff currently employed in the offices, only one full-time employee will retain their job; that individual is to be transferred to another position.
Conservation officers will continue to work at the offices, but there won’t be any walk-in service for members of the public.
The ministry noted that 10 of the offices affected currently are open just two days a week. It also pointed out the 19 offices undergoing changes accounted for two per cent of all provincial licence sales in 2018.
People who previously used the locations to purchase licences can use other options, including the ministry’s online Hunting, Angling and Trapping Licence (HAL) system, one of the 13 field offices that still have front counter services, or private vendors.
