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WCBL stars deliver ballpark bombs, bunts to kick off All-Star Weekend in Saskatoon

Scott Roblin — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 03:28:36 +0000

In the days leading up to All-Star Weekend for the Western Canadian Baseball League, Saskatoon Berries infielder Gael Salinas didn’t do much in the way of bunting.

Despite limited practice down the line, Salinas was among those crowned champions on a sweltering Saturday afternoon at Cairns Field for All-Star skills events.

“They did this media skit and they gave us two (bunts),” Salinas said. “I was way off, so I’m pretty shocked myself I won.”

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Salinas took home the inaugural WCBL Bunt Competition title, as he defeated Dan Kawanashi of the Energy City Cactus Rats by a 9-7 score.

The Berries infielder earned a raucous introduction, before he ended the opening round of the competition with 13 points to advance to the finals against Kawanashi.

Even though he started slow in the finals, Salinas was able to do just enough with his final three bunts to move past Kawanashi and secure the league’s bunt title on his home diamond.

“That was actually pretty great,” Salinas said. “I was nervous at first, but then I just took a deep breath and remembered this is all for fun. Just go out there and have fun.”

As his final bunt drifted towards the scoring mat on the third base line, the Cairns Field crowd showed their support for Salinas as the first player in league history to be crowned bunting champion.

“It’s pretty great,” Salinas said. “They showed their support and just had to win it for them.”

Later in the day, it was the sluggers taking centre stage with Energy City outfielder David Simmons finally getting the job done to win the 2026 WCBL Home Run Derby.

Energy City Cactus Rats slugger David Simmons (pictured) hitting one of his six home runs in the final round of the WCBL Home Run Derby on July 18, 2026 (Steve Hiscock / Saskatoon Berries)

Simmons homered five times in the opening round of the competition to punch his ticket to the finals, before he came out of the gates with six home runs in the championship round to take the win.

“I’ve been in about three and I’ve come in second place every time,” Simmons said. “To finally come out and get the (win), it means a lot to me. It means I still got it, right?”

Simmons was placed in the difficult position of leading off the event in both rounds, however he was able to settle into a groove and hold off the rest of the field.

“I was a little scared at first,” Simmons said. “I was trying to come out, set the tone early. I was able to do that and I think it gave a lot of confidence to the other guys to come out and do the same thing.”

It was a packed final round with Simmons, Fort McMurray Giants utility threat Brett Petillo, Sylvan Lake Gulls catcher Rece Schuerman and Berries veteran Ethan Murdoch all tied with five home runs each.

According to Murdoch, it was the type of atmosphere he was hoping for.

“It was a ton of fun,” Murdoch said. “It was a good environment, both teams were pretty competitive, but playful about it. Everybody had a good attitude and approach for it.”

Murdoch was unable to best his 2023 Home Run Derby silver medal performance, as he tied for second with Petillo and Schuerman with five home runs in the final round.

Saskatoon Berries outfielder Ethan Murdoch (pictured) finished tied for second in the WCBL Home Run Derby at Cairns Field on July 18, 2026 (Steve Hiscock / Saskatoon Berries)

He said it was a more tiring experience than he expected, given the 30 degree heat and wait until the finals.

“I sat there and waited for a while to see if I’d move on,” Murdoch said.

“I should have maybe been a little more confident that I’d move on, got up and hit some more. It was a lot of swings, the heat was definitely a factor.”

As for Simmons who grew up in the southern United States, the Saskatoon heat wasn’t too much of a hurdle in his Home Run Derby title.

“I’m from Atlanta, we got the humidity and everything,” Simmons said. “The heat wasn’t really anything, it was normal for me. I sweat a lot, but I love it. Man, it makes me feel like I’m working.”

In the WCBL’s Junior Home Run Derby earlier in the day, Lucas Holowachuk of the Saskatoon Sturgeons was crowned the champion with eight home runs to beat Casey Kerpan of the Saskatoon River Pirates and Nolan Laliberte of the Saskatoon Bulls.

All-Star Weekend will wrap up with the All-Star Game itself, which Murdoch said the players on the field got a taste of Saturday.

“It’s kind of nice for guys to come in and get their feet wet,” Murdoch said.

“Get a feel of what the place is like and little bit of the crowd, and then tomorrow I’m sure it will be a packed house and a ton of energy.”

Team East will face off against Team West at Cairns Field for the 2026 WCBL All-Star Game on Sunday, with opening pitch slated for 1 p.m.

WCBL commissioner Kevin Kvame also announced Sylvan Lake as the host site for the league’s 2027 All-Star Weekend.

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‘Métis Nation’s highest honour’: Back To Batoche awards President’s Medals

paNOW — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 20:40:25 +0000

Back To Batoche, the festival celebrating Métis and Indigenous culture, has returned for its 56th installment this weekend.

Batoche will become one of the largest communities in the province until Sunday as roughly 40,000 people flock to the National Historic Site from across Saskatchewan, Canada, and even the world.

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Friday morning saw many local and provincial dignitaries in attendance for the Grand Entry and opening ceremonies, which featured words from President of the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) Glen McCallum, Batoche MLA Darlene Rowden, Western Region 2 (WR2) director Sherry McLennan, and MN-S Minister of Self-Determination, Self-Government and Justice, Brennan Merasty.

One of the new President’s Medals. (Métis Nation–Saskatchewan)

MN-S CEO Matthew Vermette also said a few words, and introduced a new tradition at the longstanding festival with the presentation of the first President’s Medals for lifetime achievement.

The honour was created to celebrate those whose contributions reflect the strength, resilience, culture, values and vision of the Métis Nation, and recognizes individuals whose life’s work has left a lasting mark on the Nation and continues to inspire future generations.

The inaugural recipients of the President’s Medals were Elder Joanna Potiyondi and Gerald Morin.

“This is our Nation’s highest honour,” said Vermette.

Raised during the Métis Resistance by her grandparents in Roche Percée, near the U.S. border, Potiyondi has dedicated her life to preserving and sharing Métis culture, values, and traditions while carrying a deep connection to Métis history, the land, and the horse culture that grew out of the buffalo hunt.

This year marks 50 years in her role as President of Local 15 in Melville, where she continues to pass on Métis knowledge to future generations.

“I just can’t believe it. I never ever would’ve expected this in a hundred years,” Potiyondi said with a big smile.

Gerald Morin was a recipient of a President’s Medal on July 17, 2026. (Métis Nation–Saskatchewan/Submitted)

Meanwhile, Morin was recognized for advancing the rights and aspirations of the Métis Nation.

Hailing from Green Lake in Northern Saskatchewan, he helped shape important advances in Métis governance, harvesting rights, and Nation-building while building a career as a lawyer, advocate, and leader, serving as President of both Métis Nation–Saskatchewan and the Métis National Council.

“Receiving this award today makes me think about many of the people that I’ve been side by side with … independence, and our struggle for recognition of our people and our rights over the years,” said Morin.

“All I can say, it’s been a privilege and an honour to have served beside each and every one of you in the struggle.”

USask president Vince Bruni-Bossio (back left) stands with Glen McCallum as representatives from the university and MN-S sign the agreement. (Back To Batoche/Facebook)

After the medals were handed out, University of Saskatchewan (USask) president Vince Bruni-Bossio took to the stage to sign an agreement with MN-S on behalf of the institution. He explained that the agreement is a “deep commitment,” and about the relationship between the school and the Métis government.

“It signals our shared commitment to continue to walk together in ways that honour Métis priorities and strengthen community engaged research, learning and governance, and it establishes a shared table for ongoing collaboration, coordination and practical action.

“We are in the process of developing our new strategic plan at the University and this agreement is very important to us because it’s going to allow us to engage with MN-S leaders and citizens for their insights on how USask can do a better job to students and more engaged in research in ways that supports Métis Nation.”

“It’s not because we’re signing a piece of paper,” Bruni-Bossio continued. “It’s the symbol that this piece of paper represents in terms of the relationship we’ve already built and the relationships we will continue to build.”

To close out the opening ceremonies, Elder Max and Christine Morin were named Mr. and Mrs. Batoche for this year’s festival.

— with files from Métis Nation–Saskatchewan and CJME News

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AI data centre proposed for Moose Jaw won’t move ahead without power, says MLA

Discover Moose Jaw — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 20:40:15 +0000

A proposed AI data centre at Valley View Centre site in Moose Jaw will not move ahead because it has been denied the electrical capacity required to operate, Saskatchewan Justice Minister and Moose Jaw North MLA Tim McLeod says.

McLeod said there has been “a lot of misunderstanding” surrounding the proposal and argued misinformation has fuelled concern in the community.

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He said a local company submitted a proposal for an AI data centre that still requires development permit approval from the City of Moose Jaw. However, the project would also require up to 150 megawatts of electricity from SaskPower.

“My understanding is that the application requested up to 150 megawatts of power,” McLeod said. “What I’ve been told is that this application is not being seriously considered … that request for power was denied.”

Without that power allocation, the proposed facility cannot proceed at the Valley View location, he said.

“Without the power, there can be no AI data centre, so there’s not going to be an AI data centre at Valley View.”

McLeod said Saskatchewan remains an attractive destination for AI-related investment because of its available electrical capacity, but large power requests are reviewed carefully.

“Our government isn’t opposed to AI data centres broadly,” he said. “We know that the future is going to have AI data centres in it.”

He said Saskatchewan has received numerous inquiries about similar projects because of its available power capacity, particularly as interest in AI infrastructure grows across Western Canada.

However, each proposal is evaluated on its own merits.

“We will make sure that those applications are very carefully considered for a responsible allocation of the power necessary,” McLeod said. “We’re not going to support a data centre in a community where it’s not appropriate.”

Although the City of Moose Jaw continues to consider the development permit application, McLeod said the lack of an approved power allocation means the proposed Valley View project will not move forward.

This aerial photo shows construction of sound barriers along the edge of the Bell Canada data centre site in the RM of Sherwood on April 30, 2026. (Bell Canada/Submitted)

In April, work started at the site of Bell Canada’s AI data centre in the RM of Sherwood, just one day after the RM council approved a development agreement with Bell at a meeting that saw the doors locked due to capacity issues and a loud protest outside the RM’s office in Regina.

Bell said Regina’s Hipperson Construction had been hired for early works and building construction management. Other Regina firms involved in the project are Soletanche Bachy Canada, Ardel Steel, Amrize and WaterMark Consulting. Also named were Maxie’s Excavating and Red Pelican, both based in Saskatoon.

Bell says it is focused on Indigenous participation in the project, as it works with the George Gordon First Nation, as well as the provincial government and local municipalities.

— with files from CJME News

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Bear encounters down in Prince Albert National Park, La Ronge area

paNOW — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 20:40:13 +0000

Despite two fatal bear-related incidents in northern Saskatchewan in the past two months, officials say reported bear interactions in Prince Albert National Park and the La Ronge area are down compared with last year.

Tom Perry, acting resource conservation manager for Prince Albert National Park, said the park had responded to 29 bear interactions so far this year, compared with about 44 at the same point last year.

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“Bear interactions are actually down from last year and more in line with long-term norms,” Perry said.

Perry spoke with paNOW before the fatal bear incident that took place near McTavish Lake this week was confirmed.

In the La Ronge area, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Community Safety said conservation officers responded to 82 bear-related calls for service as of July 9. That is down from 133 calls recorded by June 10 last year.

Those calls led to 32 bear traps being deployed, 11 bears being trapped, eight bears being relocated and nine bears being euthanized. The ministry said bears that become habituated to people or human food can pose an ongoing public safety risk and are often unsuitable for relocation.

The province confirmed Thursday that a bear was involved in the deaths of two people near McTavish Lake, about 90 kilometres north of La Ronge. The figures do not include that incident.

The bear suspected in the deaths of Jay and Deb MacDonald on Wednesday was located and euthanized, and its remains were sent to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy.

Just two months ago, a 27-year-old contractor was killed by a black bear at a remote work site northeast of Points North Landing. Fatal bear attacks remain rare in Saskatchewan, but the two incidents have renewed attention on bear safety in northern communities, parks and remote work areas.

While the recent fatalities have heightened public concern, officials maintain bear activity overall remains within normal ranges in much of northern Saskatchewan.

A young black bear in a tree in northern Saskatchewan. (Hamilton Greenwood/Submitted to paNOW)

Perry said most of Prince Albert National Park’s bear interactions this year happened earlier in the season, particularly in May. He said a delayed spring may have played a role, with bears leaving their dens before natural food sources were readily available.

Localized conditions, including recent wildfire activity in areas such as Candle Lake, could also affect where bears search for food. Burned areas can later produce strong berry growth and other forage, but in the short term, bears may spend more time near communities and campsites searching for food.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Community Safety said black bears are a natural part of the landscape in much of the province, especially in northern forests, and are highly food-motivated.

Attractants such as unsecured garbage, compost and garden waste, bird feeders, pet food and uncleaned barbecues can draw bears into conflict with people.

That point was reinforced by Perry.

“Once bears get conditioned to eating human food or waste, it’s incredibly difficult to condition them not to eat it,” Perry said. “This often leads to unsafe situations for people and bears.”

The Ministry of Community Safety said conservation officers distributed letters in May to the Town of La Ronge, Village of Air Ronge, Lac La Ronge Indian Band and northern municipalities outlining bear-aware practices and ways to reduce attractants. Officers also continue to provide advice to residents, businesses and campgrounds that report bear activity.

Saskatchewan is primarily black bear country, though black bears can range in colour from black to brown, cinnamon, blond or even whitish. Perry said confirmed grizzly bear occurrences in Saskatchewan are extremely rare.

If someone encounters a bear, Perry recommends remaining calm, speaking in a low voice, backing away slowly without turning or running, keeping children close and making yourself look larger. He also recommends travelling in groups, making noise on trails, keeping pets leashed, and carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it.

Provincial officials advise people to keep their distance during an encounter, make a wide detour if possible, calmly back away, speak in low tones and avoid looking directly at the bear. They say most bears will move on without intervention.

If a bear repeatedly enters a community, refuses to leave or acts aggressively, the province said people should contact the Turn in Poachers and Polluters line at 1-800-667-7561, text 5555 on the SaskTel Mobility Network, or call their local RCMP detachment.

Perry said the goal is to reduce the chance that bears associate people with food.

“We share the forest with them,” he said. “If folks are conscious about attractant management and know bears are in the area, we can live alongside them.”

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Province touts new ways to get active for parks visitors

CKOM News — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 18:00:02 +0000

The warm weather months can be fleeting in Saskatchewan, but for people in and visiting the province, there are some new ways to enjoy the summer weather.

Saskatchewan Parks has partnered with several outfits to promote new ways for visitors to the province’s many parks this summer.

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“Spending time in nature is an excellent way to recharge the mind and body,” said Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross in a news release.

“These new partnerships allow us to expand our park offerings, enhancing the visitor experience and helping people further enjoy the solace and natural beauty of our provincial parks.”

For those seeking wellness and relaxation, there are a number of new activity offerings, including outdoor yoga, a sauna and cold water wellness and Pilates.

Thrill seekers can now try out canoe polo, obstacle courses and slides, and adventure-based fitness experiences.

For those who like to learn while in the great outdoors, there are guided nature tours, astronomy programs and photography workshops also available, in addition to other traditional summer activities regularly enjoyed in Saskatchewan parks throughout the summer.

Tornado threat targets northern west-central Saskatchewan Saturday

CJME News — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 16:06:23 +0000

Northern parts of west-central Saskatchewan could face dangerous thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening, with tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain all possible.

The greatest risk is expected from the North Battleford region northeast toward Prince Albert and Meadow Lake, where conditions could support rotating supercell thunderstorms.

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Macklin, Unity, Wilkie and Biggar are also within the broader severe weather zone, while communities farther south could see organized lines or clusters of storms capable of producing damaging winds, hail and torrential rainfall.

Forecasters say warm, humid air combined with strong winds at different levels of the atmosphere will create an environment favourable for powerful and potentially rotating storms.

Available atmospheric energy could reach moderate levels across west-central Saskatchewan, while strong wind shear could help thunderstorms become organized and long-lived.

The most favourable area for tornadic supercells is expected to extend from North Battleford toward Saskatoon.

Any isolated storm that develops in that environment could intensify quickly and become dangerous.

A layer of warm air above the surface may initially prevent storms from developing, meaning the most significant activity could hold off until later Saturday afternoon or evening.

Once that cap weakens, thunderstorms could develop rapidly.

Earlier storm activity could reduce the amount of energy available later in the day, creating some uncertainty about how widespread the severe weather will become.

Environment Canada’s early Saturday forecast called for a risk of thunderstorms in North Battleford, though no weather alerts apart from numerous heat warnings were in effect as of 10 a.m.

Humidex values reaching 38 will continue, Environment Canada said, with southwest Saskatchewan getting daytime highs in the low 30s and overnight lows in the high teens Saturday and Sunday. Humidex values yesterday were near 40, which will also continue today. A cold front sweeping through the province on Sunday will return temperatures and humidity to near seasonal.

Farther south, storms may be more likely to merge into larger clusters or lines.

Those storms could still produce severe wind gusts, hail and heavy rain, with severe weather potentially continuing into Saturday night.

The forecast for Saskatoon called for thunderstorms and additional showers Saturday, with winds gusting to 50 kilometres per hour by midday.

Residents are encouraged to monitor Environment Canada alerts throughout the day and have a plan to move indoors if warnings are issued.

During a tornado warning, people should move to a basement or a small interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.

— with files from CJME News

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Iran suspending commitments to interim deal with U.S. as they exchange attacks

Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:47:35 +0000

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran exchanged strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets on Saturday as an Iranian negotiator said Tehran had suspended its commitments under the interim deal with the U.S. — snapping another fragile thread as the war shows no end in sight.

The battle over the Strait of Hormuz intensified in a conflict increasingly focused on control of the essential waterway that previously carried a fifth of the world’s crude oil.

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The widening strikes threatened civilians and services to them, including desalination plants for drinking water, while the global economy again was on alert.

The U.S. Central Command said early Saturday that its seventh straight night of strikes hit “surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities.”

The U.S. has violated its commitments under the deal that was signed about a month ago and now Iran is “no longer implementing them,” Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, told state TV.

There was no new word on mediation efforts.

The most significant damage from Iranian strikes on Saturday occurred in Kuwait, where a water desalination plant and an oil facility were hit, according to the Kuwait authorities and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. Both declined to provide locations.

The strikes injured several people at the oil facility and caused a fire at the desalination plant, forcing several power generation units offline. It was the second attack against a desalination plant in two days in the tiny desert nation that depends on desalination for 90 per cent of its drinking water.

Several firefighters and a worker were injured while battling two other blazes sparked by Iranian strikes, according to the Kuwait Fire Force. Kuwait briefly closed its airspace due to missile threats, and Kuwait Airways said it was rescheduling most flights to and from the capital.

Meanwhile, Iraq said it shot down attack drones over the city of Irbil. Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency said the kingdom’s air defence systems had downed Iranian missiles, while air sirens sounded multiple times in Bahrain throughout the day and in Saudi Arabia in the morning, according to their governments.

U.S. strikes hit infrastructure in Iran

U.S. airstrikes hit an electricity and desalination plant in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, Iranian state TV reported. IRNA said the Bonji desalination plant was destroyed, cutting off water supplies to about 10,000 people, and that a desalination plant on strategic Qeshm Island inside the strait was damaged.

Overnight strikes damaged two tunnels and a bridge, disrupting one of the main highways toward Bandar Abbas, Iran’s main port that sits near the narrowest part of the strait, according to Iran’s state-run news agency. IRNA said three bridges were hit Saturday, including one on a route to Bandar Abbas.

Iran acknowledged “attacks on power infrastructure” during the U.S. airstrikes for the first time Friday when its Energy Ministry issued a call for people to use less power in southern provinces “experiencing extreme heat.” It did not specify what was hit.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stepped up its warning that countries hosting U.S. forces should be “prepared to receive a corresponding response,” according to Iran’s state TV.

Iranian authorities said at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 wounded in U.S. strikes in the past three weeks, including eight killed in a strike on a bridge Friday.

U.S. officials acknowledged 13 additional U.S. service members — 10 Army soldiers and three Navy sailors — had been injured since Monday, but offered no details. Since the war began, 14 U.S. service members have been killed and 427 wounded.

A container ship is seen in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Asghar Besharati)

Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic after the war started with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. That sent the price of oil soaring and has given Tehran significant leverage in negotiations.

Iran has said the strait must be under its sole control and that vessels should pay fees to Tehran, even though the world for decades has considered it an international waterway. It fired on ships on recent days. Crossings through the strait fell to a three-week low, according to an international shipping tracker.

Trump has resumed threats to target power stations and bridges to try to compel Iran to loosen its hold. The U.S. in the past week reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt its shipments of crude oil.

A growing amount of the region’s energy is being shipped through pipelines, but not nearly enough to offset the decline in shipping.

Before the war began, the U.S. had been in talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Trump now faces political pressure to end the war and avoid the kind of prolonged Middle East conflict he had campaigned against.

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Nine killed and more than 60 wounded in Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia

Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:26:21 +0000

Nine people were killed and more than 60 others were wounded in Russia by Ukrainian drone attacks overnight and later on Saturday, Russian officials said.

Kyiv’s forces are continuing their relentless aerial campaign against energy infrastructure and military targets inside Russia, aiming to undermine Moscow’s war effort and make Russians feel the consequences of the Kremlin’s all-out invasion of Ukraine that is well into its fifth year.

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Two sprawling warehouses of Russia’s major online retailer, Wildberries, were hit by Ukrainian drones overnight, according to Russian officials: one in the town of Kotovsk in the Tambov region, some 360 kilometres from the border with Ukraine, and another one in the city of Elektrostal, about 50 kilometres east of Moscow.

A Ukrainian drone also hit an oil depot in the city of Noginsk, just north of Elektrostal, sparking a fire and prompting evacuations of a nearby maternity hospital and a residential building, according to the governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov.

Seven night shift workers were killed at the warehouse in Kotovsk, and 25 others were wounded, Tambov regional governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said. A total of 37 people were wounded in the Moscow region, Vorobyov said, adding that one of those later died in the hospital.

One more person was killed and one more wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Belgorod region, according to local authorities.

Both warehouses caught fire, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim said, but the blaze in Kotovsk has been put out. Images and footage released by Russian online outlets showed a fire raging at the Elektrostal facility, with massive plumes of smoke towering over it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post on Saturday that Ukrainian long-range strikes hit two “significant logistical facilities in the Moscow and Tambov regions.”

“These facilities were used by the aggressor to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment,” he wrote. An oil facility was also hit, he said.

In Elektrostal, drone debris also hit a kindergarten building, Vorobyov said, sparking a fire that has since been put out.

In the city of Vladimir, some 180 kilometres east of Moscow, a Ukrainian drone hit a residential building, sparking a brief fire, Vladimir governor Alexander Avdeyev said. There were no casualties, he added.

Ukrainian special operations also conducted strikes against targets in the Sea of Azov and in occupied territory, Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s General Staff in a statement on Saturday also mentioned a strike on the fuel depot in Noginsk, which it said supplies fuel, including to the Russian armed forces. It also reported hitting two tankers, two floating cranes and a tugboat in the Black and Azov seas, saying the vessels were used to transport oil, fuel and military cargo.

Separately, the military said it struck a Project 10410 Svetlyak patrol ship in Kerch, describing it as the second vessel of that class hit in two days, as well as a railway bridge over the Bila River near Sabivka in the occupied Luhansk region that it said Russia uses for military logistics.

Overall, the Russian Defense Ministry said its air defences overnight intercepted 379 Ukrainian drones over 19 Russian regions, as well as the illegally annexed Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

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Saskatchewan Conservatives say Ottawa’s bail reforms don’t go far enough

Jacob Bamhour — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:00:59 +0000

The federal government says it has delivered the toughest changes to Canada’s bail and sentencing laws in a generation. Conservatives say the job is only half done.

Conservative Members of Parliament gathered outside the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan in Regina on Wednesday to criticize Bill C-14, the federal Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, as most of its provisions officially came into force.

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Speaking alongside Regina MPs Warren Steinley and Michael Kram, Regina-Qu’Appelle MP, Andrew Scheer, said the Liberal government is trying to convince Canadians that it has solved the country’s bail problems while leaving key policies unchanged.

“The biggest takeaway from today’s message is that while the rhetoric has changed, while the government is running ads claiming using your tax dollars to run ads telling you that they’ve solved the problem, they have kept on the books the very Liberal laws that caused the problem in the first place,” Scheer said.

Bill C-14 received royal assent on June 15. Most of its bail and sentencing provisions took effect on July 15. The legislation includes more than 80 targeted changes to the Criminal Code, Youth Criminal Justice Act and National Defence Act, including tougher bail rules for repeat and violent offenders and stronger penalties for several serious crimes.

Scheer argued judges should once again place greater emphasis on protecting the public when deciding whether repeat violent offenders should remain in custody before trial.

“We have had the presumption of innocence, but also courts that take into account when you’ve got dangerous, violent, repeat offenders – people who have long rap sheets of serious convictions, that public safety has to be taken into account,” he said.

He also rejected suggestions that tougher sentencing laws would increase prison populations.

“We saw with the previous Conservative government that when we increased penalties, it had an effect on crime rates. Crime rates went down when criminals knew they were going to spend serious time in prison.”

Arpan Khanna, Conservative MP for Oxford and the party’s critic of the Minister for Justice and Attorney General of Canada, argued that repeat offenders continue to cycle through Canada’s justice system because bail laws remain too lenient.

“It’s jail by day, bail by night, and it’s the same people over and over again,” Khanna said.

Khanna cited Statistics Canada figures while arguing violent crime has increased under Liberal governments.

“These criminals are being emboldened by the Liberal policies because they know there are no consequences,” he said.

He also pointed to an example from Kelowna, B.C., claiming 15 repeat offenders were responsible for 1,400 crimes in a single year.

“You put them behind bars for being repeat violent offenders. That crime stat goes down, and that’s what our focus is going to be on.”

Larry Brock, the former Conservative justice critic, said the government is overstating what Bill C-14 accomplishes.

“The illusion and the narrative that Mark Carney and Sean Fraser, his justice minister, are spreading across the country is misleading. It’s false. It is wrong,” Brock said.

Brock acknowledged the legislation makes changes but argued it does not fully undo previous Liberal bail reforms.

“They reformed bail. Everything was working fine pre-2015 until this Liberal government came into power, and now after 11 years, they are chipping away slowly at the harm and the chaos that they have created over 11 years,” Brock said.

“We’re saying it’s not enough. Community safety should never be a partisan issue. This Liberal government has made it so.”

In a statement provided to 980 CJME and 650 CKOM following the news conference, the office of Justice Minister Sean Fraser defended the legislation.

“Canada’s new government promised stricter bail and tougher sentences. As of today, those commitments are now law,” the statement said. “With over 80 targeted changes to the Criminal Code, bail will be harder to get for repeat and violent offenders, and sentences will be tougher for serious crimes.”

The minister’s office also accused Conservatives of delaying the legislation while it moved through Parliament.

“For months, Conservatives delayed and obstructed measures that victims, survivors, law enforcement, premiers, mayors, and communities across the country have been calling for, trying to own these issues at the expense of real action.”

The statement added that the federal government “will continue to move with urgency to strengthen Canada’s laws and keep Canadians safe.”

According to the Department of Justice, the reforms expand reverse-onus bail provisions for several serious offences, strengthen penalties for crimes including organized auto theft, extortion and home invasion, and add new aggravating factors during sentencing for offences committed against first responders and critical infrastructure.

Saskatchewan research farms saved from closure, for now

CJME News — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:00:24 +0000

The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have stepped in to protect the immediate future of two historic provincial research hubs.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) alongside the Government of Saskatchewan announced a new joint initiative this week to explore options that will support ongoing agricultural activities at the Indian Head and Scott research farms. Both facilities are currently slated for disposal by the federal government.

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The strategy is being driven by a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two levels of government. Under the terms of the agreement, officials will work to establish interim arrangements to ensure the land and infrastructure remain productive assets for local producers and the wider agricultural industry.

Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) said in a news release the agreement is a positive step but warns other federal research sites remain at risk and require immediate action.

GGC said the Indian Head and Scott research farms are essential to delivering regionally relevant research that drives productivity, strengthens resilience to climate and market pressures, and supports Canada’s global competitiveness but that same capacity is at risk in other regions.

“Canada’s grain farmers depend on consistent, well-funded public research to remain competitive and meet growing global demand. Incremental or temporary measures are not sufficient. Immediate federal action is required to ensure the long-term strength of Canada’s agricultural research system,” the GGC statement said, adding the organization would continue to work with governments and industry partners to secure the research capacity.

According to federal officials, the decision to divest from the properties comes as AAFC strategically realigns its national operations, with the department shifting its focus to focus on science with the highest potential to accelerate innovations and modernise the agricultural sector.

Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Heath MacDonald, emphasized that while Ottawa no longer needs the land for its specific programming, the legacy of the property must be respected.

“Agriculture is central to Saskatchewan’s communities and economy, and we want to ensure these properties support ongoing agricultural activities,” MacDonald said in a statement.

“While these properties are no longer required for federal programs, we want to ensure this land continues to serve a meaningful purpose. This collaboration with the Province of Saskatchewan demonstrates our shared commitment to maintaining the value of this important agricultural asset.”

Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture, David Marit, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the vital role these specific research stations have played in keeping local farmers profitable and competitive on a global scale.

“The Indian Head and Scott research farms supported important agricultural research for many years and are an important part of a research network that keeps Saskatchewan agriculture competitive,” Marit stated.

“This MOU will see the Governments of Saskatchewan and Canada work together to ensure agricultural activities continue at these sites while longer-term processes advance benefiting Saskatchewan producers.”

Despite the upcoming divestments in Saskatchewan, AAFC remains the nation’s largest agricultural research network.

The federal body continues to operate 17 research centres across the country, maintaining active facilities and scientific staff in every province. Moving forward, the department intends to focus investments into international, academic, and industry-led collaborations to advance shared science priorities.

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