Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government is encouraged after the Keystone XL pipeline was mentioned during a recent meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The two leaders met in Washington on Tuesday to discuss trade relations and marked Carney’s second trip to the White House since May. Despite being categorized as “successful” and “positive” by Canada’s U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LaBlanc — the Canadian contingent did not leave the U.S. capital with a deal that would see tariffs lifted.

“It seemed to be positive. I mean, you’re always thankful when the president is in a good mood,” Moe told reporters in Moose Jaw on Wednesday.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Trump did include a mention of reviving the Keystone XL pipeline expansion. A government source told The Canadian Press that the project was raised in the context of the U.S. providing relief to Canada from steel and aluminum tariffs.

The expansion, which was axed twice by the Obama and Biden administrations, has been touted in the past by Trump. In February, the current president posted on social media that he wanted to revive the project.

The pipeline would carry Canadian crude oil from Alberta down to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast — passing through southwestern Saskatchewan and into Montana.

Moe noted that expectations for the meeting were not high. However, hearing that Keystone XL was raised as a possible project between the two countries was encouraging news.

“There is a relationship that needs to advance, and I think it most certainly did yesterday,” the premier added.

“… The conversation around Keystone XL was raised, [it’s a] positive project for Western Canada and really could go in tandem with opening up the opportunities that we have with expanding our access to Asian markets with a pipeline to the northwest coast as well as one to the U.S., that would really provide us with some tremendous opportunities to expand a number of industries.”

The existing Keystone pipeline already runs through the province before turning south from Manitoba into the midwestern states.

Moe ended off his comments by saying he’s feeling optimistic about the nation’s economic future.

“This is an exciting time, and I would say, I have never been more bullish on the future of not just our province of Saskatchewan, but Canada — if we get the next 10 decisions right, and many of those are in the federal realm,” he said.

“We’ll be trying our level best to advocate and advise the prime minister on what those decisions would be.”

Nearly two years after a fatal shooting involving a 19-year-old man and an officer inside Estevan’s police headquarters – the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has finished its investigation.

On Nov. 1, 2023, an Estevan Police Service (EPS) officer was seriously wounded after he was stripped of his service weapon and shot by a 19-year-old suspect who was being processed at the station.

The initial call

Officers and paramedics were dispatched to an apartment on the 1200 block of Sixth Street around 6:40 a.m. Police found a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds. The woman died from her injuries shortly after.

The only other person in the apartment, a 19-year-old man, was found covered in blood. He was taken into custody.

Although not named in the report, the suspect was identified as the victim’s son – while the victim was identified as 46-year-old Karie Ann Guillas.

The shooting

According to SIRT’s report published Thursday, the 19-year-old, who is referred to as the “affected person” in the report, was changing his clothes inside an observation room when an altercation occurred.

When the affected person removed a hoodie he was wearing, instead of placing it inside the evidence bag provided to him, he tossed it onto the table to his right.

When an officer, referred to as witness officer 1 (WO1) in the report, reached with his left hand to pick up the hoodie – he slightly exposed his service weapon that was holstered on his right hip.

The affected person then lunged forward and grabbed the pistol with both hands. The witness officer attempted to defend himself – but the holster detached from his belt.

The officer shouted something to the effect of “he has my gun” – alerting a second officer, referred to as the subject officer, posted just outside the room.

“The affected person succeeded in removing the pistol from the holster and WO1 stated words to the effect of ‘he has it,’” the report read.

The 19-year-old then fired one shot from the weapon, hitting the witness officer in the abdomen. The pair partially emerged from the observation room before being pulled back inside as the struggle for the weapon continued.

The subject officer pushed the affected person against the rear wall of the room. While being wrestled against the wall, the affected person, holding the stolen pistol upwards at a 45-degree angle, fired another shot – which struck the back wall of the room.

As the affected person began to lower the weapon down towards the two officers – the subject officer drew his weapon and fired two shots “from the hip in close succession” which struck the affected person in the torso. The suspect then fell to the ground.

As the subject officer began to handcuff the affected person, he reportedly stated “just finish me” or words to that effect, according to the report.

The subject officer radioed “shots fired, officer down” and called for an ambulance. Four other service members rushed to the detention centre. Paramedics followed shortly after.

Both the affected person and the witness officer were rushed to hospital in Estevan before being transferred to Regina.

The officer, who was later identified by EPS as Sgt. Braden Lonsberry, was released from hospital after several days – while the affected person would pass away during surgery at 3:50 p.m. at Regina General Hospital.

The investigation

An autopsy later found the affected person had methamphetamine and cocaine in his system at the time of his death. The drugs were detected at levels consistent with causing intoxication.

A forensic pathologist found the cause of the affected person’s death to be multiple gunshot wounds to the torso.

In its report, SIRT noted that no video footage directly captured the actual incident due to the shooting’s location in the station.

“That said, footage from other cameras assisted the investigation, capturing events such as the affected person’s attempt to exit the room in question, and flashes consistent with gunshots, which assisted in developing a timeline of the incident,” the report read.

Eleven police officers were interviewed by investigators as direct witnesses while two civilians were interviewed in the form of a detention guard and a detainee that was in the detention area at the time of the shooting.

In its analysis, SIRT said the narrative of the incident based on the evidence gathered depicted a situation where the officer who fired the fatal two shots at the affected person had an “undeniably reasonable fear of death or grievous bodily harm” for himself and the witness officer that had already been shot.

“In this case, that fear was not merely a reasonably apprehended theoretical or potential risk, but an ongoing and pressing reality based on the injury sustained by [the witness officer], the subsequent discharge of an additional shot by the affected person, and the continuing attempt by the affected person to bring [the witness officer’s] pistol to bear,” the report read.

In his decision, SIRT’s civilian executive director Greg Gudelot found no grounds to believe an offence was committed by the subject officer involved.

“As a result, no charges will be laid,” Gudelot wrote.

With the decision, SIRT’s involvement in the case is concluded.

EPS Chief James Blunden told CTV News on Thursday the incident has left a lasting impact on the EPS and the community of Estevan.

“Everyone was affected by this incident. The members, staff and the employees of the EPS were affected greatly by this,” he said.

Bluden explained that due to the incident, the department created a new policy for gun holsters. Those who are not carrying a level three holster are not allowed to be in similar situations with detainees at EPS headquarters.

However, Blunden clarified that the cause of the incident was not a holster, but rather the actions of someone who had just committed a homicide.

As the Thanksgiving long weekend approaches, the Saskatchewan RCMP is urging everyone to travel safely, noting a rise in fatal collisions on provincial roadways.

In September of this year, 10 people were killed on roadways in Saskatchewan RCMP’s jurisdiction, 43 per cent higher than September 2024, the RCMP said in a release.

Six people were killed in fatal collisions over the first six days of October, RCMP said, with all incidents under investigation.

In each of October’s six collisions, officers noted speed, impairment, and seatbelt violations as the main contributing factors to the fatalities.

“Your family and friends, and potentially the lives and loved ones of other drivers on the road, are impacted by your decisions – so make good ones. Do your part in helping everyone get to their destination safely,” Insp. Lee Knelsen, an officer with Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services said in the release.

Year to date, RCMP said speeding contributed to 34 per cent of fatal collisions, impairment contributed to 31 per cent, and not wearing a seatbelt contributed to 48 per cent.

Drivers are advised to slow down and follow posted speed limits. If drivers are planning on drinking, RCMP urges them to make sure they have a safe ride home or stay the night and drive only when sober.

As well, drivers are urged to wear their seatbelt before travelling, as it could be the factor that turns a collision fatal.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is facing calls to get his story straight on the fate of a homeless shelter in downtown Moose Jaw.

Mayor James Murdock announced Wednesday, shortly after a meeting with Moe and some of his cabinet ministers, that the province wanted Willow Lodge moved.

Moe also talked about the move with reporters. But a spokesperson with the Ministry of Social Services later said in a statement the government didn’t provide a directive to relocate the shelter and talks with the city were continuing.

Opposition NDP housing critic Brent Blakley said the situation is baffling.

“Today they’ve offered no clarification,” he said Thursday. “The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing, and we expect them to address the homeless crisis. Really?”

The announcement had stunned the mayor, the city’s downtown business association and the organization that runs the 15-bed facility.

Shawn Fraser, CEO of the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, said he’s been left in the dark.

He’s trying to keep staff informed about what’s happening to the shelter, he said, but there’s little information.

“We haven’t actually been contacted by the province yet,” Fraser said Thursday.

Alex Carleton, chair of the Downtown Moose Jaw Association, told Wednesday’s news conference there are problems with the homeless in the downtown, and the city’s tourism industry should be protected.

Justice Minister Tim McLeod, a Saskatchewan Party legislature member representing Moose Jaw, also said the province has heard many requests to relocate services outside downtown.

Moe told reporters Wednesday the decision to move wasn’t about reducing services but “reducing maybe some of the peripheral impact” that the shelter is having on safety in the area.

Blakley said the premier and his ministers need to go back to Moose Jaw to sort out the mess they created.

“Help develop a real plan, an emergency plan to address homelessness in the city,” he said.

“No matter where the shelter goes, there has to be a clear plan. Wherever it goes, I think it needs consultation with the mayor, the downtown association, plus other stakeholders.”

A point-in-time count released this year shows Moose Jaw’s homeless population had tripled. There were 76 houseless people in the city last year, up from the 23 in 2023.

Last year, another shelter in Moose Jaw’s downtown closed due to building issues, and public pushback made it difficult for that shelter to find a new location.

Fraser said the Willow Lodge is the only shelter left in the downtown.

“Unless you’re going to move it so far away from downtown that people can’t walk there, my suspicion is (the homeless situation) is not going to change a lot until we get to the root cause of the problem.”

Fraser said nobody likes to see homelessness in their communities.

“Does moving a shelter really address the issue? Or does it just go somewhere else?”

He pointed to statistics released last month by Moose Jaw police that show crimes against people were down 45 per cent compared to last year.

“I would argue that shelters don’t create crime. Crimes are created by desperation and opportunity, and shelters work to take away some desperation for people,” he said.

About two weeks ago, Moe made a surprise visit to Denare Beach in northeast Saskatchewan, which was decimated by wildfire in the summer. Local officials had said the impromptu meeting left them ill-prepared for meaningful conversation with the government.

Blakley said the government should be prioritizing consultation.

“They seem to be a little heavy handed at some of their decisions. And I think decisions in regards to homelessness, I think everybody has to be in on a decision,” he said.

Authorities are renewing their plea for information about an 11-year-old boy who went missing in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, potentially with a caretaker who has yet to be identified.

The RCMP has said Kai Pavlovic’s mysterious disappearance does not yet meet the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert, but that anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact law enforcement immediately.

Burnaby RCMP officers discovered him missing on Sept. 26 after being asked to conduct a wellness check on the boy.

In a news release Thursday, the detachment said investigators have since spoken with his family and extended family, and have “reason to believe Kai is staying with a caretaker who police are actively working to identify.”

“We believe there are people who know who this caretaker is, and where they are located, and we are appealing to them to come forward and speak to police,” said Cpl. Laura Hirst, in a statement.

“Our number one priority is to find Kai and confirm his safety and well-being.”

The RCMP also shared several new images of the missing boy, along with a statement from the family describing him as “bright, curious and outgoing,” and someone who “loves to climb trees, build forts and learn to sail.”

“He is a friend to all animals and particularly adores horses, cats and dogs,” it continues. “Kai’s family in New Zealand loves him dearly.”

Authorities said they have been working non-stop to locate the boy, and asked the public to keep their eyes out for him.

He is described as being approximately 5’ tall with a thin build and brown hair.

Sightings of Kai Pavlovic or information on his whereabouts can be reported to Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999, or any local police department.

The union representing striking postal workers says it will move from a nationwide walkout to rotating strikes starting Saturday.

In a statement released late Thursday night, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) National President Jan Simpson said starting Saturday at 6 a.m. local time, the move to rotating strikes will get mail and parcels in the hands of Canadians, “while continuing our struggle for good collective agreements and a strong public postal service.”

“We did not take the decision to move to a nationwide strike lightly,” Simpson said. “Postal workers would much rather have new collective agreements and be delivering mail instead of taking strike action.”

According to the statement, locals that will be part of the rotating strikes will be informed close to when they will take action.

Jobs Minster Patty Hajdu told reporters Wednesday that CUPW and the Crown corporation have a responsibility to find a solution after nearly two years of labour negotiations.

“They all know the process. The process is that they negotiate until they get to a deal that everybody can live with,” she said.

CUPW’s rotating strike announcement comes two weeks after workers walked off the job Sept. 25, just hours after the federal government announced door-to-door mail delivery will end for nearly all Canadian households within the next decade.

Hajdu told CTV News in a statement last month that “Canada Post must adapt while protecting good jobs” as the workforce evolves.

“CUPW and Canada Post need to find the right balance that secures the future of the corporation and respects the workers who keep it running. Canadians depend on them to get this right,” Hajdu said.

Canada Post has 45 days to respond with a plan to implement the government’s measures as of the Sept. 25 announcement.

The Moose Jaw Fire Department has reported no injuries after a blaze damaged a home in the city’s northeast on Tuesday.

Fire crews responded to the scene at 1094 5th Ave NE at around noon on Tuesday.

According to fire chief Rod Montgomery, the flames were controlled quickly. Despite this, significant damage to the structure was reported.

The fire remains under investigation as of Wednesday morning. According to Chief Montgomery, no injuries were reported.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is among five provincial leaders formally calling on the federal government to withdraw its recent call for limits on the notwithstanding clause.

The premiers of Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan jointly penned a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, expressing the leaders’ “profound disappointment” in Ottawa’s arguments for the case and calling the effort a “complete disavowal of the constitutional bargain” that led to the formation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“The Attorney General of Canada’s submissions seek to advance never-before-seen limits on the ability of democratically elected legislatures to use the notwithstanding clause,” the letter read.

“Moreover, Canada’s factum proposes an unclear and unworkable legal standard with no basis in the text of the constitution.”

The conflict surrounds a case currently before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Known as Bill 21, Quebec’s secularism law was passed in 2019 and bans religious symbols from being worn by public sector workers in positions of authority, such as teachers and judges.

Quebec’s government used the notwithstanding clause to protect the law from charter challenges. However, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a legal challenge of Bill 21 brought by several groups that oppose the law, though a date for a hearing has not been set.

In its filing submitted last month, Ottawa argues the constitutional limits on the notwithstanding clause preclude using it to distort or wipe out the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Charter.

The submission goes on to say the “temporary character” of the notwithstanding clause confirms that it cannot be used to cause “an irreparable impairment” of Charter rights.

All the provinces listed in the letter are involved in the case as intervenors.

The premiers’ letter argues that the federal government’s approach to the case threatens national unity, with the premiers promising to raise the matter to the full Council of the Federation.

“We jointly ask that the federal government reconsider its approach to the English Montreal School Board, et al v Attorney General of Quebec, et al appeal, and withdraw its written legal argument immediately.”

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We’re committed to providing our audience with a listening experience like no other! To maintain this standard, we’re excited to announce a major update to our Broadcast Network.

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