Saskatchewan is forecasting a $1.1 billion surplus for 2022-23 in its mid-year financial report released on Tuesday.

That figure is up by $1.6 billion from the last provincial budget released in March, according to the province. The surplus was forecast at $1.04 billion in the government’s first quarter fiscal update, released in August.

Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said resources and a strong economy are the reason for the increase.

Revenue is forecast to be up from budget, largely the result of high potash and oil prices, as well as higher taxation revenue which reflects solid economic growth,” Harpauer said in a release.

“Using higher-than-expected revenue to help people and businesses address higher costs due to inflation, while reducing the provinces debt, is growth that works for everyone.

The province is currently forecasting revenue to be $19.5 billion, a 13.7 per cent increase ($2.4 billion) from the original prediction when the last provincial budget was released.

However, it also cautioned that potash prices have declined in the latter half of 2022, mainly due to supply from Russia and Belarus reaching the market.

According to the province, expenses are up $795 million from budget and $286.8 million since its first quarter report.

The province said most of that increase ($450 million) is due to the Saskatchewan Affordability Tax Credit, which will see around 900,000 $500 cheques mailed out to people over 18-years-of-age who filed their taxes in Saskatchewan last year.

Harpauer said at this time paying down the province’s deficit will be their priority now that affordability issues have been addressed to an extent.

“We felt strengthening the debt position that we are in was a better decision because it also helps us in future budgets.”

According to Harpauer, about 600,000 affordability cheques have been mailed out so far.

“Most of them will be in the next week to ten days, there will be some lag on those who were late filers,” she said.

Another $204.3 million in expenses is from expected increases in Saskatchewan Crop Insurance indemnities and AgraStability benefits that were paid out in 2021 and 2022.

A third quarter report will be released before the province announces its next budget in 2023.

The province has not seen a fortune this large since 2008-09, when it reported a surplus of $2.97 billion.

Saskatchewan NDP finance critic Trent Wotherspoon said while Saskatchewan people are facing the worst affordability crisis in over a generation, the province is seeing the opposite with very high revenues.

“That’s a positive thing, but the disconnect is that we have a government that is just simply not up to the test of rising to the challenge that Saskatchewan people are facing,” Wotherspoon said.

“They’re leaving people drowning. We up our call once again for the government to come to their senses here in this year where we’ve seen revenues that have been driven through the roof by an external and extraordinary and unforgettable situation by way of [Vladimir] Putin in Ukraine.”

Wotherspoon said the NDP would like to see the province cancel rate hikes for power and energy and do more heavy lifting.

“We’ve got a pile of new dollars and a government that is simply unwilling to provide the relief that Saskatchewan people need,” Wotherspoon said.

A 57-year-old woman from the Yorkton area is frustrated with the quality of healthcare she’s received. She says she lives everyday in excruciating pain, and claims health-care professionals aren’t listening to her.

Linda Lisa Jones said she struggles with numerous health complications ever since her head-on collision eight years ago, but recently it has taken a turn for the worse.

“I’m in constant agonizing pain,” she told CTV News while tearing up.

Jones said, among some of her health issues, are multiple cysts on her reproductive tract and severe digestive problems. She said she was rejected by two family physicians due to her complicated medical history.

“I knew things were getting serious, I needed referrals, but what do you do?” she said.

In a statement to CTV News, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) said physicians should not discriminate on patient’s medical conditions.

According to the CPSS Code of Ethics bylaws, physicians should “accept a patient without discrimination,” however, “This does not abrogate the right of the physician to refuse to accept a patient for legitimate reasons.”

The CPSS said it is aware there are very few physicians accepting new patients, and that it is an issue for the health-care system in general.

Jones said, she’s she made five trips to the emergency room in the past four months. She said a majority of her trips to the hospital and doctors appointments have been disappointing, and she is often sent home without answers.

“We think that health literacy is only reading the label on a pill bottle, but it’s knowing what questions to ask of your doctor and expecting he gives you good answers,” she said.

Jones said most doctors have failed to listen to her and treat her with compassion. She reached out to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), and an investigation has been called into the quality of care she received.

In a statement to CTV News, the SHA said, “Our goal is to resolve (the investigation) within 30 to 60 days, but some files may take longer for multiple reasons.”

“If the client is not satisfied, options will be provided for next steps,” the SHA said.

Jones said, she is worried she’ll die before she gets answers, and encourages anyone with issues in their quality of care to report it to the SHA and the CPSS.

The Regina Food Bank is exploring a new “Downtown Community Food Hub” to serve as its distribution site for those in need.

According to a news release, the Regina Food Bank (RFB) intends to present a proposal to executive council, seeking a downtown location at 1881 Broad St., the site of a former SGLA Liquor Store.

The new location would serve as the primary distribution point for RFB.

“To address record food insecurity, the Regina Food Bank is exploring ways to reduce barriers and get food closer to our clients,” RFB said in the release.

“Our existing location, while good for warehousing and logistics, is far removed from the families we serve.”

The RFB is seeking an investment of $200,000 from the City of Regina as well as $1 per-year lease on city-owned lands behind the vacant property.

The project is estimated to cost $3.2 million.

An RFB board decision on whether the organization will move forward is expected in January of 2023, the release outlined.

The proposed facility will look and operate like a grocery store and community center.

The RFB serves 12,000 clients each month and distributes over 13,000 pounds of food a day.

If approved, the facility will be open to the public in early 2024.

Snow routes will be in effect from 6 a.m. Wednesday morning until 6 a.m. Thursday morning, the city said in a news release.

That means no parking will be allowed on designated routes for 24 hours.

Blue signs with a white snowflake identify where parking is prohibited while the snow routes are in effect.

The city said vehicles that remain parked in areas that are snow routes will be ticketed.

Blowing snow advisories were in place for Regina on Monday but have since been dropped.

A list and map of the city’s snow routes can be seen here.

Regina police are asking for the public’s help in gaining more information surrounding an early morning hit and run.

At around 2:40 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 28, the Regina Police Service (RPS) received a call reporting a pedestrian being hit by vehicle in the area of 5th Avenue and King Street.

The driver and the vehicle involved in the hit and run fled the scene, police said.

Police and EMS responded to the scene. The victim, a 24-year-old man, was in need of medical attention and was transported to hospital for further treatment.

RPS asks anyone who witnessed the incident and anyone who may have video of the area to contact Regina police at 306-777-6500 or Regina Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477).

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced two Canadian signings on Tuesday, including kicker David Solie from the University of Saskatchewan.

Hailing from Saskatoon, Solie spent four seasons with the U of S Huskies and was a part of their 2022 team that reached the Vanier Cup, falling short against Laval.

Solie made 61 total field goals over his career with the Huskies, and had an 83 per cent completion percentage this past season. He also handled some punting and kickoff duties.

The Saskatchewan-born kicker also won the Canadian Junior Football League National Championship with the Saskatoon Hilltops in 2018.

The Riders also signed Canadian offensive lineman Zack Fry. Fry was selected by the Riders in the second round of the 2022 CFL draft. He attended training camp with the team this past season, before returning to Western University.

The Bank of Canada lost $522 million in the third quarter of this year, marking the first loss in its 87-year history.

In the central banks latest quarterly financial report, it says revenue from interest on its assets did not keep pace with interest charges on deposits at the bank, which have grown amid rapidly rising interest rates.

The Bank of Canadas aggressive interest rate hikes this year have raised the cost of interest charges it pays on settlement balances deposited in the accounts of big banks.

Thats while the income the central bank receives from government bonds it holds remains fixed.

The Bank of Canada dramatically expanded its assets during the pandemic as part of its government bond purchasing program. Also known as quantitative easing, the policy was part of the central banks efforts to stimulate the economy.

That expansion in assets is now costing the central bank, as it paid for the government bonds with the creation of settlement balances.

Speaking before the House of Commons finance committee last week, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem addressed the expected losses.

He said losses dont affect the central banks ability to conduct monetary policy.

He noted the size and duration of the losses will depend on the path of interest rates and the evolution of the economy.

Following a period of losses, the Bank of Canada will return to positive net earnings, he said.

The Bank of Canada is looking to the federal government for a solution to balance its books.

While there are a few options available, some economists say the problem before the central bank is largely an accounting one rather than a monetary policy concern.

The arrest of a teen with autism at a St. Albert playground will be investigated by the agency that looks into complaints involving Mounties.

The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for RCMP (CRCC) is to determine if the mostly non-verbal 16-year-old was properly supervised and accommodated, as required under the Canadian Human Rights Act, during the Oct. 2 incident.

That evening, while Ryley Bauman was playing alone on the playground behind his grandparents house, several calls were made to RCMP about a male who was described as suspicious, erratic and possibly impaired by drugs.

Unable to learn his name, officers took Ryley into custody within minutes of arriving at the playground of Albert Lacombe Catholic Elementary School.

Police say the teen began to hurt himself while in custody and Mounties called EMS to provide first aid and take him to hospital.

He was reconnected with his parents after they filed a missing persons report.

According to them, Ryley suffered soft tissue damage to his wrists and head and said police hurts after the event.

CRCC chairperson Michelaine Lahaie issued the complaint, which prompted the CRCC investigation, noting it is in the public interest.

In examining the St. Albert Mounties response, the investigation will determine whether:

•  Ryley was properly supervised and accommodated;
•  reasonable action was taken to prevent Ryley from harming himself;
•  St. Albert RCMP members are trained to recognize and interact with neurodiverse people; and
•  the RCMP organization has national and divisional policies, procedures and guidelines on interacting with people with neurodiversity.

The CRCC is an agency of the federal government and independent from the RCMP.

Ryleys arrest is also being investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which investigates serious allegations of police misconduct and allegations of police-caused harm or death.