Latest news with #SaskPower
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
SaskPower out more than $7,500 after misuse of company procurement cards
An employee with SaskPower cost the crown corporation more than $7,500 through the misuse of a company credit card over a period of years. According to the latest round of provincial loss reports, from Nov. 1, 2022 to April 2, 2025 – a SaskPower employee used a corporate procurement card for personal purchases – amounting to a total of $7,526.25. The report did not elaborate what the purchases were exactly. In terms of corrective actions, multiple recommendations were made by an internal audit at SaskPower. They consisted of improving processes, enhancing monitoring, and fixing control deficiencies. The crown corporation apparently put the proposed changes in place in Q4 of 2024-25 to help fix the deficiencies that made it possible for employees to abuse company cards. The employee responsible for the matter was fired, according to SaskPower. The company is currently attempting to recover the funds and is in the process of reporting the incident to police. On Feb. 21 of this year, a term employee took a laptop from SaskPower against instructions from management – costing the company $1,100. Attempts to recover the laptop have been unsuccessful, according to the province. SaskPower reported the incident to police in Q1 of 2025-26. Lastly, in Saskatoon, an employee with the provincial health authority cost the enterprise $577 through the misuse of a parking pass from Aug. 2024 to Feb. 2025. According to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), the employee had reported their original parking pass as 'lost' and a replacement was issued to them. The SHA says that both of the parking passes were being used by several people, including employees, simultaneously. The employee in question received a 10-day suspension and is currently reimbursing the crown corporation for the full amount owed. Improvements are underway for the SHA's parking system. The changes include enhanced training for staff and the installation of a new parking management system, according to the report.
National Observer
01-08-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
Saskatchewan faces legal challenge for delaying coal phase out
Saskatchewan is facing a judicial review for its recent decision to extend coal power generation in the province beyond 2030. Federal regulations require all coal-fired power plants (except those outfitted with carbon capture technology) be shut down by 2030 to clean up Canada's electricity grid but Saskatchewan is not playing ball. In mid-June, news broke that the government and SaskPower plan to continue using coal-fired generation past the deadline and a handful of individuals and organizations filed for a judicial review to try and stop this from happening. The application, filed on July 18 by three individuals plus the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and Citizens for Public Justice, argues the province's decision is 'unreasonable' and should be reviewed by the courts due to a lack of public consultation, a disregard for Canadian and international law and potential implications on Canadian Charter rights. 'The climate crisis is urgent and we need our institutions, including the judicial system, to respond,' said Glenn Wright, the lawyer representing the applicants, in a press release. 'It is truly time for all hands on deck and we cannot let the coal decision stand without some judicial scrutiny. These applicants are taking an important stand for the benefit of all Canadians.' The individual applicants are a 12-year-old from Saskatchewan, Saskatoon resident Sherry Olsen and a farmer from Manitoba. 'The emissions from coal burned in Saskatchewan don't stay within Saskatchewan's borders,' said Matthew Wiens in the press release. 'They cross over into Manitoba and beyond, and impact the atmosphere that we all share.' 'The emissions from coal burned in Saskatchewan don't stay within Saskatchewan's borders,' said farmer and applicant Matthew Wiens. 'They cross over into Manitoba and beyond, and impact the atmosphere that we all share.' He said the wildfire smoke that blankets much of Canada makes him fear for his children's long-term health, citing cancelled sports practices due to poor air quality. And as a farmer, he's feeling the effects of climate change driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. 'Weather extremes of heat, torrential rains, and drought are impacting my crops and livestock with increasing frequency,' Wiens said. The application is set for an initial hearing in Chambers at the Court of King's Bench in Saskatoon on Aug. 12, 2025, to address any preliminary issues and determine when the hearing of the application might be scheduled, according to the press release. The province did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the application. This article will be updated when comment is provided. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have opposed the federal Clean Electricity Regulations at every opportunity. Both premiers say the 2030 deadline is unrealistic and they will work towards net-zero grids by 2050. Ontario was the first province to phase out coal-fired electricity under Premier Kathleen Wynne in 2014. Last summer, Alberta transitioned its last coal plant to natural gas to complete the coal phase-out. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan still use coal-fired electricity.
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Saskatoon streets flooded after weekend storms
WATCH: Another summer storm swept through Saskatoon, leaving streets flooded and people in the dark. WATCH: Another summer storm swept through Saskatoon, leaving streets flooded and people in the dark. A sizable thunderstorm made its way through Saskatoon on Sunday night, and many residents felt the effects. 'Heavy rains like this in the summertime in particular... in cities, we do see urban flash flooding or pooling of water on the do see this happen in cities right across Canada,' said Crawford Luke, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Luke shared that depending on the area, Saskatoon saw between 23 to 37 millimeters of rain thanks to the storm. Around 20,000 residents also experienced power outages after a bolt of lightning struck a power line, according to Saskatoon Light & Power. 'There's always a chance that our infrastructure will be impacted by severe weather,' Scott McGregor, a spokesperson for SaskPower said. McGregor went on to say that lightning striking power lines is not uncommon, especially during July — the height of summer storm season. 'Usually whenever a lightning strike happens to one of our power lines, it throws a breaker, much like you would have inside of your home. If you were to plug something in incorrectly, it would throw the breaker on your panel so that's what happened with our transmission line' McGregor said. As thunderstorm season settles into Saskatchewan, residents are reminded to be especially careful around damaged power lines, 'High winds, lightning, anything like that, there's a chance that people could come across anything like a damaged pole or down line, stay back a safe distance, we recommend 10 meters or 33 feet,' McGregor said. Anyone who comes across a damaged power line or pole is asked to call the SaskPower outage centre or 911. 'There's no way of knowing if that line is electrified still or not,' McGregor said.
Economic Times
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Economic Times
Wildfire cuts off remote Canadian village, 700 people stranded as airlifts and boat rescues begin
A fast-moving wildfire has isolated Patuanak, a remote Indigenous community in northern Saskatchewan, after severing its only road access. Emergency responders and supply trucks are blocked, complicating medical access and resupply efforts. While the community is not under direct threat, precautions are being taken, including flying in supplies and evacuating residents with complex health needs. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Around 700 residents of a small northern Saskatchewan hamlet are stranded after a fast-moving wildfire severed the only road connecting them to the outside a remote Indigenous community 425 kilometers north of Saskatoon, became isolated this week when flames engulfed sections of Highway 918, its sole road access point. Officials say the blaze has blocked entry for emergency responders, supply trucks, and families trying to escape.'Essentially they are safe, but they are cut off,' said Candyce Paul, the emergency management coordinator for English River First Nation, which governs the community is not under direct threat from flames, the closest wildfire remains about 60 kilometers away, and the road closure has complicated medical access and resupply efforts. Electricity was briefly lost when power poles were scorched, but SaskPower crews quickly restored keep residents safe, supplies including medications have been flown in, and nurses have traveled by boat to reach the community. Paul says many with complex health needs were evacuated to Cold Lake, Alberta before the road was fully cut off.'The ones that needed to be evacuated, they are 90 percent out,' Paul told CBC nearby Beauval, a village roughly 90 kilometers south of Patuanak, the situation remains tense. The village has blocked road access to prevent non-essential personnel from entering, with over 75 percent of its population now Post issued red alerts for both Patuanak and Beauval, with mail services disrupted due to transportation delays. The post office in Beauval is shut down of Friday, Saskatchewan reported 63 active wildfires, 17 not yet contained, and a total of 334 fires so far this season, significantly above the five-year average of 195. The government has issued over $5.5 million in emergency aid, including $500 payments to adults forced to flee their homes.'We have a team operating up there as well,' Paul said. 'Our emergency management team is making preparations for any scenario that comes up.'
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Wildfire cuts off remote Canadian village, 700 people stranded as airlifts and boat rescues begin
Around 700 residents of a small northern Saskatchewan hamlet are stranded after a fast-moving wildfire severed the only road connecting them to the outside world. Patuanak, a remote Indigenous community 425 kilometers north of Saskatoon, became isolated this week when flames engulfed sections of Highway 918, its sole road access point. Officials say the blaze has blocked entry for emergency responders, supply trucks, and families trying to escape. 'Essentially they are safe, but they are cut off,' said Candyce Paul, the emergency management coordinator for English River First Nation, which governs Patuanak. While the community is not under direct threat from flames, the closest wildfire remains about 60 kilometers away, and the road closure has complicated medical access and resupply efforts. Electricity was briefly lost when power poles were scorched, but SaskPower crews quickly restored service. To keep residents safe, supplies including medications have been flown in, and nurses have traveled by boat to reach the community. Paul says many with complex health needs were evacuated to Cold Lake, Alberta before the road was fully cut off. Live Events 'The ones that needed to be evacuated, they are 90 percent out,' Paul told CBC News. In nearby Beauval, a village roughly 90 kilometers south of Patuanak, the situation remains tense. The village has blocked road access to prevent non-essential personnel from entering, with over 75 percent of its population now evacuated. Canada Post issued red alerts for both Patuanak and Beauval, with mail services disrupted due to transportation delays. The post office in Beauval is shut down entirely. As of Friday, Saskatchewan reported 63 active wildfires, 17 not yet contained, and a total of 334 fires so far this season, significantly above the five-year average of 195. The government has issued over $5.5 million in emergency aid, including $500 payments to adults forced to flee their homes. 'We have a team operating up there as well,' Paul said. 'Our emergency management team is making preparations for any scenario that comes up.'
