Latest news with #SaskTel
CTV News
6 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Sask. wildfires bring new complications for northern residents, firefighters
WATCH: Residents in La Ronge and first responders are facing new challenges in the midst of the ongoing wildfires. Several days after the initial evacuation of the La Ronge area, problems continue to emerge that go beyond the fire itself. Families from the area face new challenges as the days go on. When the Johnson family arrived in Macdowell after evacuating from La Ronge, three of their horses spooked and went missing. 'We got down here, and we let them out,' said owner Tina Johnson. 'It's an unfamiliar place and they're scared. And the little ones, our ponies busted through the fence and took off.' Luckily, all three horses were found uninjured late Thursday afternoon. All SaskTel services are unavailable in La Ronge and the surrounding area — and in all communities and areas directly north and northeast of La Ronge. 'We're hoping that we'll be able to start restoring services as the fires subside,' said Greg Jacobs, representing SaskTel. 'But really, all of the major fires are still posing significant hazards to our crews and to infrastructure.' The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said that damages to infrastructure have impacted its communication with fire crews. 'So, another little complicating factor that's beyond the fire scope, but directly having an impact on our ability to do our work,' said Steve Roberts with the SPSA. For the time being, SaskTel says it will waive all wireless data overage fees for customers who had to leave northern Saskatchewan. The Métis Nation-Saskatchewan government is opening the Batoche festival grounds to anyone escaping the northern wildfires, and the Prince Albert Exhibition Association is opening its RV and trailer campground to those impacted.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Sask. Court of Appeal ruling on Saskatchewan phone company
Regina Watch WATCH: The Sask. Court of Appeal has ruled that SaskTel must produce information of the former 'victimsvoicesregina' account. Donovan Maess explains.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Saskatchewan court orders SaskTel to relinquish info related to 'victimsvoicesregina' Instagram account
A court has ordered SaskTel to hand over information that a man was seeking in an effort to identify people he says are responsible for defaming him on a former Instagram account known as 'victimsvoicesregina.' The bottom-line decision from the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal was made on May 8, but the court's published reasons for that ruling were recently made available online. The decision is from a panel comprising Justice Georgina Jackson, Justice Meghan McCreary and Justice Keith Kilback. It lays out how Ryan Boldt filed a lawsuit in 2021 against Meta Platforms, Inc., as well as three unknown individuals listed within the court documents as Jane Doe, Betty Doe and Sally Doe (the Does). Meta owns and operates social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. The appeal decision indicates that Boldt alleges 'the defendant, Betty Doe, created a false and defamatory story that she was sexually harassed by Mr. Boldt in the course of her employment.' He further asserts, according to the decision, that this story was then given to Jane and Sally, who were the administrators of the victimsvoicesregina account, on which it was published 'without taking any steps to verify the accuracy of the Post or the associated comments made by others on the page.' In 2020, the victimsvoicesregina Instagram account posted many stories of alleged sexual assault and harassment that were said to have taken place within the city. 'Mr. Boldt claims that he suffered damages because of the defamatory Post, which he quantifies at $1,000,000,' the decision states, noting he also seeks punitive and aggravated damages. However, it goes on to say that Boldt doesn't know the true identities of the Does. For the lawsuit to proceed against them, they have to be formally notified of it, which would require Boldt to determine who they are. For that purpose, he's gone through the courts in an effort to gain information from SaskTel, Telus Communications Inc., and Access Communications Co-operative Limited. The decision notes a 'cyber security investigator' was hired on Boldt's behalf. The investigator wrote an affidavit stating that, through information provided by Facebook Inc., he learned that the Does accessed the victimsvoicesregina Instagram account through those internet service providers. Stories of the Year: Survivors' Stories shed light on Regina's problem with sexual violence Boldt sought a court order directing the companies to provide 'Identifying Documents' relating to specific activity from certain IP addresses (numeric addresses assigned to devices connected to the Internet). He was looking for documents containing: 'account holder name(s); account holder address(es); account holder billing information; account holder email addresses; physical addresses related to IP addresses; and any other identifying information.' The appeal decision states that while Telus and Access took 'no position' with respect to Boldt's application for such an order, SaskTel opposed it, arguing among other things that the documents were subject to solicitor-client privilege. Boldt narrowed his application to seek only those documents contained within a SaskTel legal file relating to another case. The decision notes this was presumably done because SaskTel stated it didn't 'possess, have custody of, or control of' any such documents other than those which might be on that file. A lower court judge had previously dismissed Boldt's application, finding that the documents were subject to solicitor-client privilege, but Telus and Access were ordered to disclose their documents. On appeal, the three judges of Saskatchewan's highest court decided the lower court judge's decision with regard to SaskTel contained multiple legal errors. SaskTel did not tender evidence to establish the documents would be covered by privilege, and the onus was on the telecommunications company to do so, according to the appeal decision. Further, even if the information was privileged, that would not have legally precluded its disclosure, so long as certain conditions could be met, the appeal decision states. The appeal judges ordered SaskTel to give Boldt the documents. However, the decision goes on to specify that the documents 'shall be held by him and his solicitors in the strictest confidence and shall be used by them only for this specific litigation in which they were obtained.' The Regina Leader-Post reached out to Boldt through his lawyer, Madlin Lucyk. She advised that Boldt was not interested in providing any comment. bharder@ The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
CTV News
14-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Saskatchewan preparing for possible second Canada Post work stoppage in under 6 months
With a possible Canada Post work stoppage on the horizon, the province says it is taking multiple steps to ensure disruptions can be limited as much as possible. The province says ministries, Crowns and agencies all have contingency plans and are encouraging clients, suppliers and businesses to switch payment methods to direct deposit. Following a 2024 strike, Canada Post may be heading to the picket lines again in May because current deals between the Crown and unions representing employees are set to expire on May 22. A strike or lockout would mark the second time in less than six months the postal service ground to a halt after 55,000 employees walked off the job for 32 days in November and December. SaskPower, SaskEnergy, SaskTel and SGI are encouraging residents to sign up for online billing and notifications to ensure information regarding utility bills, drivers' licence and vehicle registration renewals and other business is received. A possible work stoppage would also disrupt applications for health cards and certificates for births, deaths and marriage. According to the province, residents should visit to learn about options available to minimize delays that includes ordering online. Social Services payments are received by most recipients through direct deposit, but the province says it is using experience from the 2024 Canada Post work stoppage to put a contingency plan in place for those who receive benefit cheques by mail. It is again encouraging recipients to switch to online direct deposit. 'Residents requiring letters to submit to their private insurance providers for Special Support, Seniors' Drug Plan, or Exception Drug Status may submit the request through the online Saskatchewan Formulary. Letters will be mailed once the Canada Post service disruption is resolved,' the province said in a news release. Businesses are still expected to file and pay taxes to the Ministry of Finance on time. 'Mail delays do not change tax deadlines or the assessment of penalties and interest. For more information, please review the Information Notice - IN 2025-03, Filing and Paying Provincial Taxes in the Event of a Postal Disruption,' the province said. The province says the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) will be working with customers to find alternate options to access information that is typically delivered through Canada Post. Some options include faxing, emailing or delivering information to a local SCIC office, according to the province. 'Producers are encouraged to sign-up for direct deposit for receiving program payments.' More information can be found on the province's website. -With files from The Canadian Press
