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Page 2 - APRIL 22, 2021 - martensville messenger Box 970 37 Centennial Dr. S. Martensville, SK SOK 2TO Phone:(306) 931-2166

Visit www.martensville.ca for more information

Civic Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic What You Should Know!

City Hall is Open! - However with some guidelines currently in place. Continue to utilize online and contactless options when possible. Please do not visit City Hall if you are feeling unwell, experiencing flu-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is presumptive or tested positive for COVID-19. Residents and Customers are encouraged to carry out transactions electronically such as online banking, preauthorized payments or TIPPS. Cheques may also be dropped off in the drop slot at City Hall. Stay Informed! - The City of Martensville has created a dedicated webpage to provide information, updates, and additional resources around the COVID-19 pandemic. This page is accessible through the homepage at Martensville.ca. Please continue to follow us, media sources and information from the Province of Saskatchewan for the most current information around updates or new measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 Use of Masks are Mandatory in Saskatchewan - Residents are required to wear nonmedical masks in indoor public spaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is a Public Health Order and is subject to enforcement and fines. Health officials strongly recommend wearing a non-medical mask anywhere outside the home.

Current Status of Public Facilities as of April 16th

Martensville Athletic Pavilion - Open but Drop-in and Pick-up programs are cancelled in accordance with Saskatchewan Re-Open Plan City Hall - Open North Ridge Community Centre - Provincial gathering guidelines Heritage Centre - Provincial gathering guidelines Sports Centre - Open Wheatland Regional Library (located in the Civic Centre) - Open City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306-931-2166) or inquiry@martensville.ca during this time. After Hour Water and Sewer Emergencies- should still be directed through the Emergency line at City Hall, (306) 931-2166, ext.1.

Business Property Tax and Utility Update The City has re-implemented the suspension of interest on property taxes and utilies for commercial or industrial properties retroactive from November 2020 until July 31st, 2021. City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306-931-2166) or inquiry@martensville. ca during this time.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

City of Martensville Public Notice Official Community Plan - Bylaw 2 - 2020 Public notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Martensville, pursuant to Section 207 of the Planning and Development Act, 2007, intends to consider a bylaw to adopt an Official Community Plan (OCP) No. 2-2020. INTENT - The proposed Official Community Plan bylaw will establish municipal goals, objectives and policies relating to land use and development. This bylaw proposes to update the future land use map and current policies affected by the recent annexation, provincial legislative amendments, and City Master Plans. New sections include policies for reconciliation, climate change, financing growth, Sector and Concept Plans, and working within Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G). This amendment will also adopt the West Sector Plan as an appendix to the OCP. AFFECTED LAND - The proposed bylaw will affect all the property within the corporate boundaries of the City of Martensville.

City ofguide Martensville City Hall by identifying REASON - The Official Community Plan will development decisions municipal goals and objectives. Hours of Operation: PUBLIC INSPECTION - Any person may inspect the proposed bylaws on the City of Monday to Friday Martensville website at www.martensville.ca/ocp2021 or at City Hall, 37 Centennial Drive AMPM, to 5:00 PM to Friday, excluding South, Martensville, SK, between 9:00 AM9:00 to 5:00 Monday Holidays)for free at www. statutory holidays. Copies are available(Excluding to persons atStatutory cost or downloaded martensville.ca. PUBLIC HEARING - Council will hold a public hearing via Zoom at 5:00 PM on May 18th, 2021, to hear any person or group that wishes to comment on the proposed bylaw. Council will also consider written comments received at the hearing or delivered to the undersigned at City Hall prior to May 12th, 2021. Dated at Martensville this April 15th 2021 Bonnie Gorelitza, Planning Manager

May Council Meeting Dates

Please Note: The upcoming Council Schedule or location may be subject to change based around any potential new developments or ease of restrictions around the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anyone interested in attending is strongly encouraged to contact the City Clerk prior to planning to attend. Regular Council Meeting May 4th Committee of the Whole May 11th Regular Council Meeting May 18th The Regular Council Meetings are located at Martensville City Hall Council Chambers in Martensville City Hall at 37 Centennial Dr. S. All meetings commence at 5PM. Those wishing to address or do a presentation to Council must be placed on the agenda. To be placed on the agenda please contact the City Clerk’s office at City Hall or visit the website for details. The full Council and Committee of the Whole Schedule can be obtained at martensville.ca.

2021 is a Revaluation Year - What Do You Need To Know About Your Assessment and Taxes?

There has been continued progression around the delivery of vaccines with the increase in number of vaccine clinics and eligibility for the public expanding as vaccine becomes administered and available.

The City and the Province set tax mill rates which are applied to the property assessment values to determine the tax levy for city and education property tax.

Commencing on April 1st the North Ridge Centre opened as an available vaccination centre.

2021 Assessment Notices will be mailed to all property owners April 30, 2021.

A comprehensive resource is available at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine and includes information around vaccines as well as a gateway for online booking and what you should have ready prior to your vaccine.

Detailed information about the 2021 Revaluation, Assessment, Taxes and the 2021 Budget can be found at Martensville.ca under, ‘Services for Residents, Property Tax and Assessment’.

Bookings for vaccination can also be accessed by calling 1-833-SASKVAX

Property owners may also view their property report and assessment information online for at MySAMA & SAMAView after April 30th.

Please continue to watch for updates for vaccine clinics in the area and for when you may be eligible to sign-up.

Questions about Assessment can be directed to City Hall at 931-2166, or SAMA directly at 933-5385.

martensville messenger - APRIL 22, 2021 - Page 3

WEEKEND WEATHER

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Gardening With the Pits! by Sara Williams

Kitchens tend to be busy places during the winter. It’s also the time of year when we’re most apt to savour the exotic. What doesn’t go into the compote, need not end up in the compost. Kitchen propagation with your kids with the pits can be an opportune learning experience. ABOVE: Pineapple top ready for planting (Svendsen) Once you’ve prepared your guacamole, wash and dry the large avocado seed. Plant it with the small pointed end poking up through the soil. The soil should be kept moderately moist without being overly wet, but never be allowed to dry out. You probably won’t get the medium size tree native to South and Central America, but you should be able to produce a respectable house plant. An alternative method, that also can be used with mangoes and sweet potatoes, involves toothpicks. Insert three toothpicks into the side of the seed about 1/8 inch deep, as in the spokes of a wheel, and carefully suspend the seed over the rim of a glass of water so that an inch and a half of the pit is submerged in the water. Don’t allow it to dry out. Once the roots develop, transplant it to soil. Place the container in bright light, but out of direct sun, until the roots and shoots emerge. Be patient, this may take a few months. Then move it to full sun. To encourage branching, pinch out the central stem when the plant is about 15 cm (6 in.) high. Expect fairly rapid growth from this point on. Mangoes, large trees native to India, are grown in a similar manner to avocados but can be more difficult. Plant the seed with the eye or bud facing up, just covering it with loose soil, or use the toothpick method. Keep it warm and moist. The young leaves may be red but will change to green on maturity. Sweet potatoes, long cultivated in Central America, can be grown by the soil or toothpick method, but use the entire tuber with half of it submerged. First, wash it off thoroughly to remove any growth inhibitors that may have been applied to keep them from sprouting in the grocery store. (This in itself could make a good consumer education project. Try this with one washed, the other not.) Place it in full sun. Roots and shoots will develop into a luxurious vine and it will continue to grow until it has exhausted the resources of the tuber. At that point, the new shoots can be used as cuttings: root them in sand and then plant them in a soil mix. Pineapples are members of the large tropical bromeliad family, originating in South America and the West Indies. First brought to European attention by Christopher Columbus, they are the only member of this family that bears edible fruit, and one of the few with its feet stuck firmly in soil - the vast majority of bromeliads spend their life perched on trees as epiphytes. Select a pineapple that is relatively large and with the freshest crown of leaves in the store. Remove the top (including the green leaves) together with about an inch of the fruit, trimming away the soft sweet parts and leaving the hard stringy tissue. Allow the cut surface to dry for a few days to form a callus layer to prevent decay. Plant the top in sand, keeping it evenly moist but not overly wet. Bromeliads naturally collect water in their central “vase”. Move it to a well drained soil mix in full sun once it has rooted. Oranges, lemons and grapefruit can also be grown from seed, sowing them about 2 cm (1/2 in.) deep. I stuck some in a large pot in which a mature fig tree was already growing and simply forgot about them. Expect germination within 6 weeks. They like a rich soil in a deep pot in full sun but seem to handle benign neglect very well. They’ll grow into large shrubs with shiny leaves. Besides the hands-on experience, these projects can involve a trip to your local library to find out more about these plants and their native habitats. But don’t expect your labour to bear fruit. These plants seldom produce indoors unless provided with cross-pollination and/or conservatory-like conditions. This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (SPS; saskperennial@hotmail.com ). Check our website saskperennial.ca) or Facebook page (facebook.com/saskperennial). All Saskatchewan Perennial Society events are on hold until further notice.

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City Recognizes Volunteers For Their Contributions to the Community Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Volunteer Appreciation Week takes place from April 18-24 and the City of Martensville is taking a moment each day to showcase some of the amazing volunteers that we have right here in our own community on their social media pages. In the past, a BBQ has been held as a thank you to the volunteers; however, due to COVID-19, this year, things will be done a little differently. Mayor Kent Muench shared a message to the volunteers in the community, thanking them for everything they do. “Volunteers in our community are so incredible. You all do so much and give so much of your time, your effort, your experience and knowledge.” Muench also noted that his own family has benefited from the dedication of volunteers. “Our three boys had great experiences growing up here in Martensville, and in large part, it’s due to all the great experiences through volunteerism. Thank you, keep volunteering and Happy Volunteer Week,” Muench said. For the past 20 years, Angela Reddekopp has worked for the City of Martensville and throughout that time, has seen so much growth when it comes to programs, activities, service groups and projects. It is thanks to the contributions of volunteers that make all that growth possible. “We have such a young, vibrant community that want to see all of these amenities and activities, which is amazing. Without those people taking time to volunteer, these things wouldn’t happen. Our community would therefore be more stagnant. It is because of those volunteers that make our community thrive and allows us to offer so many great things here,” Reddekopp stated. Volunteers are the people that are on the field coaching your kids, leading groups like Scouts and Girl Guides, hosting events and activities, fundraising to help build a multi-purpose facility in the community, working hard within our schools and churches, and much more. “I believe that you could talk to anyone in this community about volunteerism and I bet you that a huge percentage of them will have volunteered in some form for this community,” Reddekopp added. Reddekopp noted that there are many communities that struggle to find people to step forward and volunteer for events and program; however, in Martensville, when a request is put out, there is usually a quick response. “For the most part the people in Martensville are open and willing to help, which is amazing and is huge for the community.” If various programs and organizations did not have volunteers helping to run them, then they would not exist. “With something like Maddogs for example, if they weren’t operating, we wouldn’t have football in the community and people would be required to go elsewhere to play. Having these volunteers in place also takes a lot off of the City of Martensville and the Recreation Department. If we don’t have those volunteers in place, we look to fill that void with another option and that in turn takes away from other opportunities that we could be offering.” “Thank you to all of the volunteers. Keep up the good work Martensville. We really appreciate everything that you do for our community,” Reddekopp said.

Annual Amazing Race Event Continues to Grow in Popularity Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The City of Martensville will be holding their annual Amazing Race event on Saturday, May 8th. This year marks the seventh consecutive year that this event is taking place, and according to Jamie McCulloch, City of Martensville Recreation Program Coordinator II, “Each year it grows, and we keep adding more challenging tasks.” It is clear that the Amazing Race Martensville is popular, as it is already completely full for this year. There will be 16 teams competing to be the 2021 champions, and teams will be broken into four heats in order to reduce the amount of people in one location at a time. Heats will begin at 11:30am, with the last one starting at 4:30pm and the team with the fastest time will win. Challenges will include math and problem-solving skills, a building

challenge and of course, each one will require teamwork. Challenges will take place around Martensville. Due to COVID, all teams will be required to wear masks for the duration of the race. There will also be hand sanitizer at each location and teams will be provided with their own material and equipment. Between each heat, there will be a 30 minute window where everything will be cleaned and sanitized. “We are excited for the Amazing Race to begin and to have Martensville Building & Home Supply be a stop for this year’s race. Community events like this would not be possible without the support of local businesses and our sponsors Lakeview Insurance Brokers, Scott’s Roofing, Affinity Credit Union and Saskatoon Motor Products (SMP),” McCulloch said.

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KEEPING YOU SAFE & ON THE ROAD

BEAT Corman Park Police Thank Public POLICE

For Participating in Report Impaired Drivers (RID) Program Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

On April 18, Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) made an announcement thanking the public for their help when it comes to Reporting Impaired Drivers (RID), noting that thus far into 2021, there have been 43 individuals arrested for criminal impaired driving. One of these arrests includes a RID call that took place on April 17 regarding a vehicle swerving and driving inconsistent speeds on Highway 16 near Marquis Drive. A traffic stop was conducted, the driver admitted to the consumption of alcohol and open alcohol was observed in the vehicle. The driver FAILED the approved screening device and was arrested. The driver was brought to Martensville RCMP and blew 130mgs% and 130 mgs% and was then released with a future court date. ABOVE: Corman Park Police Service found open alcohol in a vehicle that was pulled over after Additionally, on April 14, at 8pm, CPPS responded to receiving a 911 call regarding a vehicle swerving on a call regarding a possible impaired driver travelling eastbound Highway 16. (Facebook) on Highway 16 near Lutheran Road. The caller followed the vehicle until police was able to intercept the vehicle. The driver showed signs of alcohol consumption and was requested to provide a sample of breath roadside. The driver failed on the roadside breath test and was transported to Martensville. The driver provided breath samples that had the reading of 240mg%, which is triple the legal limit. The driver was released with a court date in May. On April 13, at approximately 9:30pm, CPPS noticed a truck on Highway 16 near Beam Road which was having issues maintaining its lane. A traffic stop was initiated in the Biz Hub. Police had the driver submit a breath sample into an approved screening device, which resulted in a fail. The driver was transported to Martensville where two samples of breath were taken resulting in readings of 190 mgs% and 170 mgs%. A Kindersley area man was released on a future court date with charges of impaired operation of a conveyance and impaired operation of a conveyance over .08. RID is a road safety program that encourages the public to call 911 to report a suspected impaired driver. RID is organized through a partnership between SGI, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, various law enforcement agencies across the province and supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving. It was initiated as a pilot program in Saskatoon in March 2010 and grew to a province-wide program in November of 2011. SGI reminds motorists that when it comes to reporting an impaired driver, it is important to pull over, state the location, report which direction the vehicle is travelling, describe the vehicle including; make, model, colour and license plate and state what type of driving behaviour you witnessed.

Martensville SK 306-244-4950

Chamber Announces New Executive Director

The Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is pleased to announce Debbie Brown as the successor to Jaimie Malmgren as the Executive Director of the Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce. Debbie will begin work with the Chamber as of May 3, 2021. “We are thrilled that Debbie will be taking the helm of the Chamber,” said Jaime Holowaty, chair of the Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “Debbie emerged from a rich pool of highly qualified candidates, and we feel fortunate to have her. The Chamber Board has full confidence that she will take us to amazing new heights while standing on the shoulders of past leadership.” Debbie has spent over 10 years in leadership positions in program management, marketing, education and economic development. She holds designations in both Management and Public Relations as well as accreditation in Residential Management. "I have a strong passion for economic development and see unlimited opportunities for Saskatchewan in the near future." stated Debbie. "My vision for the Prairie Sky Chamber is to be an essential resource for local businesses and governing bodies as we develop and grow to meet the needs of the community and the province." Debbie will utilize her extensive experience to lead the Chamber and its members in exploring new opportunities to unite businesses throughout the Warman and Martensville region in establishing economic growth, and policy initiatives all designed to help our region continue to shape its future.

Valley Manor Elementary School Kindergarten Registration for 2021-2022 We are now accepting registrations for our 2021-2022 Kindergarten classes If you have a child that will turn five by December 31, 2021 (born in 2016) and you reside south of Main Street in Martensville, please fill out the registration form found at: https://www.spiritsd.ca/register-2/ and submit to vms@spiritsd.ca to register. Information packages will be emailed in April. Kindergarten Orientation details will be announced at a later date. Kindergarten is a full day, 8:45 am - 3:00 pm Mon/Wed some Friday’s or Tues/Thurs some Friday’s (indicate preference of days on your registration form) *Please remember to apply for a birth certificate if you have not already done so, we will need a copy when registering. Valley Manor Elementary School (South side) 306-931-2233 or vms@spiritsd.ca

martensville messenger - APRIL 22, 2021 - Page 5

Vaccination Eligibility Age Continues to Drop On April 20, the Saskatchewan Health Authority announced that the province will now be using AstraZeneca to immunize adults 40 years and older and that AstraZeneca will be integrated into the provincial vaccination roll-out plan. In a news release from the Government of Saskatchewan, it was noted that, at this time, the SHA has successfully delivered AstraZeneca in booked appointments for residents 55 years and older so there is currently fewer than 15,000 doses in the province with less than 9,000 available to the SHA. The other doses have already been allocated for administration. When it comes to the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine, there is much concern these days regarding cases of individuals that have had blood clots form after receiving this vaccination. Martensville Collective Health and Wellness (MCHW) has been sharing information often regarding this, along with other concerns that people may have regarding the COVID-19 vaccination options. This can be found by visiting the ‘Martensville Collective Health and Wellness’ Facebook page and includes information regarding concerns of blood clots, vaccine effectiveness and much more information is being shared regularly. “The risk of an adverse reaction to AZ is far outweighed by the benefit with the protection against COVID-19. And even more so now given the increased risk of infection as variants spread,” MCHW stated in their April 13 post.

Vaccine Eligibility Updated - Additional Prioritization To Follow 40+ Eligibility Saskatchewan is currently working towards the benchmark of opening vaccine eligibility to all residents ages 40 and over in order to reduce the risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19. To date, residents ages 40 and over who have contracted COVID-19 have seen the most severe outcomes, accounting for 84 per cent of total hospitalizations and 96 per cent of total deaths. Based on the current vaccine allocation schedule, the vaccine eligibility age is expected to drop to 44 and older province wide this Thursday, April 22 and to 40 and older next Wednesday, April 28. Once COVID-19 vaccine eligibility has been opened to all residents ages 40 and over, Saskatchewan will prioritize access to the COVID-19 vaccine through massvaccination settings to remaining prioritized first-responders (currently targeted with mobile vaccination units) along with additional frontline workers ages 16+, depending on vaccine product, including: Police officers, Firefighters, Front-line healthcare workers with direct patient contact employed by the SHA or private employers (including dentists, optometrists, chiropractors), Teachers and educational staff working directly with students, Correctional staff and Border security officers. Eligible workers will require proof of employment from their employer prior to attending mass vaccination sites. Eligibility for these groups will be announced once all residents ages 40+ are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Details on booking appointments will be provided next week, prior to additional priority groups becoming eligible. Following the eligibility of prioritized groups of workers, Saskatchewan will continue with the age-based system in opening vaccine eligibility to the remaining population decreasing in age from 40-16. 21044PM1 21045PM0 21052PM0

Saskatchewan Expanding Virtual Health Care Options Saskatchewan is expanding capacity to provide secure, responsive virtual health care, so patients can safely, securely and conveniently access services well into the future. The Ministry of Health and eHealth Saskatchewan are now developing an action plan to enhance virtual services, focusing on security, privacy and user experience. From March to December 2020, Saskatchewan patients participated in more than 1.7 million virtual appointments with a physician, according to billing data. While the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated use of virtual care technology, expansion of technology solutions is helping improve access to care for residents in rural or remote areas, and providing greater convenience for patients who need to connect with a physician for basic concerns. "It is critical that we have the appropriate systems and technology in place to support virtual health care services, for the safety of both our residents and health care providers," Health Minister Paul Merriman said. "We know that investing today will improve patients' access to care and support privacy and security of health information. It will also help relieve pressure on the health system during the pandemic." "Physicians are open to new ways of providing services to residents, and having more virtual care options will ultimately improve residents’ access to care," SHA Senior Medical Information Officer Dr. Vern Behl said. "In addition to secure videoconferencing and messaging solutions, investment will be needed to ensure improved information flow which is foundational to good virtual care, moving away from our paper based systems to electronic Health Information Systems. This allows for improved patient and family engagement and involvement in their own care, as well as better communication between our health care teams. It is encouraging to see investments in technology that will support this important work." Saskatchewan's priorities will include improvements or expansion in the following areas: • Videoconferencing: A new secure videoconferencing solution is being explored to replace the current Telehealth technology, to meet clinical needs across the health system. • Remote Patient Monitoring: Remote monitoring is already being used to support more than 1,000 Saskatchewan residents who tested positive for COVID-19, as well as patients with other health concerns. One health care provider is able to monitor up to 100 patients at a time as they recover in their homes. • MySaskHealthRecord: eHealth Saskatchewan's patient portal allows people to view their lab results online, including COVID-19 tests. More than 180,000 Saskatchewan residents can currently access their records. • Auto-dialer: The Saskatchewan Health Authority is working on the rollout of an Auto-dialer system which notifies residents by phone or text within 24 hours of a labconfirmed negative COVID-19 test result. People who test positive continue to receive a phone call from public health. In support of this work, Saskatchewan has signed a bilateral agreement with the Government of Canada to expand virtual care services. Under the agreement, Saskatchewan will receive almost $6.5 million for priority initiatives that provide high quality, safe virtual health services and complement in-person care.

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martensville messenger - APRIL 22, 2021 - Page 7

MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature Helping Families and Businesses Through The Pandemic

Third COVID-19 Wave a Struggle For Us All

The good news is we are getting a lot of vaccines in the arms of a lot of people and it is saving lives. As of the writing of this, 457 Saskatchewan people have died of COVID-19-related illness — a devastating number; however, compared with Manitoba that saw rampant outbreaks this winter in long-term care homes that have so far produced 951 deaths in that province, we have enjoyed success. Also as of the writing of this, 21.8 per cent of Saskatchewan people had received their first shot — second best in the nation only slightly behind Quebec. Admittedly, Saskatchewan also owns some less favourable statistics. Our 36,882 total cases have now slipped ahead of Manitoba (35,4589). Our current 202 hospitalizations (Manitoba has 138 in hospital) and seven-day average of 274 new cases a day (Manitoba’s seven-day average is less than half of that at 130 cases a day) are both, on a per capita basis, are among the worst in the nation. What all this means is that while Saskatchewan has managed to keep down the death toll, we are seeing more people and younger people getting sicker. This is translating into longer stays in ICUs, tying up beds. What we have been doing isn’t working as well as it we need it to work. Things needed to change. For that that reason, the Saskatchewan Party did the right thing by changing its vaccine rollout strategy and extending some additional restrictions to the entire province. Neither will be popular with critics of Premier Scott Moe’s government — many of who vehemently argue that the Sask. Party administration needed to be more nimble in its approach to get vaccines to those more vulnerable and needed to got much faster imposing further, more severe provincewide restrictions. Such criticism has its validity. There has been a penchant within this government to move too slowly and cautiously when it comes to change. This is a growing problem in this third wave where new variants spread more rapidly to younger people who are getting sicker. With a sizeable portion of Saskatchewan seniors and those over 50 years having received their first shots, it only makes sense to get vaccines to younger people who are most at risk of being potentially exposed because of their jobs. Mere hours after saying during a rare Saturday morning sitting of the legislature that it just couldn’t move off it’s strategy of mass vaccinations at age-based strategy because it was the quickest way to get the vaccines out, the government opened up vaccines to younger police officers in Regina. That was followed by an announcement two days later that police officers, firefighters, pharmacists and those who working in places with pharmacies would be prioritized as supplies were available. Given that many pharmacies are located in urban Safeway and Superstores or in big box stores like Walmart and Costco, that means we may be opening things up to a lot of younger and more vulnerable people working as cashiers. While this could lead to more protection for frontline workers most exposed to the public, the problem may be that we don’t have the vaccine supply to go around. AstraZeneca is not being doled out to those less than 55 years old because of rare blood clot cases. Similarly, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been placed on pause because of extreme remote incidents of blood clotting. Given this challenge, it is more important than ever to stop the spread. To the chagrin of many in the province, Health Minister Paul Merriman re-imposed provincewide restrictions that limit households from visiting and limit church services to 30 people. Many doctors and epidemiologists worry these measures and strategies are still not enough. It’s been a long fight, but it looks like we all still have to do more.

Our government’s plan to protect, build and grow the province has been presented and passed in the Legislative Assembly. Budget 2021-22 is a plan to protect the health and safety of Saskatchewan people and our economy in the fight against COVID-19. The Government of Saskatchewan recently extended the Re-Open Saskatchewan Training Subsidy (RSTS) to June 30, 2021. The program operates as a temporary training subsidy to provide businesses with financial support to train employees as they adjust to the impacts of the pandemic and safely align business activities with the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. With the added increase in COVID-19 variants and online learning, SaskTel is waiving data overage charges from April 12 - June 30, 2021 to further assist individuals with their online learning as well as those who are working remotely due to the pandemic. This will alleviate the worry of data usage for SaskTel customers until the end of the school year. In addition, SGI customers will be receiving rebate cheques in May for approximately $285 per vehicle. SaskPower customers are also currently enjoying a 10 per cent bill reduction which will equate to an average $131 per customer this year. These programs are helping Saskatchewan people as we work to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. Saskatchewan residents are already enjoying the lowest utility expenses in all of Canada during one of the most challenging times in history. Saskatchewan families are saving on average more than $5,200 in utility expenses when compared to a family unit in Alberta.

Budget 2021-22 Highlights

Budget 2021-22 is a plan to build Saskatchewan by investing in new long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools, highways, and vital Crown capital and municipal infrastructure to stimulate economic activity and meet people’s needs. Part of this is a $50 million capital stimulus grant to SaskPower. The $50 million Power Grid Renewal Grant will be invested directly into limiting power outages and improving distribution stability for everyone in Saskatchewan. The Power Grid Renewal Grant will enable SaskPower to invest a record $272 million to replace and improve aging transmission and distribution infrastructure over the coming year. Budget 2021-22 is also a plan to grow Saskatchewan through incentives and key investments while keeping life affordable for families. For example, we have introduced legislation re-establishing the Active Families Benefit to increase youth participation in sports, culture, and other recreational activities. The Benefit provides families with an annual income of less than $60,000 up to $150 per year, per child or $200 per year for children who are eligible for the federal Child Disability Tax Credit. You learn more about our plan to protect, build and grow Saskatchewan at saskatchewan.ca/budget.

New Legislation Introduced in Spring Sitting

The work of various committees and the introduction of legislation is a key part of the spring sitting of the legislature. Legislation this spring includes the extension of the Saskatchewan Technology Startup Incentive (STSI) for five years in order to meet the needs of the province's fast-growing tech sector. STSI offers a non-refundable 45 per cent tax credit to individuals, corporations, and venture capital funds that invest in early-stage technology companies. In addition to extending the program, the proposed legislation will respond to industry feedback and make the following program enhancements: • Increase the amount of capital a startup can raise under the program from $1 million to $2 million; • Set the value of the annual tax credit cap at $2.5 million; and • Extend the investment holding period from two to three years. These changes will attract larger investments into the tech sector and create the conditions companies need to thrive. Doing so will support the government's commitment to triple the growth of the technology sector by 2030. Our government is also introducing an extension of a cap on fees on food delivery charges, offering a longer period of support to restaurants who have had to shift much of their business to online delivery and pickup orders during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Delivery companies using independent contractors for delivery are also now eligible to obtain a permit to provide home delivery of alcohol products. As always, if you have questions, concerns or feedback about provincial government programs or services, please contact my Constituency office.

Letter to the Editor The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to news@martensvillemessenger.ca or mail to Box 333 - Martensville, SK S0K 2T0.

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Sask Five Giants Gearing Up To Start The Season Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

With spring in full bloom and the weather warming up, one of the most anticipated sports of the season, baseball, is just around the corner. With registration now complete, preparation for the upcoming season is in full swing. “We have around 250 participants registered for all age groups. Currently we are planning on having five 11U teams, four - 13U teams, three - 15U teams, and two - 18U teams. Our Rally Cap divisions will have around five teams each with our Junior Rally Cap being ages 5 and 6 and our Senior Rally cap are ages 7 and 8,” said Brian Hubbard of the Sask Five Giants Association. Game play is still not yet allowed with the COVID-19 health regulations regarding sports and activities, but the organization is hopeful to start soon. “We are tentatively scheduled to have our evaluation process the weekend of May 1 and 2 pending weather, diamond conditions, and health restrictions,” said Hubbard. After the evalulation process, teams will be created and practices will begin.

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Past Marauders Sign On to Next Level Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

The Martensville Marauder Alumni continue to make this community proud as several past Marauders are working their way up to the next level! Morgan Tastad from Loreburn, Sk played with the U15 AA program in the 20-21 season and is headed to the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA team next season. Joining him is Carter Mason from Perdue who played with the Martensville Marauder U15 AA from 2017-2019 earning 45 total points during that time. He played the 20192021 season with the U18 AA team in Martensville racking up 13 total points. Ryan Bain of Hanley played his 2020-21 season with the U15 AA Marauders and has signed on with the Moose Jaw AAA Warriors. Congratulations to Wyatt Wurtz from Dalmeny who played U18 AA in Martensville last season and Owen Dyck from Borden who played U15 AA in Martensville last season for signing with the AAA Battleford Stars! Martensville’s Taylor Leitch was a Marauder up until her U15 season when she moved on to play U15 AA Female hockey and on to PA with the Prince Albert Bears for AAA. She recently signed with the University of Windsor Lancers for the 2022/2023 Season! “As an Association we are extremely proud of the success we are seeing in moving athletes to the next level. These young people have worked very hard and have certainly earned these opportunities,” said Trevor Hanley, President of Martensville Minor Hockey Association. Congratulations to all!

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