April 4, 2024 Digital Issue

A Reminder about Spring Conditions in our Parks and on Pathways

Mild weather conditions, in combination with snow and runoff, have created potentially treacherous conditions within the City.

-We encourage residents to use extra caution when utilizing the pathway systems due to ice and water.

-Please stay off neighbourhood ponds. Pond conditions remain very uncertain due to warm temperatures and run off. Please watch for signs and barricades around neighborhood ponds.

- Snowmobiles and ATVs are prohibited from being driven through our parks as well as drainage systems and streets. Riding can cause damage to trees and plantings as well as parks containing hazards such as rocks or equipment.

Spring Thaw and Runoff

Recent heavy snows and milder weather will produce pooling and runoff through the community. Crews will be working to clear pooling areas and open up drainage ways for water to clear off of streets and pathways as efficiently as possible.

Please be aware that there will be icy surfaces, please take caution and care at this time. This includes lowering your speed on icy roads and having proper footwear on the pathways.

Protecting your Property

Provided are some helpful tips and tasks to help prevent water from seeping into your basement or accumulating on your property.

- Extend downspouts at least two metres (six feet) from your basement walls. The further the water is from the foundation, the less chance that it will make its way into your basement.

- Consider moving snow away from the foundation of your home, to prevent a large degree of melting immediately adjacent to your foundation.

More tips available at www.martensville.ca/pages/tips_for_spring_thaw

April Council Meeting Dates

Please Note: Council Meetings may be attended in person, guests may wear a mask if desired within Council Chambers. Those still wishing to attend but would wish to do so virtually should contact the City Clerk or visit the online agenda for the link to attend.

April 19th – Committee of the Whole

All Meetings are located at Martensville City Hall Council Chambers - Martensville City Hall - 37 Centennial Dr. S. All meetings commence at 5 PM.

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

POLICE BEAT

Three Arrested in Rosthern Robbery

On March 25, 2024 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Rosthern RCMP received a report of a robbery that had occurred at a business in Rosthern.

Investigation has determined that two males entered the business with an axe and a knife and stole a sum of cash. An adult female remained in the vehicle and later assisted the two males in leaving the scene. The occupants in the business reported no physical injuries.

Saskatoon Police Service located all three suspects and arrested them on March 27. The axe used in the offence, a knife, and a sum of cash have since been recovered by police.

22-year-old Kayden Aubichon from Prince Albert, SK is charged with:

• two counts, adult robbery with offensive weapon, Section 344, Criminal Code;

• one count, assault with a weapon, Section 267(a), Criminal Code; and

• one count, wear disguise with intent to commit offence, Section 351(2), Criminal Code.

23-year-old Rico Opikokew from Canoe Lake, SK is charged with:

• two counts, adult robbery with offensive weapon, Section 344, Criminal Code;

• three counts, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code;

• one count, assault with a weapon, Section 267(a), Criminal Code; and

• one count, wear disguise with intent to commit offence, Section 351(2), Criminal Code.

30-year-old Kristy Charles from Prince Albert, SK is charged with:

• two counts, adult robbery with offensive weapon, Section 344, Criminal Code;

Kayden Aubichon appeared in Meadow Lake Provincial Court on March 27, 2024 (Information #90445218). Rico Opikokew and Kristy Charles appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court on March 27, 2024 (Information #90445217 and #90513350).

Help Prevent Sewer Line Back-ups, it Starts in the Home

To help prevent a sewer backup, be mindful of what goes down the drain. Your pipes are not built to handle most food items and will almost always cause a blockage in the short or long term. When in doubt, properly dispose of these items by throwing them away

• Do not pour grease or cooking oil down the drain. Instead, scrape out or pour cooking oil and grease into a container or plastic bag and dispose of it in your kitchen garbage.

• Do not dispose of large absorbent items like paper towels, diapers, baby wipes or feminine products, down the toilet, these are not items that disintegrate like toilet paper will, including “flushable” wipes. These products should be disposed of in your garbage.

• Kitchen garburators increase the amount of organic material in the service lines. Depending on the condition of the service line, organic material can stick to the lines and over time cause blockages. Compost your organic material instead.

Easter Egg Geocache Event- March 29th- April 7th

Enjoy the milder weather and time off of school by participating this Geocache event.

Find all the eggs around Martensville to be entered to win the grand prize! Winner will be drawn on Monday April 8th! The first clue will be posted to the City of Martensville Facebook page on March 29 at 9AM.

Submissions can be sent to jmcculloch@martensville.ca!

Thank you to our Community Sponsor North Prairie Development and CANWEST, as well as to our Gold Sponsor Lakeview Insurance Brokers.

Don’t Get Missed on Garbage/Recycling Day

A few reminders to ensure you don’t get missed for your scheduled pick-up day:

• Have the cart curbside by 7AM on collection day

• Do not overfill carts. The lid must be closed to ensure contents cannot fall out of the bin, spill onto roadways or against the garbage truck. Bins that are overfilled will not be picked-up.

• Bag all trash and place inside the cart, bagged or unbagged garbage placed beside, in front, or on top of the cart will not be collected.

Lane Usage During Spring Thaw

The City of Martensville encourages residents, for which their lane is a secondary means of access to their property, to limit their usage during the spring thaw period. Heavy or repetitive vehicle usage during spring thaw and wet conditions can cause further rutting and reduce drainage. This limits the ability of crews to conduct maintenance on the lanes in a timely manner and increases the amount of materials and time required to reshape lanes.

For questions or further information please contact Public Works at 931-2166.

New Driver? No Alcohol or Cannabis when Driving. Not Even a Little Bit.

Nearly 1,000 new drivers suspended in 2023 for exceeding provincial limits

Are you a Novice driver, a Learner or under the age of 22? Here’s some advice that will keep you from getting your licence suspended for 60 days and your vehicle impounded: Don’t drink alcohol or take cannabis (or any other drugs) and then drive. Not even a little bit.

It’s something that’s taught in driver’s education, but the lesson was seemingly lost on the 982 new drivers who had their licence suspended last year for exceeding provincial limits on alcohol and drugs. New drivers make up just nine per cent of the licensed drivers in Saskatchewan, but accounted for more than 33 per cent of 2023’s impaired driving administrative suspensions.

“This isn’t about spoiling anyone’s good time; it’s about reminding all drivers, including new ones, that you’ve always got options to find a safe ride home,” said JP Cullen, Chief Operating Officer of the Auto Fund. “Choosing not to drive impaired will keep you safe and keep you out of trouble.”

A new driver is classified as anyone who is in the Graduated Driver Licensing program or is age 21 and under. Experienced drivers – people who are 22 years old or older and are no longer a Learner or Novice – cannot legally drive with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) above .04. All drivers are subject to the province’s zero tolerance laws for drug-impaired driving.

Police officers have access to roadside testing devices for both alcohol and drugs. A positive result on either means a new driver will lose their licence for at least 60 days, and the vehicle they were driving will be immediately impounded for three days. Administrative roadside suspensions also come with requirements to attend a mandatory impaired driver education course and four demerits under the Safe Driver Recognition program. Consequences increase for repeat offences.

February Traffic Safety Spotlight results: For the month of February, police across Saskatchewan reported the following:

• 449 impaired driving offences, including 171 Criminal Code charges and 278 administrative suspensions.

• 440 tickets for distracted driving, including 372 for using a cellphone while driving.

• 245 occupant restraint tickets for not wearing a seatbelt, or not having children in the proper car seat or booster.

• 3,694 tickets for other speeding or aggressive driving offences.

Follow SGI on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads for more safe driving advice.

Martens Wins Sask Party Nomination to Represent Martensville-Blairmore in Fall Election

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The North Ridge Community Centre was a hub of activity on Wednesday, March 27th as the Saskatchewan Party held a nomination meeting for the Martensville-Blairmore constituency. Once all of the votes were tallied, Martens was announced as the winner and will now represent the newly formed constituency as the Sask Party representative in the fall election.

A steady flow of traffic could be seen coming and going as people attended to place their votes between Jamie Martens and Sunny Kals. The week prior to the vote, a third nominee, M.S. Gill , dropped out of the running and endorsed Martens in her candidacy.

The evening kicked off with registration at 5:30, and voting took place until approximately 8pm. Both Martens and Kals took the stage to give a speech prior to the announcement of the nomination winner.

During her speech, Martens stated, “I am truly humbled as I stand here today. I am humbled by the simple fact that I was able to meet some of the most extraordinary people through this journey. Communities coming together is what Saskatchewan is made of.”

Martens, who was born and raised in Martensville, began her road in politics back in 2012 when she first ran for Martensville City Council, and since

then, has continued as a City Councilor, and currently sits as Martensville Deputy Mayor. In addition to this, Martens has maintained a position with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for three terms. Prior to this, Martens worked within law enforcement.

“Law enforcement taught me patience, understanding and a willingness to help those in need. Serving on Council has taught me how important teamwork is and how listening is always better than speaking. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Saskatchewan Urban Municipal Association have been some of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was able to make a change, a difference, not only here at home, but across Canada,” Martens said.

Having grown up in a strict Mennonite home in Martensville, with family still in the area and three children of her own, Martens noted that the community is everything to her, and that discipline, hard work, determination and integrity are qualities that she lives by.

“A great leader once said; are you the landlord, or are you the tenant? I am the tenant. You are the landlord. I work for you and anyone in this position does the same. That great leader was our former Premier Brad Wall,” Martens stated during her speech.

The 2024 Saskatchewan General Election will take place this October.

Fun with Gymnastics at the MAP

The City of Martensville offers a variety of gymnastics options, including Curious Caterpillars for ages 0-2, Courageous Cocoons for ages 3 and 4, and Marvelous Monarchs, which includes classes for ages 5 & 6, 7 & 8 and 9-12. All classes use the CanGym program from GymSask and teach a wide variety of skills to all ages.

The new session of gymnastics will run from April 10-June 12 at the MAP, with Curious Caterpillars taking place from 10:00am-10:45am and Courageous Cocoons from 11:00am12:00pm. For the Marvelous Monarchs classes, they will take place from April 9 –June 11 at the MAP.

Ages 5-6 are Tuesdays from 4:30pm-5:30pm, ages 7-8 from 5:45pm6:45pm and ages 9-12 from 7:00pm-8:00pm.

Each option offers a total of ten classes.

For more information on these classes, visit www. martensville.ca, or look in the most current City of Martensville Program Guide.

ABOVE: Jamie Martens came out on top at the March 27th Saskatchewan Party nomination meeting for the Martensville/ Blairmore constituency against fellow candidate Sunny Kals. (Shanine Sealey/MM)

ABOVE: Sunny Kals brought his family on stage during a passionate speech at the March 27th Nomination Meeting. (Shanine Sealey/MM)

ABOVE: Martensville/Warman MLA Terry Jenson was the guest speaker during the Sask Party Nomination Meeting on March 27th. (Shanine Sealey/MM)

RIGHT: Little Cali practices her balancing skills during her March 27th gymnastics class at the MAP. (Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM)

Team Derksen Finishes Season in 4th Place in U21 Division

Martensville Curling Club’s Team Derksen represented their province as Saskatchewan #2 Men this past weekend at the 2024 New Holland Canadian U21 Championships. The team, consisting of Gavin Martens – Lead, Tyler Derksen –Second, Logan Sawicki – Third, Dylan Derksen – Skip and Coach Brad Kennedy, went undefeated throughout regulation play, with a record of 8-0, earning them the top spot in the A Pool and a bye into the semi-finals. Following a 7-5 loss against NS, Team Derksen went into the bronze match against MB2, where they came up short. Although it wasn’t the outcome they were hoping for, they ended the season in 4th place in Canada within the U21 division. Congratulations on a successful season.

ABOVE: The Valley United Soccer Club began their 5-week training camp for the VUSC/Valley Soccer Association Goalkeeper training at the Martensville Athletic Pavilion on March 24th. This camp will help prepare keepers in the Valley for the upcoming seasons.

Abundance of Easter Hampers Given to Families in Need

Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

The Martensville Food Pantry (MFP), with the help of donors, Martensville & District Lions Club, and volunteers, were able to make up 49 Easter hampers this year to give to those in need over the holiday.

The biggest contributors to these hampers were the Martensville Coop for assisting in purchasing the hams, as well as Bergthaler Mennonite Church and a few individual donations.

“A big thank you to the Martensville & District Lions Club for donating chocolate Easter bunnies for all the children included in our Easter hampers. We are very grateful for their continuous and generous support,” the Martensville Food Pantry stated via social media.

According to Tara Wagner, the MFP Community Liaison and Board of Directors’ member, there are a number of items needed to help restock the pantry following Easter. Items include; canned veggies and fruit, pork ‘n beans, children’s nut free lunch snacks and juice boxes.

“In June the Martensville & Area Lions Club will be hosting a ‘Fill the Trailer’ food drive once again for the Martensville Food Pantry,” Wagner added. Watch for more details about this in the upcoming months.

The MFP is located in the Martensville Civic Centre at 66 Main St., Room 2 and offers a variety of food options to those in Martensville and surrounding communities each week.

If you or someone you know is in need of a hamper, contact 306-280-1255, or email martensvillefoodpantry@gmail.com. For more information, visit the ‘Martensville Food Pantry’ Facebook page.

Surgical Procedure Information

Added to MySaskHealthRecord

Saskatchewan patients have even more of their own health information at their fingertips with the addition of a new Surgical Procedures feature on MySaskHealthRecord accounts.

The feature is a first in Canada and with its introduction, anyone with an account can now see information about upcoming surgeries, including; Scheduled procedure date, Specialist/ surgeon's name, Procedure name(s), Procedure location, and Status of procedure.

Accounts will also contain information about surgical procedures performed from 2018 onwards.

"MySaskHealthRecord puts important personal health information literally in the palm of a patient's hand," Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister Tim McLeod said. "Saskatchewan continues to lead in allowing patients to access their own personal health information in an easy-to-use format. I'm happy to say that we are the first province to make information about upcoming surgical procedures available to patients through their online health record."

The Surgical Procedures feature will be accessible online and via the app for anyone who has a MySaskHealthRecord account. Patients awaiting surgery should already be able to see information about their upcoming procedures. Patients can also sign up for push notifications, alerting them to information.

"When patients like me can access medical information, it lets us become active participants in our own health care and reduces the anxiety that can come from not knowing," Patient Family Partner Wendy Kopciuch said. "Having access to information about upcoming surgical procedures means I can have informed conversations with my health care team, and also arrange my personal and professional life to accommodate my surgery date."

"Well-informed patients are better prepared for appointments with their health care providers and can be more directly involved in decisions impacting their surgical procedures," Provincial Department Head of Surgery for the Saskatchewan Health Authority Dr. Michael Kelly said. "When patients can easily access information ahead of time, it allows us to make good use of the time we have together. We spend less time on scheduling details and can focus on discussing their individual journey toward timely surgical care."

MySaskHealthRecord was launched in October of 2019, giving Saskatchewan residents access to lab test results and other health records online. The MySaskHealthRecord app was introduced in May of 2023 to make accessing personal health information even easier. The app has been downloaded an average of 10,000 times each month since then.

Residents who have a MySaskHealthRecord account can use it to see their clinical visit history, medical imaging reports, lab test results, immunization history, prescription history and now information about surgical procedures from 2018 onwards.

To register for a MySaskHealthRecord account residents need to be 14 years or older, have a valid SGI driver's license or SGI photo ID, have an active Saskatchewan Health Services card and have an email address. Visit www.ehealthsask. ca/mysaskhealthrecord to learn more or register.

ABOVE: The Martensville & District Lions Club provided chocolate bunnies for the Martensville Food Pantry Easter food hampers.

ABOVE: The Martensville Food Pantry provided 49 food hampers to local families to help ensure they had a variety of food options this Easter. (Submitted)

Political Affordability Arguments Contradictory

While Canadians might be divided on application of the carbon tax on certain forms of home heating, their premiers have turned up the heat on increases to the carbon. There are now at least seven premiers telling the federal Liberal government to axe the increase that came into effect April 1.

“The forthcoming 23-per-cent increase to the federal carbon tax on April 1st will increase the cost of almost everything, making life less affordable for Saskatchewan people, families and businesses,” Premier Scott Moe wrote to the MP Peter Fonseca, chair of the standing chair on finance, in requesting to appear before the committee.

“Our government’s decision to stop collecting the federal carbon tax on natural gas and electricity used for home heating led to an immediate decrease inflation as confirmed by Statistics Canada. “The last thing Canadians can afford right now is yet another increase in the federal carbon tax.”

In no small irony, Moe’s letter came five days after presentation of the 2023-24 budget that at one time was thought it might contain a one-percentage point or possibly two-percentage-point cut to this province’s six-per-cent PST. Of course, that was a year ago when Finance Minister Donna Harpauer presented what appeared to be her second consecutive billion-dollar surplus budget that turned out to be a $482.5-million deficit.

It also comes as the NDP leader Carla Beck and her Opposition; obviously, intent on scoring political points in an election year; are demanding that Moe follow the lead of Ontario and Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford and reduce the 15-cent-a-litre gas tax here.

One assumes that the provincial gas tax here must also be “making life less affordable for Saskatchewan people, families and businesses”.

Given that we are headed for a $273.2-million deficit in 2024-25, Moe and his Saskatchewan Party government have already made it abundantly clear that if highways are to be built and fixed, the money has to come from somewhere. That argument from Moe and others in his government is perfectly sound.

The perennial problems from oppositions; especially, in election years; is that they often feel their only duty is to complain about what taxes being too high or government needing to spend more. The reality is that this ill-prepares them for making the tough choices that are required when one governs.

The further reality in Moe’s argument is that the “carbon tax” isn’t really going to pay for anything. It is there as a “levy” designed to discourage personal choices to consume greater amounts of CO2. In doing so, consumers receive rebates.

One big problem in the federal government policy is that there’s little to suggest it is reducing or even curtailing greenhouse gas emissions; let alone, cutting into the problem of global warming that requires a buy-in from every country. (China produced 31.7 per cent of all CO2 emissions; two and a half times the 2nd biggest emitter, the United States. Canada produces 1.5 per cent of all global CO2 emissions.)

That said, if the argument is strictly one of how the carbon tax is making life unaffordable, it is a difficult argument for Moe to make.

During budget week, Moe, Harpauer and the entire government pointed out that Saskatchewan is the most affordable place to live in Canada, other than Alberta. This was the government’s repeated response to concerns from Beck and the NDP that people in this province are desperate for a break from inflation.

Like the NDP, the Sask. Party government can’t have it both ways. The truth likely falls somewhere in middle, as it usually does, but Moe surely can’t argue that Saskatchewan people are now being hammered by inflationary costs and then argue he doesn’t need to do anything because it’s cheap to live here.

Unfortunately, it’s become another argument less about inflation and more about politics.

MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature

Record Budget for Education

The 2024-25 provincial budget was introduced on March 20 and includes a record budget of $3.3 billion for the Ministry of Education. This is an increase of 247.8 million or 8.8 per cent over last year to support Prekindergarten through Grade 12 schools, early learning and child care, and libraries.

Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions will receive the largest-ever increase in school operating funding, totaling $2.2 billion. This is up $180 million or 8.8 per cent over last year’s budget.

The school division operating increase includes $35 million to support enrolment growth for the 2024-25 school year, as our communities across the province continue to experience unprecedented growth.

The budget includes $356.6 million for classroom supports, an increase of $45.6 million or 14.7 per cent, over last year. This includes ongoing funding for the Specialized Support Classroom and Teacher Innovation and Support Fund pilot projects.

School infrastructure continues to be a key priority. In addition to the $3.3 billion for the Ministry of Education is an investment of $216 million for school capital, an increase of $68.7 million or 46.6 per cent over last year.

An investment of $165.9 million will support ongoing projects across the province, including 11 new or consolidated school projects and three major renovations. A further investment of $8.8 million will fund planning for nine new schools and two new school renovations announced in this year’s budget.

The budget provides $12.8 million for minor capital renewal projects which will allow school divisions to address structural repairs and renovations and prolong the life of schools across the province. In addition, the budget commits $28.5 million for relocatable classrooms to help address enrolment growth.

School capital projects ensure our schools continue to meet the needs of Saskatchewan students and families. Since 2008, our government has committed approximately $2.4 billion toward school infrastructure projects, including 60 new schools and 30 major renovation projects with an additional five projects approved through the Minor Capital Renewal Program.

To further support Saskatchewan families, the budget provides $408.7 million for early learning and childcare. This includes an increase of $21.1 million for the Federal-Provincial Child Care Agreements. This funding continues to support child care at $10 per day for children under the age of six, which helps make Saskatchewan one of the most affordable places in Canada to live and raise a family. Our government is also committed to adding more regulated home-based and centre-based child care spaces in the province, creating more jobs for our growing province.

The budget also provides $11.6 million for Saskatchewan’s library system and $1.1 million for funded literacy organizations.

Our government remains committed to investing in students, teachers and classrooms through the 202425 Provincial Budget. As I continue to represent you in the Legislature, I welcome your questions or comments. You can reach my constituency office at office@terryjenson.ca or 306-242-2111.

Saskatchewan Holds Small Business Tax Rate Reduction at One Per Cent

The Government of Saskatchewan introduced legislation today to provide relief to small businesses in the province.

As outlined in the 2024-25 Budget, The Income Tax Amendment Act, 2024 maintains the small business tax rate reduction in Saskatchewan at one per cent until June 30, 2025.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our provincial economy," Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said. "We are pleased to maintain the small business tax reduction to help support their growth and allow owners to reinvest in their businesses."

Saskatchewan temporarily suspended the small business corporate income tax rate of two per cent in Fall 2020 to support small businesses in the province through the pandemic and the ensuing recovery. Following an extension in 2022, the rate was scheduled to gradually return to two per cent, beginning at one per cent on July 1, 2023. It was then set to return to two per cent on July 1, 2024, but it will now remain at one per cent until June 30, 2025.

With the extension, an estimated 31,000 small businesses in Saskatchewan will save $56 million in corporate income tax. The small business rate was first lowered in 2020, and is expected to save Saskatchewan's small businesses an estimated $416 million in total.

Saskatchewan businesses continue to enjoy a very competitive tax environment. The province currently has the second-lowest small business tax rate in Canada. In addition, the amount of eligible business income on which the small business tax rate applies remains at $600,000, which is the highest threshold in Canada.

Art Ville Spring Craft Market to Provide Variety of Options

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

This April, the first ever Art Ville Spring Craft Market will be taking place in Martensville. On April 14th, a group of local artisans will be at the North Ridge Community Centre from 10am-4pm offering a wide variety of handmade, homemade and artisanal products. There will also be some Kidpreneurs attending the event, who will be showcasing their products.

Organizers Amy Krieger, and her daughter Chloe McMillan, began advertising this event earlier this year, and in just over a week, they had filled the hall with vendors interested in attending.

“We were really blown away with the interest. We have 57 vendors with a total of 74 tables of amazing handmade items. We’ve got embroidery, clothing, macramé, birdhouses & feeders, jewelry, candles, 3D printing, laser engraving, woodworking, silversmithing, pottery, crocheting, artwork, writers, body & self-care products, baking, decals and more. It will really, truly include a little bit of everything. When we say that the market’s lineup is incredible, it is an understatement,” the Art Ville Spring Craft Market organizers explained.

Both Krieger and McMillan have a love of being creative within their side businesses; Wonderland Wicks and Bad Stitch Club, so decided they wanted to create a day where others could experience shopping with others, who are like-minded, and have created beautiful things. “We really enjoyed working together to see our vision come together for this fun day.”

Due to this event already being such a success when it comes to vendor involvement, there are already plans to potentially host a fall market as well.

In addition to the variety of vendors, Krieger and McMillan are looking forward to having representatives from the Pop-Up Rescue Project attend the event, along with some of their furry friends that are available for adoption. “If people are looking for a canine companion, this is the perfect opportunity to meet some of the dogs who are looking for their forever home.”

Entry to attend this event will be $2/person, with 12 & under free. There are vendor showcases posted regularly on the ‘Art Ville Craft Market’ Facebook page, so you can begin making your shopping list in advance.

Changes To Liquor Regulations Provide New Opportunities For U-Brew/U-Vin Facilities

Homemade beer and wine will soon be able to be served at family events that hold a special occasion permit in Saskatchewan.

Beginning April 2, 2024, individuals holding a special occasion permit can serve beer and wine they made at home or at a licensed U-Brew/U-Vin facility at their family event.

"These changes provide additional options for people hosting a wedding, reunion or other family event, while also enhancing business opportunities for U-Brew and U-Vin facilities where customers manufacture their own products," Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Dustin Duncan said. "Government will continue to reduce unnecessary liquor regulations when possible while balancing the need to ensure alcohol is served and consumed responsibly."

Events still require a special occasion permit from SLGA, and event organizers cannot charge guests for homemade wine or beer.