March 7, 2024

Glow Skate- March 10th

Sponsored by North Prairie Developments and CanWest, take advantage of one of the last public skating days of the season. Strap on the skates, dress in bright neon colors, and head down to the Sports Center.

Glow skating will have dimmed lighting, glow sticks, and music! Admission is by donation to Martensville KidSport or by donation of non-perishable food items to the Martensville Food Pantry.

In Case of a Water Line Freeze Up…

In the past, there have been areas in the community prone to water line freeze-ups.

If you experience a waterline freeze‐up or any other interruption in service, please call (306) 931‐2166 to report your issue. If this happens outside of regular business hours, please follow the prompts to be transferred to the emergency after‐hours contact.

Thank you for your co‐operation!

A Reminder about Winter Safety in our Parks and on Pathways

Mild weather conditions, in combination with recent sleet and rain, have created potentially treacherous conditions within the City.

-We encourage residents to use extra caution over the coming days when utilizing the pathway systems.

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

Keeping our Pets Safe this Winter

Snow Removal This Winter – What You Need To Know

The Snow removal program aims to reduce hazards in the community, ensure roadways for emergency vehicles, and provide access to goods and services in the community.

Our crews strive to deliver excellent service, however sometimes weather can be unpredictable, and snow and ice control activities may vary. Every reasonable effort will be made to promptly remove snow and ice and create safe driving and walking conditions. There are ways you can help to ensure to keep streets clear and safe

- Do not shovel, blow, or push snow from private property onto the street – this causes snow ridges on your driveway when our plow cleans our street.

- Do not plow or pile snow on streets or hydrants – this can block access to manholes, water valves, and access to water in case of emergencies.

- Clear your driveways in advance of the city’s snow clearing operations - this helps our operators clear your street more efficiently as well as more clearly see driveways to avoid ridging.

- Do not park your vehicle in an area where it could obstruct snow removal procedures this hinders our operations and could result in a snow ridge blocking your vehicle in place.

- Do not leave large piles of snow at the corners of driveways – this snow can be caught by a raised snow-gate blade and topple over into your driveway or the street.

-Prevent snow from piling up on the front of your driveway by moving it near your tree/lawn areas behind your walkway.

Information on general program procedures and the City’s Priority Map is available online at Martensville.ca

More about Snow Removal – Safety Reminders

The Snow removal program aims to reduce hazards in the community, ensure roadways for emergency vehicles, and provide access for to goods and services in the community.

If your pet spends time outdoors during cold winter days, consider these guidelines and several signs to watch for to ensure your pet is comfortable and safe.

Temperature Guidelines

- Certain breeds of ‘sled dogs’ can remain outside for hours, not all dogs fare as well in cold and snow

- Cold temperatures should not become a problem for most dogs until it falls below -7°C at which point cold adverse dogs might begin to be uncomfortable

- If you have a small breed dog, dogs with thin coats, or very young, old or sick dogs’ special attention should be provided if the temperature is below 0°C.

- The dangerous weather threshold for outdoor play is -10°C to -15°C no matter the type of breed of dog you have

- Once temperatures get below -6°C, health problems like hypothermia and frostbite are possible

- Cats should not be left outside

Tips for a Safe and Comfortable Winter

- Provide a shelter for your dog if it is outdoors for part of the day for any reason. Ensure the shelter is dry, draft-free, and large enough for them to move comfortably but small enough to hold in body heat. Have the floor elevated and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

- Ensure your dog has access to unfrozen water and fresh food.

- Be with your pet outdoors and watch for signs if your animal is getting uncomfortable. Observe if your dog is shivering, acting anxious, whining, slowing down, searching out warm locations, or holding up one or more paws. At this point, it is time to head indoors.

- Extreme signs of discomfort and coldness include frostbite on the tips of the ears or discolored paws.

- Consider protecting your pet against the cold temperature by bundling them up in dog jackets or booties.

- Do not leave a pet in a cold vehicle

- Snowmobiles 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. Editor/Office

-Watch for posted areas for Snow Removal - In case of snow and snow removal, crews need to have roads cleared of all vehicles on posted streets. If you are going out of the City over the holidays, please have your vehicles off City streets. Vehicles left on the street per the traffic bylaw are ticketed and towed (to a non-posted area).

-Stay Clear of Sanding Trucks and Snow Removal Equipment - Sanding and Snow Removal Equipment make frequent stops or may change direction at any time. If you are near or behind the sanding truck or snow removal equipment you are reminded to stay back 15m to ensure heavy machinery can safely operate and sanders can spread materials in intersections without risk to your vehicle.

-Snow Dump Area is Restricted - The snow dump area located along 10th Avenue S, is a restricted area for city crews and contractors to dump and pile snow. This is not a recreational area and we ask that the public remain out of these areas due to potential hazards.

Information on general program procedures and the City’s Priority Map is available online at Martensville.ca

March 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.

March 5th – Regular Council

March 12th -Committee of the Whole

March 19th -Regular Council

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

Weekend Storm Brings Community to a Standstill

Martensville was one of many other communities to get pummeled by March coming in like a lion this year, as the area saw approximately 30 to 40cm of snow fall within a 24hour period.

The City of Martensville released a statement on Sunday evening asking residents to stay home on Monday morning if possible, and if not to plan carefully due to the large amount of snow.

Crews were working throughout the weekend to remove snow drifts and accumulation on primary arterials and collector streets, and as of Monday, most streets within the community have seen a pass through with the grader.

Snow pick-up throughout the city will take place at a later date, beginning with priority areas and will be posted ahead of time.

ABOVE: A home in Landis had a big job ahead following a weekend snowstorm. (Submitted)

“We are thankful to our crews that have worked tirelessly through the weekend to help ensure access could be maintained to infrastructure and emergency services through the largest storm this winter season. Going forward, we hope residents can help each other dig out and also show patience with our crews as we move on to next stages of snow removal,” City Manager Tanya Garost said.

The Martensville Fire Department reminded residents with fire hydrants on their property to ensure when shoveling, not to forget to take some time to clear the hydrants of ice and snow so they can spot and access them quickly in case of emergency.

It is also important to ensure that all intake pipes and exhaust vents on your home are clear of snow, as a plugged exhaust could result in carbon monoxide entering your home, or cause your furnace to shut down.

Many businesses, as well as schools and civic facilities were either closed, or opened late on Monday as travel was difficult due to road conditions.

Although cooler temperatures are forecasted for the rest of the week, by the weekend, warmer weather will begin to melt the accumulated snow.

More information about snow removal procedures can be found on page 2 of this issue, or by visiting www.martensville.ca. Updates on snow removal can be found on the City of Martensville Facebook page.

ABOVE: A Martensville resident decided to spread some joy during the weekend storm and took to the roads in a dinosaur costume to stay on top of the snow accummulation. (Submitted)

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

ABOVE: Residents were hard at work digging out following a 30-40cm snowfall this past weekend. (Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM)

SPORTS

RIGHT and BELOW: The popular Party on the Pond event was held this past Friday and Saturday. Proceeds from this annual event will go towards the new Martensville Community Recreation Centre. The event consisted of a 3-on3 hockey tournament, as well as entertainment at the North Ridge Community Centre each night. (Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM)

ABOVE: The Martensville Marauder U18 Villains have moved on to the second round of provincials following a sudden death win over Swift Current. (Martensville Minor Hockey)

ABOVE: STARSkate and STAR Synchro skaters from Skate Martensville competed in the Winter Classic, held in Kindersley, this past weekend and did their commnity proud with all-star performance. (Skate Martensville)

Emma’s Journey With Biliary Atresia

Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

It was Thanksgiving weekend, and our family was going to gather at my brothers’ farm outside of Humboldt to celebrate.

As we were all hanging outside enjoying the beautiful weather, I got a phone call from my sister saying they would be unable to make it out, and that they were on there way to RUH to meet her daughter, Megan, and husband, Kian, who had taken their daughter Emma, to the Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon, following a blood work up that showed Emma had high direct bilirubin levels.

Through a nuclear scan, it was confirmed Emma has biliary atresia (BA), a rare liver disorder. Essentially it is when bile flow from the liver to the intestine is blocked, which causes a backup in the liver. This can quickly cause damage and scarring of the liver, which eventually leads to liver failure.

After this was confirmed, she was scheduled for a 5-hour surgery called the Kasai procedure a week later.

“We were told by our pediatrician and surgeon that most children with BA have a liver transplant by age 2 to 5; however, a small percentage will do fine after the Kasai procedure and never need a transplant,” said Megan.

But Emma’s journey continued to have more bumps along the way.

In mid-November Emma’s routine blood work was quite elevated from when it was done at discharge from hospitalization following the surgery a few weeks before. Upon consultation with the pediatric GI team in Edmonton, it was decided that Emma should be hospitalized and treated with IV antibiotics; it was suspected her blood work was elevated due to cholangitis, (an infection of the bile ducts, the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines), despite not having other symptoms. Luckily, they only had to sleep at the hospital for one night and were then granted day passes, which meant driving to hospital at 8am, 4pm, and midnight.

Following the series of antibiotics, her blood work only slightly decreased. Next step; repeat bloodwork and see Emma’s pediatrician the following week.

In December they travelled to Edmonton to see a liver specialist for Emma and have an ultrasound. The specialist expressed that Emma’s bloodwork was not good. Everything had been quite elevated since her surgery, including the direct bilirubin, which had basically been over 100 since (normal range is up to 5). She informed them if the direct bilirubin had been over 100, the surgery was not successful.

They were told that because her bloodwork is all high, this will likely cause her liver to get sicker. This can look like slow growth, portal hypertension (increased pressure within the portal venous system) and bleeding, and cholangitis.

The good news was that the doctor was very happy and appeared surprised with Emma’s growth and milestones. “Emma was doing very well in this category for a BA kiddo! So that was at least good news.”

After her ultrasound, the specialist informed them she spoke with the transplant team about Emma. They were told they would have to go back to Edmonton in February for transplant assessment, where Emma would be an inpatient at the Children’s hospital in Edmonton for one week.

This was very disheartening as they were hoping this would not occur until Emma was older.

“I’m still having a difficult time comprehending the fact that, in her short five months, this disorder has caused enough havoc that my little baby needs a new organ.”

“The thought of not being in Saskatoon, with our support network, during this time is also daunting,” said Megan.

As the month went on, most of Emma’s bloodwork relating to her liver continued to worsen. Her GGT (marker for bile ducts) had actually decreased the last two times they went for bloodwork, which led their pediatrician to think it may have taken this long for the procedure to work; however, the damage to her liver had already been done.

Emma continued to see the pediatrician, as well as bloodwork and weight check, every two weeks at the Children’s hospital in Saskatoon.

“Every visit he brings in residents and medical students to assess her belly and educate on biliary atresia. Emma’s liver and spleen are so enlarged that they can be felt, which is not normal. While each doctor/student pokes and prods her belly, little Em is as chill as can be. One time she was flirting with the male medical student; she was grabbing his hand and trying to roll over to see him.”

Emma continued to gain weight during this time, which was a good sign, however, the thought of what was to come with the transplant assessment was lingering on

in their minds.

They would meet with the transplant surgeon and every specialist under the sun. Emma would have multiple tests, scans, swabs, labs; and her and husband Kian would attend a transplant education session. By the end of the week, they would know whether Emma needs a transplant and an approximate timeline of when this would need to occur.

After spending a week at Ronald McDonald House while Emma is assessed at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, it’s the end of the transplant assessment, and the team has listed Emmy at Level 0, which means she needs a transplant but needs to grow bigger. Her portal vein, the main vein supplying blood to the liver, is only 5mm and it needs to be 7mm. The hepatologist suspects the transplant to happen around her first birthday, although, it could be sooner as this disorder can change rapidly. She is also a candidate to receive a living donor.

“She ideally needs to gain weight, as this makes the surgery “easier” and less likely to have complications. As a result, an NG feeding tube was placed to ensure she is getting more calories and fat. Her diet will need to consist of 50% MCT oil to hopefully fatten her up!”

During a scheduled clinic visit with the hepatologist (liver specialist) Monday, February 26th in Edmonton, it was determined that Emma needed to be hospitalized at the Stollery.

“We were shocked, unprepared, and heartbroken to be back so soon. We don’t know when she will be discharged…. The hepatologist said ‘Emma is giving us signs’, meaning her body is letting us know she is near the end stage of her liver failure. She will likely need her transplant sometime in April.”

Emma received her live vaccines on Thursday, the 29th, and they need to wait four weeks post live vaccines.

“We may be here until the transplant…. Then we are in Edmonton, at the minimum, for three months post-transplant.

I don’t have many other words right now; except we are extremely grateful to three donors being actively worked up right now. The living donor coordinator office has been overwhelmed with the amount of phone calls; they have not been able to keep up and return them all. Thank you to everyone who even considered being a donor. We cannot explain how much this means to us.”

A GoFundMe page (https://gofund. me/43974ba3) has been set up to help them with financial distress as they are displaced from their home, work, and at times, their three-year-old son for the next 5 – 6 months. This will help with accommodation in a private home as Emma’s immune system will be compromised posttransplant, as well as food, gas, etc.

Old Sask. Party Problems Never Went Away

The problem for the Saskatchewan Party right today goes back to the unanswered questions from 27 years ago when it was initially formed: What happens when the NDP is no longer a threat? What, then, are we really about as a party?

It wasn’t the question anyone in the Sask. Party was talking about back in 1997 when four Liberal MLAs (half its caucus in the legislature at the time) and four Progressive Conservative MLAs (its entire caucus except for one MLA facing criminal charges) much thought about at the time when they merged to form the official Opposition.

At the time, MLAs from the Liberals and PCs were thinking more about their own political opportunities and very survival; although the merger was always pitched as the grander ideal of having a single right-wing alternative to the NDP that frequently won because of the right-wing party splitting votes.

For its first two elections in 1999 and 2003, there still might have been creeping doubt within Sask. Party ranks as to whether they could beat the NDP even without as much vote splitting on the right.

It’s why then organizers of the party worked diligently to ensure the Sask. Party wasn’t branded by the more right-wing, social conservative element who were diligently attempting to take over the new party.

Flash back nearly 27 years ago to the Sask. Party’s inaugural convention in November 1997 in Saskatoon and there were serious questions as to whether this fledgeling organization was going to survive its first new months.

That initial gathering of free-enterprises convention was littered with anti-abortionists eager to take over this party and saw it as an opportunity to enshrine social conservative policies that clearly weren’t palatable to a majority of Saskatchewan.

The Sask. Party hierarchy managed to avoid seeing their inaugural convention turn into an ugly abortion debate. Nevertheless, social conservatives still managed to pass resolutions calling for chain gangs for prisoners, boot camps for young offenders and an end to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.

That first Sask. Party convention saw former Liberal candidate Robin Bellamy (who was never elected as a Sask. Party candidate but like former Liberal MLAs Rod Gantefoer, Ken Krawetz, June Draude and Bob Bjornerud ran for both parties) patiently explain why boot camps don’t really work.

Former Progressive Conservative social services minister Grant Schmidt; who once advised welfare mothers to grow gardens like he his wife did; also offered his voice as one of reason.

Interestingly, you won’t find any of those resolutions on the record because; just prior to the 2007 election and three years after Brad Wall took over the party’s leadership from Elwin Herrmanson; the resolutions were expunged from the Sask. Party record.

However, the social conservative element in the party didn’t go away. In 2016, the Wall government seriously considered a law that would have required girls under 18 years of age to receive parental consent before getting an abortion. Provincial government documents at the time concluded there would be multiple constitutional issues and “insurmountable” problems.

These festering issues are even evident today, as evident in the controversy over Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre reappointing a totally new slate of Human Rights Commissioners; some, with direct political ties as Sask. Party candidates or to Eyre’s own Sask. Party constituency executive.

The SHRC; the long-standing, non-partisan quasijudicial body that some in the Sask. Party wanted eliminated; is now being seeing partisan appointments.

Not everyone is going to agree with everything the human rights commission says, but this is clearly a wrong direction for the Sask. Party.

It is a party that needs to take a step back and take at look where it is going.

The problem, however, is that this is a party that’s never put much thought into who it truly is and what it stands for.

MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature

Removal of Carbon Tax by SaskEnergy

Our government recently made the decision not to remit the carbon tax on natural gas used by residential SaskEnergy customers. This is a decision we do not take lightly, and we recognize it may come with consequences.

That is why in December of 2023, the Saskatchewan Legislature unanimously passed The SaskEnergy (Carbon Tax Fairness for Families) Act which gives our government and the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation, Dustin Duncan, the exclusive responsibility for compliance with the federal carbon tax on home heating.

The Canada Revenue Agency has accepted Minister Duncan’s application to register the Government of Saskatchewan as the Registered Distributor of natural gas in the province and has deregistered SaskEnergy. As a result, the hardworking women and men at SaskEnergy are protected from any consequences which may arise from our decision.

The decision to remove the federal carbon tax on home heating has already saved Saskatchewan families a lot of money through January and February. It also helped reduce Saskatchewan’s inflation rate to 1.9 per cent, down from 2.7 per cent in December, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by Statistics Canada.

Our government believes that if the federal government is serious about fighting inflation, they need to remove the carbon tax for everyone and everything. These numbers show how much impact the removal of the carbon tax on home heating has on inflation, just here in one province. Imagine the impact it would have on gas prices, grocery prices and everything else we produce and transport in Canada if the federal government scrapped the carbon tax.

Instead, the federal government is committed to another carbon tax increase on April 1. It shows they really don’t care about the impact it is having on Canadian families struggling with the cost of living.

Economy Continues to Grow

As inflation goes down, our province’s economy continues to grow; housing starts are up 62.1 per cent over last year. We saw impressive figures in building construction investment as well, ranking third in the nation for year-over-year growth with an increase of 13.9 per cent.

We also recently learned that Saskatchewan ranked second among provinces for private capital investment in 2023 and is expected to rank first in 2024. Growth in private capital investment helps to build jobs and opportunities, creating a high quality of life for Saskatchewan people.

Aggressive Surgical Targets on Track

Economic growth allows our government to invest in key programs and services, such as health care. Saskatchewan’s surgical system achieved the highest volumes ever recorded in the first nine months of the fiscal year from April 1 to December 31, 2023. Within that period, 71,850 procedures were performed, an increase of 6,000 procedures over the same period in 2022.

Aggressive surgical targets are in place to surpass last year’s highest surgical volume of over 90,000 procedures, to ensure 90 per cent of surgeries are performed within 10 months and that no patients are on the waitlist longer than 18 months.

To further build capacity in our health care system, we continue to make investments in training programs for health care professionals. Suncrest College will offer a new provincial Diagnostic Medical Sonography Advanced Diploma program in Yorkton beginning this fall. The new program will help meet the demand for diagnostic services and ultimately speed up treatment for residents.

Our government will continue to build and protect our great province so Saskatchewan continues to be the best place to live, work and raise your family. As we continue this work, we look forward to hearing from you. You can reach my constituency office at office@terryjenson.ca or 306-242-2111.

SAFE

Saskatchewan Breaks New Surgical Record with Highest-Ever Volumes Performed

Saskatchewan's surgical system achieved the highest volumes ever recorded in the first nine months of the fiscal year from April 1 to December 31.

As of December 31, 71,850 procedures have been performed, which is an increase of 6,000 procedures over December 2022.

"Thousands more patients are receiving the procedures they need thanks to the tireless effort, leadership and collaboration of our surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and care teams," Health Minister Everett Hindley said. "Our government will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to continue supporting health care professionals in improving the quality of life for patients in our province."

Aggressive surgical targets are in place to surpass last year's highest surgical volume of over 90,000 procedures, to ensure 90 per cent of surgeries are performed within 10 months and that no patients are on the waitlist longer than 18 months.

From October 1 to December 31, 2023, the surgeries performed or offered exceeded the 90 per cent target.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is responsible for delivering surgical services to meet the needs of Saskatchewan residents.

"The ambitious targets we set for ourselves this year pressed us to redesign our programs and processes to build a more sustainable model that opened up more surgical capacity and ultimately leads to more surgeries," SHA Provincial Surgical Services Executive Director Cindy Graham said. "As we work to be more efficient and streamline how we provide high quality service, we are guided by our commitment on a patient-centered care approach that provides timely access to a more robust surgical program."

In 2023-24, the annual investment for the surgical program was nearly $670 million. There was a $42.5 million funding increase to the surgical wait time strategy to provide 6,000 additional surgeries.

“As we build on the momentum started in 2023, we continue to reshape the way we deliver surgical care in this province to improve access and reduce wait times, while still providing high quality surgical care to the people

of Saskatchewan,” SHA Provincial Department Head of Surgery Dr. Michael Kelly said. “This success is only possible with the remarkable dedication of the health care providers and physicians who help ensure we deliver high quality surgical care every day.”

Further expansion of resources will be possible through the work of the Government of Saskatchewan's Health Human Resources Action Plan. Ensuring key staffing complements on surgical teams by improving recruitment and retention of nurses and associated professionals.

The Government of Saskatchewan continues to support all partner organizations in the historic delivery of services for Saskatchewan residents.

To learn more about Saskatchewan's Surgical Performance and Wait Times, visit: https:// www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/accessinghealth-care-services/surgery/surgical-performanceand-wait-times.

ABOVE: Surgeons prepare for surgery in one of twelve operating theatres of Saskatoon City Hospital’s O.R. (Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation)