Man charged after investigation into robbery in Dodsland
On June 7, 2021, Kindersley RCMP responded to a robbery at a bank in Dodsland, SK.
Initial investigation determined that an armed male smashed the glass of the front door of the business after it had closed, entered it and demanded cash before leaving. Employees inside the bank at the time were not physically injured.
Rosetown and Biggar RCMP, Saskatchewan RCMP’s Police Dog Services and Saskatoon Police Service’s Air Support Unit assisted in the initial investigation. Saskatchewan RCMP’s Saskatoon General
Investigation Section then took carriage of the investigation, which included in-depth analysis of both physical and technological evidence. As a result, Justin Williment (DOB:1991-06-26) of Eatonia, SK was arrested without incident on October 20, 2021.
He was charged with:
• 1 count, robbery with firearm, Section 344, Criminal Code
• 1 count, use of a firearm in the commission of an indictable offence, Section 85, Criminal Code
• 2 counts, possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, Section 88, Criminal Code
• 1 count, commit an indictable offence with face covered, Section 351(2), Criminal Code
• 1 count, possession of stolen property over $5,000, Section 354(1), Criminal Code
• 1 count, fail to comply with undertaking, Section 145(5.1), Criminal Code
Williment was scheduled to appear in court on October 21 in Saskatoon.
A 30-year-old Eatonia man has been charged with the bank robbery that occurred at the Dodsland Credit Union on June 7, 2021.
LAND FOR SALE AT MAJOR
Deadline: October 25, 2021
Location: RM of Hearts Hill
10 quarters in one block: 1581 acres 1370 cultivated - 20 oil wells
NE 31-34-26 W3
NW 31-34-26 W3
SE 31-34-26 W3
SW 31-34-26 W3
NE 25-34-27 W3
NW 25-34-27 W3
SE 25-34-27 W3
SW 25-34-27 W3
NE 36-34-27 W3
SE 36-34-27 W3
Please email: scott.rogerson53@gmail.com or call 1-780-674-5911 for more information.
Jocelynne Reiber
306-372-7776 jreiber@hotmail.com
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Congratulations to the Jr Girls KCS Volleyball team who participated in a tournament at Eatonia on October 16! Although they didn’t quite make it to the finals, they represented Kerrobert well and our future in Volleyball is bright! #kerrobertpride | SUBMITTED PHOTO
Your weekly update from the Recreation Desk
BY BOBBI HEBRON Kerrobert Recreation Director
The high school sports teams are so much fun to watch this year after taking a year off. Our own KCS teams are seeing much success. The Volleyball and Football teams are entering playoff season and we wish them all the best. Special thanks them and their coaches for representing our community so well with great sportsmanship.
Covid Guidelines
The Government of Sask current Covid guidelines:
1. Masks & Proof of Vaccination
a. The Recreation Department and Town facilities have reinstated mask wearing at indoor public spaces as per these new measures.
i. Under 18 years, must wear a mask indoors unless actively eating, drinking or participating in sports.
ii. Over 18 years, can remove a mask when actively eating or drinking but must wear a mask when participating in activity UNLESS their organization has implemented a proof of vaccination or negative test requirement. This is up to each organization to monitor.
1. This includes the Kerrobert Tigers, the Kerrobert Ice Dawgs and the Mighty Ducks recreation hockey teams, the Kerrobert Curling Club, the Kerrobert Shuffle Club and the Walk this Way organization.
iii. Over 18 years must wear a mask during public skate time as it is NOT part of a league and the Town of Kerrobert is currently NOT implementing a proof of vaccination in the Kerrobert
Arena.
b. A proof of vaccination or negative test policy will be implemented for public access to the Kerrobert Museum, Courtroom Gallery, Kerrobert Double Take Out Lounge and all public events held at the PCC.
Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the proof of vaccination or negative test requirement.
Kerrobert Memorial Arena
The Covid guidelines have been sent out to each hockey organization, team manager and team Covid safety rep and it is their responsibility to monitor the people who use the rink during their rental period to ensure that they follow those guidelines. The Town of Kerrobert will continue to monitor users as best we can, so that we can ensure a full season of hockey for our people. If you have concerns, we encourage you to call the Recreation office. The Kerrobert Curling Club met last week to discuss the upcoming season of curling. Team captains of the Men’s league will be contacting previous members to get an idea of who is interested in in curling this season. Staff from Kerrobert Composite School has expressed interest in using the Curling Rink for elementary, junior and senior KCS Curling team practises as well as for Phys. Ed classes. If you are interested in joining the Men’s Curling, starting a Women’s league, a Mixed league or Seniors league, please call the Recreation office and we will pass that information onto the Kerrobert Curling Club.
Kerrobert Library, Courtroom Art Gallery & Museum
The Kerrobert Library is offering so many programs including Mom and Tots, Book Club, and weekly crafts. Call them at 834-5211 to find out more. The Courtroom Art Gallery currently has an amazing show on display that you won’t want to miss. Bring out a few friends and take a walk through to be inspired by the work of Chris Hodge and local resident Jen Loree. Then join them on Oct. 26 from 7:00 – 8:30 for the Artist Meet and Greet. The Festival of Trees will run again this year on Dec. 2 and trees will be in place throughout December. Watch for more information about this exciting event. The Kerrobert Museum is open for tours daily from 8:30 –12:00 & 1:00 – 4:30. There are no Haunted Tours offered this year, but we are offering self guided tours with ghost stories to read as you walk throughout. Stop by if you dare!
The Kerrobert Courthouse Restoration Society and Town of Kerrobert are currently looking for donations to replace the front entrance stairs. THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so far! For more information or to make a donation, contact the Town of Kerrobert at 834-2361.
Prairieland Community Center
We are currently looking for someone to open the hall for Walk this Way that usually runs each Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 – 11:00 starting Nov. 2. This program is free to everyone thanks to Sask Lotteries and is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to stay active throughout the winter
FOR SALE BY TENDER
Tenders will be accepted on the following parcel of land located in the R.M. of Progress No. 351, approximately 2 miles East and 1 mile South of Luseland, SK:
NW 02-36-24 W3rd (old municipal assessment - $163,500.00) (new municipal assessment - $205,700.00) - approximately 140 cultivated acres - 2021 Crop - Barley
Tenders will be received by the undersigned on or before 12:00 o’clock noon on WEDNESDAY THE 3RD DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2021 Not necessarily the highest or any tender accepted.
COOPER NEIL LAW FIRM
Solicitor for David and Gail Prentice
Telephone: (306) 228-2631
Fax: (306) 228-4449
Email: unityoffice@cooperneil.ca
P.O. Box 600, Unity, SK, S0K 4L0
by walking at the hall. Please call the Rec Office if you are interested! There are two big public events coming up at the PCC including the Winter Market on Nov. 17 and the Town Christmas Party on Dec. 3. The Shuffle Club is looking to start early November. If you are interested in joining, please call the Recreation office and we will pass your name onto the organization. They play Monday afternoons in the basement of the PCC.
Kerrobert Legion
The Kerrobert Legion met last week and decided they will not host an open Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11 this year due to Covid concerns. The committee will honor the day in other ways including laying a wreath, lowering the flag and reading the Roll of Honor. Thank you to KCS staff who will still have students participate in selling poppies and have Gr. 4 – 12 participate in the poem/poster/essay contest. Poppy trays will also be put out throughout the community, the last week of October.
Halloween Residents have requested that the Town of Kerrobert once again provide “Trick or Treat” posters to those who wish to hand out candy from their homes and businesses. Therefore, you will find these posters available at local businesses and the Town office starting on Monday Oct. 25. For those who are new to this idea, last year we provided posters to be put up on doors of homes/businesses who wanted to hand out candy, then those who not comfortable opening their door to a multitude of children would not have to. The Town of Kerrobert does not set “trick or treating” hours but typically residents agree that when Halloween falls on a Sunday, that
kids start their fun after 1:00pm.
Other Reminders
• The Town of Kerrobert staff will be picking up leaves (in clear bags only) Tuesday Oct. 26. Bags must be left in the front yard to be picked up.
• KidSport funds are available to those families who need financial assistance for registering children ages 5+ in sports. Please reach out to the Recreation office at 834-8355 for a form rather than have your child sit out of a great local opportunity to get active. We are here to help!
Remember that “we are fighting a virus, not each other”. Stay well friends and please be kind.
303 Brooks Ave, Denzil
Town of Luseland TOWN FOREMAN
Situated on Highway 31, just 30 miles from the Alberta Boundary, Luseland offers country living with urban amenities. We are a two-hour drive west of Saskatoon. Agriculture remains the primary industry, supplemented by a well-established oil and gas industry.
Amenities in Luseland include a new swimming pool, an arena and curling rink, theatre, library, daycare, K-12 school and numerous shops and businesses including a pharmacy and a grocery store. Luseland has a population of 623 (2016 Census).
The Town of Luseland is accepting applications for the permanent, full time position of Town Foreman to start as soon as possible.
Job Overview:
Reporting to Council, this position is responsible for the maintenance and repair of a variety of Town assets, including equipment and machinery, streets, sidewalks and the water and sewer systems.
Duties include:
• Maintenance & operation of water treatment plant and lagoon system;
• Service and maintain Town equipment as required;
• Maintenance of Town properties;
• Operating graders, payloaders, trucks and other equipment; and
• Snow removal and grass cutting & green space maintenance.
Qualifications:
• Minimum Grade 12 or GED
• Valid driver’s license with satisfactory drivers’ abstract. Preference will be given to applicants with valid Class 3 with air brake endorsement.
• Hold Level 2 water treatment and distribution and Level 1 wastewater treatment and collection certifications.
The Town of Luseland offers competitive wages and an excellent benefits package which starts the first day of employment.
Applicants should submit a detailed resumé, including expected salary, by November 9, 2021 to:
Town of Luseland PO Box 130
Luseland SK S0L 2A0
Phone: 306-372-4218
Fax: 306-372-4700
Email: luseland@sasktel.net
OPINION
CHECK IT OUT with Joan Janzen
Why the disruption in supply chains?
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
How many supply chain planners does it take to change a light bulb? None. The light bulbs are late and not shipping.
We’ve all seen news reports of cargo ships waiting offshore, and heard reports advising shoppers to buy their Christmas gifts early. Closer to home, we’ve heard friends say they’ve been waiting many months for the appliance they ordered.
Ross Kennedy, a logistics expert and 15 year veteran in the supply chain industry, helped explain the situation. As someone who is paid to move things from point
A to point B, he said the past few months have been a wild ride.
People began to notice when a giant steel ship, 400 meters in length, blocked the Suez Canal when it turned sideways, wedged into the bank of the canal. Now we’re seeing thousands of shipping containers across the world unable to unload their supplies at ports; a serious problem since 90% of global trade moves on water.
Kennedy said these problems started in January, 2020 when China had their annual shut down for their new year, however the shutdown was extended to eight weeks because of the pandemic.
“A lot of people in China who work in manufac-
turing leave the city to celebrate the new year with their families, which takes days of travel to return back to work. Meanwhile purchase orders from American companies were still coming in, so there were delays,” he explained.
He also explained that it costs between $50,000$100,000 per day to operate the big ships. During this shutdown, the ships couldn’t afford to wait around. “They moved to places like Vietnam where goods were still being produced, shipping goods to Europe,” he said. But it took weeks to get crews and vessels lined up once China began ramping up production as fast as possible. Twenty percent of everything we consume is made in China.
“By the time the shipping industry got their full capacity back in July, rates had already doubled. Clearing the backlog of goods from China was a slow process,” Kennedy said, since there was no way to ship the goods. And there were more contributing circumstances ...
People who were stuck at home, unable to travel or even work, began renovating their homes and replacing furniture. “Spending changed from activities to buying products that required shipping containers, which further complicated the problem,” Kennedy said.
An additional complication was reports of ongoing power disruptions at warehouses and manufacturing facilities in China. In response, officials began rationing power to factories, cutting back
operation days to one or two days a week. Kennedy predicted future power disruptions in 2022, at which time industries which are considered critical will be favoured. Those industries include auto and ship building, petrochemicals and medical and metal processing. However home goods, garments and electronics would likely receive the least support, which will impact retailers in North America who are already falling short on inventory.
Kennedy explained that shipping costs have also increased substantially. “Ocean carriers get paid by the shipper or receiver to move the goods. To get a container from China to a warehouse in Chicago used to cost $4500. That same container is now going to cost $23,000,” he said. “It’s
five or six times more expensive, an enormous increase for companies,” Kennedy said.
More expensive products, or unavailable products all have the same root cause, according to Kennedy. That cause is the supply chain and anything that is disruptive in that supply chain. But what is a solution?
As a result, shoppers are looking to buy more products locally. For example, “People are look-
ing to buy their meat from a local farmer. Moving supply chains to the local level will become more common.” Kennedy said.
A shortage of goods on our shelves could have a positive impact in our communities if shoppers begin to seek out local suppliers for the products they need.
You can contact me at joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Moe faces the crisis he wasn’t expecting
While we all want COVID-19 to be over, it’s likely safe to say no in Saskatchewan wants it to be over more than Premier Scott Moe. And, like virtually all of us, he did think it would be over now.
He clearly didn’t think he would now still be dealing with the deep impact of a global pandemic a year ago this week when daily case counts were in the low double digits and his Saskatchewan Party had just been given an overwhelming mandate for a fourth-term majority government.
He didn’t anticipate still dealing with COVID-19 nine months when the province was just come out what was thought to be the historical peak of daily case counts in the third wave. New miracle vaccines would soon rid of this plague, he and most everyone else thought.
And he surely didn’t think we would be here three months
ago when we close to 70 per cent of the eligible 12-yearsand-older population had receive at least a first dose and the decision was made to end all masking and gathering restrictions for the summer.
At that time, it did seem as if we were on the road to recovery — both with COVID-19 and the economy.
At that time, there were about 25,000 more jobs in Saskatchewan than a year early in 2020. The gradual removal of capacity restrictions in bars and restaurants looked like it was paying off.
And Moe bluntly made it known his government no longer had any interest in the restriction business.
“After 485 days of government telling you how to live your life, those restrictions are coming to and end,” Moe said, equating the restrictions lifted on July 11th to wartime measures.
MURRAY MANDRYK Political Columnist
And the numbers three months did look good.
The first week after the July 11th re-opening saw just 197 COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan _ half the cases we now get in a single day.
Certainly, there were medical professionals warning him that 70-per-cent, first-dose would not be nearly enough to ward off the coming Delta variant in the fourth wave.
And, certainly, Moe was encouraging people to get vaccinated, even suggesting that
a simple prick in the arm was hardly the equivalent of storming the beaches at Normandy.
But with a coming federal election and the seeming interest in Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada that shunned required vaccine passports or any other added restrictions, staunch conservatives like Moe really had no interest in going any further with restrictions than they already had.
In short, while Moe encourage vaccination, he had no interest in vaccine passport requirements that have since resulted in the vaccine-hesitant getting vaccinated.
“We almost certainly don’t have the ability then to demand proof of vaccination for whether or not they attend any large event here in the province,” Moe said in early July in response to why he wasn’t asking for vaccine passports at large gatherings like Roughrider games like the Manitoba
Prompt payment legislation continues to concern hometowns
SUMA is very disappointed in the Government of Saskatchewan’s decision to move forward with prompt payment legislation without consideration for municipalities.
As the voice of Saskatchewan’s hometowns, SUMA has continuously called on the Government of Saskatchewan to exempt municipalities from The Builders’ Lien (Prompt Payment) Amendment Act and accompanying regulations to ensure municipalities are not forced to rush payment on municipal projects that may not be complete or meet standards.
“We value and support our local businesses,” SUMA President Rodger Hayward said. “But, as it stands, this legislation places an undue burden on
municipalities to rush to pay invoices and then go through dispute resolution if the work is substandard or incomplete.”
Similar amendments have been introduced in other provinces, including Ontario. However, Ontario legislation includes the freedom to set longer timelines in contracts, allowing municipalities to negotiate the time they need to perform essential quality assurance.
“Municipalities are responsible for ensuring that all infrastructure projects are safe while being financially responsible with taxpayers’ dollars,” President Hayward said. “The prompt payment legislation unfairly prioritizes payment over these responsibilities.”
government was for Winnipeg Blue Bomber games.
Unfortunately for Moe and all of us, warnings came fruition. We haven’t been below 197 cases in a single day since mid-August.
And while there were only 53 people in hospital (the lowest total since Dec. 1) today, there are now around 350 people in Saskatchewan hospitals with COVID-19 and 84 in ICUs _ so many that the government last week had to start shipping them out-of-province because we cannot no longer properly care for our sickest people.
Harping on bad COVID-19 numbers does sound like a broken record. My apologies.
But the reality is we are in a health care crisis right now because we didn’t prepare for the reality that the numbers would rise after the July 11th reopening.
Hoping this would all be over hasn’t been enough
A tasty nonalcoholic concoction made locally
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
New products are often created in order to meet a need, which was the case for Cody and Staci Hall from Kerrobert. Cody had stopped drinking alcoholic beverages a couple of years ago. Staci said that while he loves nonalcoholic beer and the other wide variety of available nonalcoholic beverages, he wanted something more.
This prompted Cody to do some research, trying different things, but ultimately he settled on a recipe he prefers. He calls his paralyzer mix Fauxlua.
The Paralyzer drink is said to have been invented in the 1980’s by a group of friends in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The original alcoholic drink is described as a tasty and deceitfully nonalcoholic tasting concoction. However, Fauxlua is a genuine nonalcoholic concoction.
As the label states, it is a nonalcoholic paralyzer mix that contains coffee, brown sugar and vanilla.
“My husband has been making this recipe for years, but we just recently started sharing it with people about ten months ago,” his wife
Staci explained. She is instrumental in selling the product on her Hallmade Creations Facebook page and taking it to different markets throughout the year.
The mix can be used as a substitute for vodka or Kahlua and is sold in attractively labelled reusable glass bottles so customers can clean and sterilize the empty bottles and have them refilled. Their customers are primarily local, but they also have some customers from Alberta. “Lots of people are looking for alternatives to alcoholic beverages. We have sold to a lot of people who no longer consume alcohol or who are pregnant and can’t drink,” Staci said.
“We don’t make a huge amount; just a bottle here and there,” Staci said. However, the people who purchase Fauxlua appreciate having the addition of this unique nonalcoholic beverage choice.
Saskatchewan RCMP - Protect your valuable farm equipment this fall
This summer, Saskatchewan RCMP received reports of thefts of agriculture-related items in rural Saskatchewan costing farmers thousands of dollars. The necessary storing of farm equipment in the fall can also create opportunities for thefts.
As another harvest season is coming to an end, here are a few precautions you can take to prevent the theft of farm equipment while it is in storage:
• Remove all portable items (tools, GPS systems, radios) from inside your machinery as these are very attractive to thieves. If you cannot remove some items, record their serial numbers, mark them and take pictures of them so they can be identified if they are stolen and recovered.
• Move all equipment indoors. If this is not possible, store it in a well-lit area visible from your house
but out-of-sight from the main roads.
• Install motion-sensor security lights or timer lights that turn on at sundown to discourage trespassers.
• Keep an inventory of your equipment that includes descriptions, serial numbers, makes, models and pictures.
• Walk around and check tractors, combines and other machinery regularly for signs of break-ins or damage.
• Report thefts to police immediately.
To report thefts of farming equipment, or any other thefts, call your local RCMP detachment. You can also report thefts and damage under $5,000 online at https://ocre-sielc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/saskatchewan/en.
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The Government of Saskatchewan has approved SaskEnergy’s application to increase its commodity rate — the first increase in seven years after four consecutive decreases. The new rate will be the lowest in Canada.
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SALE BY TENDER
Provincial government approves SaskEnergy’s commodity rate increase; the lowest rate in Canada Program
FREE groceries through the
Effective November 1, 2021, SaskEnergy’s commodity rate changes from $2.575/gigajoule (GJ) to $3.20/GJ. The adjustment will increase the average residential customer’s bill by $6.16 per month.
“SaskEnergy’s commodity rate increase is a reflection of the significant rise in natural gas prices. Gas utilities across Canada are facing the same challenge,” said Ken From, President and Chief Executive Officer, SaskEnergy. “Our customers want predictable and stable rates, especially during the cold winter months. SaskEnergy’s price management strategy allows us to deliver on this expectation, and offer the lowest commodity rate in the country to customers.”
The commodity rate is a pass-through of the costs to purchase natural gas from the market. SaskEnergy does not earn profit or loss on the sale of the commodity. SaskEnergy’s current commodity rate is the lowest it has been in more than 20 years.
In September, SaskEnergy applied to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel (SRRP) for an increase to the commodity rate. After independent analysis and feedback from the public, the SRRP recommended the provincial government approve the application.
We are excited to tell you about a new program in Kindersley called FoodMesh, a collaboration between Kindersley Christian Fellowship and Buy-Low Foods. This program makes free groceries available to individuals in need by collecting surplus food and groceries from local stores.
Please see the details below on how you can access this program and get free groceries. Everyone is welcome and this program is operating every week.
When: Every week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Christian Fellowship Church (East Door) 800 - 12th Ave. E., Kindersley, SK
Please bring a grocery bag or box with you.
For more information, please contact Kindersley Christian Fellowship at 306-463-6146 or Barb at 306-460-9304.
24 Low tie
28 It "burns, burns, burns," to Johnny Cash
30 High-speed hookup, for short 31 Handy memory stick 32 "Hubba hubba!"
33 Walt with a World
whale
Fieldtrip fundraiser, maybe
"___ See Clearly Now"
Hillsides, to Burns
Not too far left, not too far right
Blob of Bubbilicious
Stationery buys for recipe boxes
Where Juan and Carlos live
Santa ___ (California winds)
Marilyn's beauty spot
Founded, as a townsite: Abbr.
Hosiery hues
Dog tag info
Once-jailed media baron Black
38 "Stop!", to Spielberg
40 "Mad Men" workplace, e.g. 43 Heavily burdened 44 Make ___ cheque
48 Much-shared internet images
50 TV tube gas
52 Passing info?
53 "Citizen" played by Orson Welles
54 ___ Krabappel of "The Simpsons"
56 Speechless, in a way
58 Commuter syst. to Yonge and Bloor
60 Acapulco aunt
61 Yokel's you're
* On Oct. 26, 1775, King George III speaks before both houses of the British Parliament to discuss growing concern about the rebellion in America. He urged Parliament to move quickly to end the revolt and bring order to the colonies.
* On Oct. 31, 1864, Congress quickly admits Nevada as the 36th state in the Union. President Lincoln’s proposed 13th Amendment banning slavery was the decisive factor in easing Nevada’s path to statehood.
* On Oct. 27, 1873, Joseph Glidden, an Illinois farmer, submits an application to the U.S. Patent Office for his new design for a fencing wire with sharp barbs on two strands. Barbed wire would forever change the face of the American West.
* On Oct. 25, 1929, during the Teapot Dome oil reserve scandal, Albert Fall, who served as secretary of the interior under President Warren Harding, is found guilty of bribery and conspiracy. He was the first former cab-
inet officer sentenced to prison as a result of misconduct in office.
* On Oct. 30, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt, determined to keep the United States out of the war while helping those allies already mired in it, approves $1 billion in LendLease loans to the Soviet Union. The terms: no interest, and repayment would not start until five years after the war ended.
* On Oct. 28, 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev orders the withdrawal of missiles from Cuba, ending the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1960, Khrushchev had launched plans to install ballistic missiles in Cuba that would put the eastern U.S. within range of nuclear attack.
• On Oct. 12, 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sights a Bahamian island, believing he has reached East Asia. Columbus, and most others, underestimated the world’s size, calculating that East Asia must lie about where North America sits on the globe.
* On Oct. 29, 1998, almost 40 years after he became the first American to orbit Earth, Sen. John Glenn Jr. is launched into space again as a payload specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Glenn, 77, was the oldest human ever to travel in space.
• On Oct. 17, 1906, Wilhelm Voigt, a German shoemaker wearing a stolen captain’s uniform, impersonates an army officer and leads an entire squad of soldiers to help him steal 4,000
• On Oct. 14, 1968, the U.S. Defense Department announces that the Army and Marines will be sending about 24,000 men back to Vietnam for involuntary second tours because of the length of the war. The decision badly hurt troop morale and the combat readiness of U.S. forces around the world.
• On Oct. 11, 1975, “Saturday Night Live,” a comedy sketch show, makes its debut on NBC, with George Carlin as its host, and Billy Preston and Janis Ian as musical guests. Since its inception, SNL has featured a different guest host and musical act each week.
• On Oct. 15, 1991, after a bitter confirmation hearing, the U.S. Senate votes 52 to 48 to confirm Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court. President George Bush had nominated the 43-year-old Thomas, an African American judge known for his conservative beliefs.
the Nevada desert.
SIMSA: Energy minister speaks about ‘just transition’
BRIAN
There are a lot of ironies when it comes to talk of a ‘just transition’ away from oil and gas, according to Saskatchewan Minister of Energy and Resources Bronwyn Eyre.
The minister spoke to the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) Energy Forum on Oct. 6, held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Eyre said she wanted to speak “about some of the backstories, that provide some nuance and context around the broader daily themes that people are hearing out there.”
Noting “The oil price is skyrocketing,” she pointed out, “What isn’t talked about is still very great uncertainty in the oil and gas sector, not only on the part of workers who feel, of course, once biten, twice, or thrice, shy about rejoining the sector. But also companies, which have debts, and of course, slowed down production rates and put major capital allocations on hold after the perfect storm last year.”
She said, “That perfect storm, of course, culminated really when President Biden cancelled Keystone XL. Clearly, he isn’t doing a lot to around the the Enbridge Line 5, in terms of support.
“Line 5 is a crucial artery that stretches up from the Enbridge mainline which transports 70 per cent of Saskatchewan’s oil. And so, we absolutely support Canada’s invoking this week (of Oct. 4) of the 1977 Transit Pipeline Treaty, which then-Senator Biden supported that all those years ago. But really, that pipeline treaty. couldn’t be more explicit. And I’m convinced that that under it, (Michigan) Governor Whitmer cannot block oil being transported through her state on this approved pipeline, the one that ironically was in the process of being made more secure.
“And of course, there are lots of ironies when you look behind the headlines in the energy and resources sector. It’s ironic, for example, that that Quebec is preparing to formally phase out the oil and gas production and effectively leave fossil fuel resources in the ground, when, in turn, it’s so dependent via Line 5 to Line 9 on Western Canadian oil to stay to stay warm this winter.”
She pointed to a poll that indicated that 71 per cent of Quebeckers say they prefer oil from Western Canada. Eyre said 50 per cent of the oil Quebec uses is from Western Canada, and 50 per cent of Quebeckers would actually like to exploit that province’s own oil resources. “While car sales have gone down in Quebec, sales of SUVs light trucks and pickups have increased, so perhaps there’s hope there, after all.”
Just transition
Eyre said, “The federal government’s ‘just transition,’ as it’s called, is obviously a great current concern to Saskatchewan. And here’s why: if you carry out a transition too quickly, too glibly, three-quarters of workers in the oil and gas sector, who are who are already facing a great uncertainty, could lose their jobs; 450,000 jobs lost by 2050 to be precise. That’s according to a recent TD report on green transition. The challenge for us, in government, is to get the message out, that here, in Saskatchewan, our innovation already makes us one of the most sustainable oil and gas producing regions in the world. That is a just transition.”
She pointed out that enhanced oil recovery wells
actually emit 82 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions that conventional oil wells, according to TD Bank.
Carbon trunk line
In September, Eyre announced policy enhancements meant to encourage carbon capture, utilizaiton and storage, with hubs that would allow the gathering of CO2 from multiple sites, for utilization in enhanced oil recovery. Essentially a carbon trunk line, such a system could gather captured carbon from Bethune, Moose Jaw, Belle Plain, Regina, Boundary Dam Unit 6 and Shand Power Station, and use it in enhanced oil recovery. But the sticking point is the federal government’s reluctance to allow an investment tax credit, as Whitecap Resources CEO Grant Fagerheim put it.
“And so, the question, of course, is why is the federal government so dead set against CO2 enhanced oil recovery and its role in carbon capture utilization and storage? If they’re really serious about net-zero, (then) why is it so difficult to get that amazing number over there the 82 percent fewer emissions, when we’re talking about win wins for the economy and the environment, out in the media and elsewhere.
Eyre said leading environmentalists agree that countries cannot get to net-zero emission Paris Accord targets without enhanced oil recovery with carbon capture utilization and storage.
Hard, inflexible ideology-based targets
Fundamentally, the problem about just transition, and the hard, inflexible ideology-based targets that the federal government is putting out there is its non-universality, and the hypocrisy surrounding so much of the transition discussion, the minister said.
“We all know that that there’s a bit of a gas price issue going on in the UK and Europe and right here at home, listening to the headlines this morning.
“And now, an energy shortage is leading to blackouts in China, and this line from a story I read yesterday jumped out at me, quote, ‘Without power, taking a hot bath is impossible, eating a hot meal becomes a luxury. Are we really going to live like ancient human beings, reading our books by oil lamp?’
“That was from someone quoted in an area affected by power outages in China. And you know, I think that’s a good question.
“As we know in the US this summer, President Biden asked OPEC to increase production so domestic consumers could get a break on gas prices. Again, no ironies there,” Eyre said.
“We have to be cautious, as governments. I am convinced there will come a time of some serious reckoning about government policies, federally. The carbon tax, and Clean Fuel Standard, come to mind,” she said, adding they are so damaging to consumers and businesses.
“There’s no question that just transition, on the scale that some are envisaging, and the speed, will have a disproportionate impact on consumers and taxpayers, and where that will lead is going to be the story and the headlines of the next few years.”
Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia substantially subsidize energy fuel costs for their own people to ensure social peace, she noted.
Germany, which relies on wind for 30 per cent of its power generation, has been “unusually windless this year,” and as a result, only 10 per cent of its pow-
er has bene coming from wind. As a result, it’s had to resort to coal-fired power.
“China produces the largest share of global emissions of greenhouse gases. It’s, by far, the biggest producer of coal domestically, and the largest financer of coal fired plants abroad, with an enormous 40 gigawatts of coal plant. And yet, we, in Western Canada still remain something of the energy bogeyman,” she said. Eyrr noted that overall, emissions from the oil and gas sector have been relatively flat in recent years, as production increases have been offset by 36 per cebt reduction in per barrel emissions intensity since 2000.
“Shouldn’t that be relevant to any just transition?” she pondered.
Saskatchewan will be cautious, she said, with incentives for research and development and infrastructure following, not leading, private investment. Saskatchewan will build on its strengths. Helium, lithium and hydrogen development are part of “all the above,” but the province will not turn its back on its traditional sectors.
Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online. Articles are used with permission.
SNOW PLOW OPERATOR
Location: R.M. of Prairiedale No. 321
Employment Term: Seasonal Full-Time
The Rural Municipality of Prairiedale No. 321 is seeking a Snow Plow Operator.
The successful candidate will meet the following criteria:
• Have willingness and aptitude to operate grader with plow as required for the job
Have knowledge of servicing and maintaining heavy equipment
• Valid Driver’s License
• Have a working knowledge of snow plowing
Must be capable of working with minimal to no immediate supervision
• Attention to detail, safety conscious, and ability to take direction from Supervisors
Duties may include but not limited to:
• Operating grader/plow
• Available on demand
• May require weekend work
• Any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor with the direction of Council
Employment proposed start date is to be determined. The R.M. of Prairiedale offers a competitive wage and comprehensive benefits package including the Municipal Employees Pension Plan (MEPP). Applicants are invited to submit a resume by November 8, 2021 by 4 p.m. to: R.M. of Prairiedale No. 321 Box 160, Major, SK S0L 2H0 Fax: 306-834-1202
Email: administrator@rmofprairiedale.ca
