Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Wednesday that Democratic victories in the U.S. midterm elections create an opportunity to reset Canada-United States trade relations. In a statement one day after Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate, Moe said Canada is ready to restore free and fair trade and hopes Washington is too. With several races still close, Democrats were on track for 255 House seats and at least 54 in the Senate. The comments come as tariffs and stalled talks have weighed on Prairie exporters, and as Ottawa signals renewed discussions with the White House despite earlier breakdowns.
Saskatchewan has unveiled a Dash-8 Q400 multi-role airtanker, the first of four replacing its aging CV-580s under a $187-million deal with B.C.'s Conair Group. The plane, the first of its kind in Canadian wildfire fleets, can drop 10,000 litres of water or retardant and also carry cargo, crews and evacuees. Minister Michael Weger expects it to be flying in the 2027 wildfire season. McGill aviation lecturer John Gradek noted the plane must refill at airports rather than scoop from lakes, and called the province's six water bombers, averaging about 40 years old, a ticking time bomb that needs replacing soon.
A magnitude 3.4 earthquake rattled many homes around Esterhazy, Sask., early Tuesday morning, and Natural Resources Canada says it was most likely caused by mining. The quake struck at 7:04 a.m. local time, about nine kilometres east-northeast of the town, near a potash mine operated by the Mosaic Company. Mosaic said all employees were accounted for, safety inspections were complete, and production was not interrupted, adding that the event occurred in an older, mined-out section of its K3 mine. The area experienced three similar earthquakes last year, which were also considered likely to be mining-induced. Mosaic plans an expert review.
