He was arrested on April 9 after officers responded to a report of a suspicious person inside a vehicle in the 6500 block of Rochdale Boulevard. The caller said a man was inside their car. The suspect fled before police arrived, but officers located him nearby and arrested him. The steering column and wiring of the vehicle were damaged. This was the same pattern officers saw in other attempted thefts.

Police determined that the man was responsible for six similar incidents dating back to early March.

The first reported attempt was on March 7 in the 4000 block of Retallack Street, where a woman told police she saw someone inside her vehicle. When she went outside, the suspect got out and ran away, leaving behind a damaged steering column and wiring.

On March 11, a vehicle in the 700 block of King Street was targeted. In that incident, the suspect broke a window to gain entry before damaging the steering column and wiring.

Between March 11 and March 15, a vehicle parked in the 5900 block of Hague Crescent was entered, with the steering column smashed and wiring damaged.

On March 15, police received a report of an attempted theft from a garage in the 6200 block of Ehrle Crescent. The suspect unlawfully entered the garage and tried to steal the vehicle inside, causing similar damage to the steering column and wiring.

On March 30, a caller in the 100 block of McIntyre Street reported that her passenger door had been pried open, and there was damage to the ignition and wiring in the steering column.

On April 7, police were made aware of another break-in in the 1300 block of Rae Street, where a vehicle’s steering column and wiring were both damaged.

In each of the seven incidents, the suspect caused damage while trying to steal the vehicle.

The suspect has been charged with 3 counts each of mischief over $5,000 and mischief under $5,000, six counts each of failing to comply with a probation order and attempted theft of a vehicle, and break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He appeared in Regina Provincial Court on April 13.

According to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 82 gas outlets in the city, the average price of gasoline in Regina fell 1.1 cents in the past week, averaging 167.49 cents a litre on Sunday.

Nationally, the average price dropped 1.6 cents to 174.23 cents a litre.

Despite the recent weekly dip, prices in Regina remain significantly higher than in previous months and years. Yesterday’s prices were 7.6 cents higher than a month ago and 32.9 cents higher than the same day last year. The national average has jumped 4.9 cents over the last month and stands 41.6 cents higher than this time last year.

“Gasoline prices declined across much of Canada over the last week, while diesel prices also moved lower in most provinces, offering motorists a welcome break at the pump,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

However, De Haan noted that Monday marks the beginning of Canada’s temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax, which is expected to lower prices by roughly 10 cents a litre on gasoline and four cents a litre on diesel. While that will provide some immediate relief, he warned it may be quickly offset by surging global oil prices.

“Crude rallied sharply in Sunday night trading after Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz and President Trump signaled further escalation if Tehran does not come to an agreement,” De Haan said. “With a significant share of global oil flows at risk, renewed volatility is taking hold, and the continued back-and-forth is making any lasting resolution increasingly fragile.”

As a result, fuel prices could begin rising again in the days ahead, potentially eroding much, if not all, of the savings from the tax pause.

Around the Prairies, Saskatoon’s average sits at 170.57 cents a litre, down 1.6 cents from last week. The provincial average for Saskatchewan is 168.32 cents a litre, down 1.5 cents. In Winnipeg, prices dropped 5.1 cents to an average of 168.56 cents a litre.

Historically, April 20 gas prices in Regina have seen wide fluctuations over the last five years. Prices stood at 134.60 cents a litre in 2025, 155.45 in 2024, 159.42 in 2023, 164.50 in 2022, and 126.02 in 2021.

On the RM’s Monday council meeting agenda, documents about each resignation have been published.

Former RM of Sherwood Reeve, Susan Oakley-Paul, stated her resignation for March 16 was due to health issues.

“Please regard this as my formal notice of resignation. Due to medical issues, I feel it is best that I step away from my duties at this time.”

Meanwhile, former RM of Sherwood Division 6 Coun., Grant Paul, stated his reasoning for departure had been caused by the direction the municipality’s council was headed.

“Due to the direction the RM council is going, I cannot have my name affiliated with the RM anymore.” Paul’s last day was on March 18.

Former Division 3 Coun. John Wilke’s termination came immediately on March 18, citing issues accessing an agenda item.

“My RM email would not work on Friday evening, March 13/2026, so I could not study item #4 for the special meeting held on March 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the RM of Sherwood.”

The only councillor who gave no reason behind his departure was former Division 2 Coun. Trent Reiger.

In his resignation letter, Reiger said he was honoured to serve the RM of Sherwood.

“I am proud of the work accomplished and remain confident in the Municipality’s continued success. I look forward to seeing the RM of Sherwood continue to prosper and grow in the years ahead.”

Reiger resigned on March 17.

All the resignations came at the same time Bell Canada announced its plans to build an AI data centre in the RM of Sherwood.

With vacant positions to fill, the Government of Saskatchewan stepped in and appointed four new members of the RM council last week.

Those opposed to the centre worry that government-appointed councillors cause a conflict of interest, as the RM is set to vote on entering into a development agreement with Bell on the project on Monday evening.

According to new data from Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan’s overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.91 per cent year over year in March 2026. That figure easily outpaces the national inflation rate, which settled at 2.39 per cent for the same period. On a month-to-month basis, Saskatchewan saw prices jump by 1.31 per cent from February to March.

The primary culprit behind the rising cost of living is the price of fuel. Gasoline prices in Saskatchewan surged by a staggering 25.16 per cent in a single month between February and March of this year. Despite the massive monthly leap, gasoline prices are only up by 1.49 per cent compared to March 2025, which was the last month the consumer carbon surcharge was on the price of gasoline. It also reflects significant volatility in the energy market over the past year. Nationally, gasoline prices rose 21.24 per cent month over month, and 5.92 per cent annually.

Beyond the pumps, household budgets are also absorbing elevated costs at the grocery store. Food prices in Saskatchewan increased by 4.85 per cent year over year. This local increase in food costs sits nearly a full percentage point higher than the national food inflation rate of 3.97 per cent. Shelter costs in the province also ticked upward, rising 2.86 per cent.

While the cost of essential goods is climbing, provincial wage data offers a silver lining for some workers.

Median wages in Saskatchewan are currently beating inflation, rising 5.29 per cent year over year to $1,153.82 a week. This provincial wage growth outpaces the national median wage increase of 3.99 per cent.

However, the picture is slightly different when looking at average wages. The average weekly wage in Saskatchewan sits at $1,269.66, which represents a 3.24 per cent increase from March 2025. But on a month-to-month basis, average wages in the province actually contracted slightly, dipping by 0.05 per cent from February, even as the cost of living surged.

Nationally, the average weekly wage grew by 4.59 per cent year over year.

On Wednesday, the city announced it’s launching the 2026 Gopher Control Program this week.

“Gophers cause damage to our parks that is expensive to repair and that can make our outdoor space less enjoyable for residents,” said Russell Eirich, City of Regina director of open space services.

As the program gets underway, yellow warning signs will be posted in affected areas. The signs indicate where crews are working and where gopher control treatment has taken place.

Residents should avoid these areas, and pet owners are asked to keep their dogs on leashes as small holes and mounds can pose safety hazards.

The city says 42 locations will be treated in 2026. Each location will be monitored daily for weeks, with signs remaining until poison no longer remains present and gopher activity is under control.

For the program, the city utilizes Rozol RTU, approved by Health Canada in select areas, including storm channels, roadways and railway buffer zones.

No chemicals will be used in park spaces or athletic fields.

The city noted spring is the best time to manage gophers as activity begins to increase after winter.

“Early treatment in rough turf areas helps prevent gopher populations from spreading into maintained turf and sport fields later in the summer,” said the city.

The program will continue for the next few weeks. More information can be found here

On Monday, the federal government announced it has invested $10.6 million in the TFR through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF)

From the city’s angle, this funding is key to meeting the TFR timeline.

“Receiving about half of the project’s cost (21 million) in funding support from the CHIF program is really quite meaningful and will ensure that the project is able to move forward and basically be delivered on schedule,” said Chad Jedlic, director of land, real estate and economic development with the City of Regina.

Last fall, Regina city council approved fully funding the project through the city’s land development reserve if they didn’t receive external money.

With less money needed from the reserve, Jedlic said this could allow for other projects to move ahead.

As for the TFR, in 2026, Jedlic said the city is focused on engaging engineers to design the underground and surface infrastructure for the TFR, which will start construction in 2027.

While construction for a greenfield development begins sooner, Jedlic explained why the TFR will take longer to start.

“We are working with the indoor aquatic facility (IAF) construction, in that they are using the Taylor Field site as a laydown area for all their machinery, equipment and materials required for the IAF. So the two projects will be highly integrated to ensure that we’re sort of able to use the land as efficiently as possible and install services most efficiently.”

The IAF, which started construction in summer 2025, is set to open in 2029.

However, the TFR isn’t expected to see a similar opening date.

“The infrastructure, roadways and park will be completed at about the same time as the IAF nears completion, and then you’ll start to see the residential units going vertical at that time,” said Jedlic.

Developers and housing

While no developer has been chosen for the TFR yet, Jedlic said the project has attracted interest.

“The response has been quite positive. I think they understand the ability to leverage the Indoor Aquatics Facility as well as the green space that will be south of 10th Avenue.”

While rents for nearby properties often rise alongside new developments, Jedlic said this is not a concern for the TFR.

“The IAF and splash pads are great amenities, [but] not everyone will want to live there.

At the SUMA Convention on Monday, Mayor Chad Bachynski said the TFR will offer upwards of 500 housing units.

However, an exact number of units hasn’t been finalized yet, said Jedlic.

Regina city council will receive an update on the TFR progress in the first quarter of 2027.

According to a statement from Sask Polytech dated April 15, the layoffs include 18 faculty, nine professional services employees and three out-of-scope staff, but specific details on the positions won’t be released.

Sask Polytech said the layoffs are part of its annual review to ensure programs align with labour market demand, operational efficiency and budget priorities.

The latest job cuts come as the school has faced heavy layoffs of over 150 employees since April 2025 due to federal changes to immigration, which have reduced the number of international visas given out yearly.

As a result, Sask Polytechnic has experienced a decline in enrolment, prompting the institution to adjust program offerings and relocate some courses to other campuses.

“This is a challenging time for Sask Polytech, and these decisions are not made lightly,” the statement said. “Throughout this period, our focus is on our students and on our mission, to inspire success in every learning journey.”

Sask Polytech said it continues to face significant challenges in the international education environment, with no rebound in international enrolment expected next academic year.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement early April 15 for much of southern and central Saskatchewan, including the cities of Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, and communities in more than 100 RMs.

“Although Wednesday [April 15] during the day will see many locations through southern Saskatchewan experiencing pleasant spring weather with highs in the low to mid teens, beginning overnight, the weather will see a stark shift with a wintry mix impulse passing through,” Environment Canada said in the advisory.

Generally, when the precipitation begins overnight, Environment Canada said it will be snow for most portions of southern Saskatchewan. In some places, it might fall as rain before transitioning to snow.

“The snowfall amounts may vary considerably and there is a high amount of uncertainty as to where the heaviest bands of snowfall will occur. Amounts in the forecast may increase as this system develops,” Environment Canada said.

From the Canada-U.S. border to Highway 1, Environment Canada said there will be a risk of freezing rain in the overnight period before the precipitation turns to snow in the morning.

This statement may be expanded or upgraded to warnings as this system develops.

SaskToday will have updates as they become available.

Opposition finance critic Trent Wotherspoon attempted to move an emergency motion in the Assembly to temporarily suspend the provincial fuel tax. But as has been the case for most of the NDP’s emergency motions this term, it failed to receive the required unanimous consent to make it into debate, as government members said no.

The NDP have frequently called for the fuel tax’s removal over the past several months and years, citing affordability concerns. But the government has been steadfast in maintaining it, citing the need for the revenue for highway maintenance.

Following this latest failure to sway the government, Wotherspoon voiced his dismay to reporters outside the Assembly chamber.

“Just real disappointed once again to see the Sask Party government fail to support a motion to cut the gas tax for Saskatchewan people. This is a time where the price of fuel is gone sky high for families, farms and businesses,” said Wotherspoon.

“At the same time the province is experiencing an unplanned and significant boost to its revenues. It’s only right that they’d offer a corresponding break to families and suspend the gas tax. Of course we see the Feds suspending the fuel tax — if the province did so as well, this would offer a meaningful break to families, farms, and businesses at the pumps at a time where they desperately needed it.”

When Premier Scott Moe was asked about the Carney government cutting the excise tax, he said “we welcome affordability measures.”

He said that was something his government was focused on “in a different way,” pointing to cutting income taxes and taxes across the board for Saskatchewan families.

“We’re down almost $4,400 a year on the taxes a Saskatchewan family pays,” he said, referring to the Sask. Party’s time in government.

When asked if the government might reconsider its stance on not suspending the fuel tax, Moe did not definitively rule it out.

“We’re always looking at what we can do to better serve the people of Saskatchewan,” Moe said, citing “what is an increasingly inflationary environment that we are living in.”

“So we’re always looking at what can we do more while living within our means as well — our financial means. So I would never say that that conversation is far away. It most certainly was a conversation in the most recent election just over a year ago.”

The project is one of the most significant annual industrial undertakings in Saskatchewan, designed to ensure the refinery continues to operate safely and reliably while meeting strict regulatory standards.

“Today is a very significant day for us as we begin the 2026 turnaround,” explained Brad DeLorey, director of communications and public affairs. “Turnaround is how we ensure that our refinery can operate safely and meet regulatory requirements both now and into the future.”

A project measured in scale and impact

This year’s turnaround carries a price tag of more than $150 million and represents approximately 816,000 person-hours of work, co-op said.

At its peak, more than 1,500 workers will be on site each day, with roughly 1,600 additional skilled tradespeople brought in to support the effort, according to a media release. For a period of nearly two months, the refinery will operate more like a small city than an industrial facility.

“The scope of the project is very large this year,” DeLorey noted. “We will welcome more than 1,600 additional skilled trades personnel to our facility.”

The work includes preventative maintenance, equipment replacement and system upgrades, all aimed at strengthening the long-term performance of the refinery.

“Turnaround is really about safety and reliability,” DeLorey said. “It’s a massive undertaking to ensure everything is in place for safe operations.”

Economic ripple across Regina

Beyond the refinery gates, the economic impact is immediate and far-reaching.

Hotels and restaurants see increased traffic and local businesses benefit from the influx of workers spending weeks in the city.

“When you take a look at the economic spin-off, the refinery swells to the population of a small town,” DeLorey said. “Local businesses will certainly benefit.”

FCL CEO Heather Ryan echoed that impact, stating the project will create about 1,600 temporary jobs while injecting significant spending into the local economy.

The turnaround has become a predictable and important economic driver for Regina each year, blending industrial necessity with community benefit.

Precision, planning and safety

Inside the refinery, the turnaround is a carefully choreographed operation.

Entire units are shut down in phases, allowing crews to inspect, repair and upgrade critical infrastructure that cannot be addressed during normal operations.

For the refinery’s general manager of operations Ryan Koshykowski, the annual shutdown is essential.

“Turnaround is a critically important time for us every year,” he stated. “It is an opportunity to enhance our facility and ensure we are operating safely.”

With thousands of workers moving in and out of the site daily, traffic management will be in place around Fleet Street and McDonald Street, particularly during peak hours between early morning and evening shift changes.

Officials are urging residents to be aware of increased traffic in the area throughout the project.

Fuelling more than vehicles

The Co-op Refinery Complex plays a vital role in supplying fuel across Western Canada, making its continued operation essential not just for Regina, but for communities across the region.

For FCL, the turnaround is not simply maintenance. It is an investment in stability, safety and long-term performance.

“The project ultimately allows us the ability to continue the safe and reliable operation of the facility,” DeLorey said.