Prince Albert’s school divisions meet to discuss matters of mutual interest

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Prince Albert’s school divisions meet to discuss matters of mutual interest

The two school divisions in Prince Albert met together on Monday, January 27 ahead of this year’s provincial budget.

According to Robert Bratvold director of education Saskatchewan Rivers School Division the two boards get together once a year to talk about joint interests and provincial concerns.

“Boards work together a lot throughout the year and that’s a way to do some of that work so it’s a very positive thing,” Bratvold said.

Among things that are discussed are matters of interest including the upcoming Provincial Budget.

“The budget itself is part of the conversation generally. It is more about advocacy for sufficient, sustainable and adequate funding similar to what the School Board’s association of the province advocates for too,” Bratvold said.

The divisions will both finalize their 2020-2021 budget in their May or June meetings.

The boards discussed the upcoming renewal of the Provincial Education Plan.

“There is some excitement around the Provincial Education Plan, there is a framework in place and there is some work being done to renew the provincial education plan and we had some conversations about that and its potential impact on our boards,”

The boards also addressed advocacy around needs of students in the meeting.

They also discussed professional development for trustees in the two divisions.

”Trustees are great learners they come to their position elected and do lots of learning in the process,” he explained.

“We also talked about sort of joint advocacy to connect with the ministry and other stakeholders around issues that are facing both school divisions around student populations and those kinds of things,” he said.

According to Bratvold, the Saskatchewan Rivers population is steady.

“I think we are anticipating a small decline this coming year based on what we have seen with our Kindergarten numbers going in and our graduation rates and students graduating and some other factors too. They have been relatively stable. We experienced some growth a few years ago and then a little bit of decline the last year or two but relatively stable since I came in 2011,” he explained.

The formula for school funding uses school population among other factors. Enrolment was not a topic at the joint meeting, Bratvold said.

Cannabis nursery operation approved by R.M. of Buckland

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Cannabis nursery operation approved by R.M. of Buckland

After some discussion and an adjustment a cannabis production facility has been approved in the Rural Municipality (R.M.) of Buckland. At the R.M.’s regular council meeting on Monday, February 10 the council approved a plan by Curtis Braaten, owner/operator of Haskap Central Sales Limited to bring a marijuana nursery to his property. With no objections from neighbours Braaten is happy to see the project go forward.

“There was no objections registered whatsoever we were expecting as much,” he said.

“We will maintain the operations of Haskap Central, we have anticipated this coming. We have changed our current business model with Haskap Central sales and we feel that we will be able to transition into the cannabis industry quite nicely,” Braaten explained.

The now open market for cannabis made the decision to expand easy for Braaten.

“We do that for a living already, we profligate plants for a living and ship them nationwide actually we ship them worldwide. So I know that it’s a completely different plant but we don’t anticipate it being much of a stretch for us,” Braaten said.

The operation will begin with the nursery and once they develop will expand the existing site.

“We will start with the nursery, we will get the nursery up and running and increase our genetic pool to capture market share and then once we have some cashflow we have the authorization for the micro (-cultivation) and we will start building because that will be new construction. Because the existing glass house will be converted for the nursery and then we will just move on to the micro,” he said.

They would be one of the few operations in Canada.

“In terms of nursery I think there is only five that are licensed in Canada and it sounds like most of them are in western Canada. There is one in Saskatchewan if I am not mistaken,” Braaten said.

According to Buckland’s planner Jason Kaptein there was some initial discussion before it was brought before council in December, 2019.

“So last year we did amend our zoning bylaws to allow for these Cannabis production facilities, both on the micro(-cultivation) end which is up to 200 square meters in size for production space and then the larger facilities as well,” Kaptein explained.

Braaten initially came with a plan for a smaller micro operation. However before the matter came to the public hearing portion in February his plans had changed. Braaten, who already has a greenhouse on his property and moved into the nursery aspect.

“And the Health Canada applications for the nurseries, I understand is not the same size restriction is he can do the flowering, he can produce the cannabis in up to 200 square meters of production space. But in addition to that he was asking for the nursery aspect as well which is what he does currently on the property with the Haskap,” he said.

The RM changed their zoning bylaws so as they do not distinguish between cannabis and other nursery plants.

“But because he already operates a nursery and our zoning doesn’t distinguish between cannabis plants and other nursery plants. We don’t have any restrictions on the nursery aspect. We still approved the micro and he’s basically allowed to change from Haskap to cannabis under our zoning bylaw without us having to issue a new approval on the cannabis end,’ Kaptein explained

“Our zoning doesn’t distinguish on the nursery end between cannabis and other types of nursery stock. So we didn’t have a concern on it so on our public consultation process, truth be told, we didn’t hear any feedback from the neighbours and we didn’t have any concerns on either end from the immediate neighbours. And so with that we did approve it, both the micro and with the understanding that he would be converting the nursery,” Kaptein said.

Kapteins explained that Braaten must still be approved by Health Canada before production can begin.

“He still has to get the Health Canada approval but we had no concerns on our end. Council was happy to approve it,” he said.

Braaten overall is pleased that Buckland wants to see the project go forward.

“Well it means that’s a good start and you can’t even get started without that. That is extremely encouraging and the balls are rolling. We have meetings this weekend and now comes the fun part,” he said.

Councillor removed from meeting according to RM of Prince Albert

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Councillor removed from meeting according to RM of Prince Albert

On February 13 at the regular council meeting of the Rural Municipality of Prince an incident occurred with Division 5 councillor Wayne Acorn which necessitated his removal. As well council placed sanctions on Acorn by resolution.

The RM of Prince Albert is not able to comment further about the incident.

The minutes of the council meeting in question will be made available to the public once they are approved at the next regular council meeting, according to a release by the RM on Thursday, February 20.

More to come in the Prince Albert Daily Herald.

Former R.M. Administrator facing charges of theft

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Former R.M. Administrator facing charges of theft

Former administrator for the R.M. of Buckland Tara Kerber made her first appearance on charges of theft over $5,000 in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Thursday, February 20.

Kerber had her case set aside to Tuesday, April 2 in Prince Albert Provincial Court.

She was administrator for Buckland from 2012 to 2019.

Teachers vote overwhelmingly in favour of sanctions

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Teachers vote overwhelmingly in favour of sanctions

Saskatchewan teachers have voted in favour of sanctions, with 90.2 percent of members in support. Voter turnout was exceptionally high at 96.6 percent. The Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation (STF) released the results of their vote on Monday, February 24.

“This 90.2 percent is a very clear message to the provincial government that teachers are resolved and they are standing up for students,” Ted Zurakowski president of the Prince Albert and Area Teachers’ Association said.

“To me it shows how serious of an issue class complexity has become and it shows teacher’s resolve that students get the supports that they need and that the students deserve,” STF president Patrick Maze said.

“It shows to me that it is a province-wide issue it is not just one or two school divisions that are impacted. It is government chronic underfunding that is the cause of it. It is to me a real show of resolve for teachers to stand up for their students and make sure that classrooms are properly supported and that students are set up for success.”

The STF is scheduled to meet with Education Minister Gord Wyant and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association today (February 25). The Conciliation Board recommended the three parties meet “within the next 4 weeks” in order to “discuss steps that can be implemented immediately to support students and teachers in the classroom.”

“Clearly it is a strong resolve. Teachers want to be in the classroom so hopefully the next step is a conversation can occur,” Zurakowski said.

The next step, according to Maze is that meeting.

“That’s the thing — you take a sanctions vote and everyone assumes that you are going to be marching in the streets the next day and that isn’t true for us.”

“Wwe look forward to sitting down both knowing that these results have been posted now and the numbers are in and it kind of raises the stakes a little bit more and hopefully Minister Wyant is bringing some more resources to the table in order to get a deal done,” Maze said.

The vote provides the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee (TBC) the authority to implement sanctions, however, it is not bound to. Parties may return to the bargaining table at any time. The TBC’s goal is to negotiate a collective agreement that is acceptable to teachers and addresses students’ needs. The TBC will determine the type, timing and location of all sanctions.

The negotiations on the new contract began well in advance of a contract expiring.

“We start bargaining well before the contract we are currently in expires and so we have been bargaining for quite some time before the contract expired in August. And now here we are about 10 or 11 months later and still no deal on the horizon here. Hopefully we are able to get the supports necessary so that we have appropriate learning environments for our students,” Maze said.

Maze explained that the STF has committed to giving 48 hours notice before any withdrawal of service. This is in order to help parents make arrangements.

“We are of course very concerned about student safety,” Maze said.

He explained that school divisions are also aware and follow the ongoing negotiations and that the impasse was declared by the conciliator several weeks ago.

“The school divisions have contingency plans in place and are prepared for the potential, nobody wants to go there, but we make sure our classrooms are properly supported. So hopefully we will get a deal but it is not our intent to catch anyone by surprise,” Maze said.

The authority to implement sanctions remains in place until a new provincial collective agreement is ratified. Sanctions may take a variety of forms, from eliminating teachers’ volunteer time for extracurricular activities to a full walkout. Teachers have only withdrawn professional services once since provincial bargaining began in 1973.

“We are talking about supporting our classrooms. And it is basically an investment in Saskatchewan’s future. We think the government needs to live up to their responsibility in order to fund,” Maze said.
Zurakowski hopes that it does not reach the point of sanctions.

“I mean teachers want to be in the classroom, students want to be in the classroom learning, teachers recognize that anytime that the government turns their back on students that teachers need to step up on behalf of the students in the classroom,” he said.

“We are going to try and resolve this without the need to sanction and the importance of parents, grandparent and caregivers are hugely important. The government needs to listen to those voices as well and they can’t be tone deaf moving forward. The cuts in education are real and they are devastating and we would certainly like to partner with those voices in the community so the government hears their concerns as well,” he added.

The Opposition NDP placed the blame on government cuts and understaffing.

“We’ve been raising the alarm about the crisis in our classrooms, which is the result of years of falling per-student funding. This vote shows how little teachers trust that the Minister will fix these issues through a side-table committee. For the sake of our kids’ education, the Sask. Party needs to get to work to address the concerns of teachers, parents and students. This is why we’ve committed to hiring enough teachers and EAs so that no K-3 classroom in Saskatchewan has more than 24 kids.” NDP Education Critic Carla Beck said in a statement.

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