Federal and Provincial governments announce the opening of the Little Oak Child and Youth Justice Centre in Moose Jaw

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Federal and Provincial governments announce the opening of the Little Oak Child and Youth Justice Centre in Moose Jaw

Sheila Bautz

Special to the Herald

On August 26, the provincial government and the Government of Canada made a joint announcement about a new Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to helping victims and survivors of crime overcome tragic situations, ensuring they are not alone as they navigate the criminal justice system,” said Tim McLeod K.C., Saskatchewan’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General. “The opening of the Little Oak Child and Youth Justice Centre ensures that we are offering support and assistance that is instrumental to creating and maintaining safe, healthy communities across our province.”

Prior to his current political portfolio, McLeod served as the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and the Minister of Seniors and Rural and Remote Health. He also served as the Provincial Secretary and Legislative Secretary to Premier Scott Moe, as well as being a member of Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice. The Justice Minister received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2000) and a Juris Doctor in Law (2004) from the University of Saskatchewan, where after he was the director of a restorative justice project for high-risk youth in the criminal justice system. 

Currently, McLeod’s political portfolio includes also serving as the Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, and the Minister Responsible for Firearms, along with fulfilling the duties of the Secretariat for the province of Saskatchewan.

The grand opening tour of the Little Oak Child and Youth Justice Centre in Moose Jaw included McLeod and representatives from the Moose Jaw Police Service. Accompanying them on the tour was the Saskatchewan federal Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River Secretary of State (Rural Development) Buckley Belanger on behalf of Sean Fraser, the federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

“Access to justice in a safe environment is essential,” said Belanger. “I have no doubt that the Little Oak Centre will be a beacon of safety and support for children and youth in our province. I am proud that our government continues to support this important work.”

The Moose Jaw Little Oak Child and Youth Justice facility is reportedly designed with the intent for a commitment to providing a safe, comforting atmosphere in a child-friendly environment for children and youth who are victims of abuse. These important facilities aim to provide individualized responses and appropriate actions after an occurrence of child abuse is reported.

As a CYAC is designed to meet the unique needs of a community based on its location, no two facilities are alike. However, each CYAC is required to provide key elements, such as a multi-disciplinary team. The professional collaborations that exist and network within a CYAC center include law enforcement, child protection workers, medical and mental health professionals, along with victim advocates.

The Victim Services Responders are hired to fulfill the responsibility to provide information, support and referrals for victims starting at their first interview after a traumatic event. The responders are to remain with the victims throughout the criminal justice and child protection process until the end of the case.

According to government statements, a decision is made by the collective crisis team about the appropriateness to seek a prosecution. As a result, there is a process for case reviews as well. The CYAC facilities are to also ensure organizational capacity while conducting forensic interviewing services and victim advocacy and support, including potential court preparation and support. Specialized supports are included at the discretion of the collaborating team to provide treatment and mental health services.

The CYAC is also involved with the training and education of professionals who will work with child abuse victims. Broader education for communities with outreach programs are considered important activities that the CYAC’s are required to fulfill. This includes general public information sharing about prevention, intervention, prosecution, treatment and support for victims of violence and their families. As a result, the federal and provincial government consider CYAC centers to be important components for assisting abused children, youth and their families while navigating various systems during a highly stressful situation.

“When a child has been through trauma, they should not have to face the justice system alone,” said Fraser. “With our government’s support, centres like Little Oak are creating safe spaces where kids and families feel supported every step of the way. That is what access to justice should mean.”

The new Saskatchewan CYAC in Moose Jaw receives important funding from Justice Canada’s Victims Fund. The federal fund is allocating $470,000 over a two-year period to assist with expanding the Victim Services Responder program. The governments state that the funds will assist with the creation of safe, child-friendly spaces and trauma-informed services for children and youth who are victimized by abuse. The federal government also states that the financial aid is designated throughout the healing journey.

Led by the Department of Justice Canada, the Federal Victims Strategy (FVS) initiative is reported by the government to improve access to justice for victims of crime. According to FVS, their goal is to provide victims with a more effective voice in the criminal justice system. The federal Justice Department publicly states that it is responsible for ensuring the justice system is fair, relevant, accessible and reflective of Canadian values.

The Justice Canada’s Victims Fund also states that it supports projects and activities that encourage the development of new approaches towards victims of abuse. The federal funding intends to assist both victim-serving and non-governmental organizations (NGO) to provide programs that align with the priorities set by the Victims Fund and Government of Canada.

The Moose Jaw CYAC is the third centre that the federal and provincial governments are supporting in Saskatchewan. Regina, Saskatoon and Lloydminister have CYACs currently in full operation in the province. 

Across Canada, Child Advocacy Centres and Child and Youth Advocacy Centres are reported to support approximately 20,000 children, youth and their families annually. Over the past decade, Justice Canada reports that it provided in excess of $50 million in funding to support 45 CYAC facilities at various stages of development across the country.

Jersey Mike’s Subs continues Western Canadian expansion with new Prince Albert location scheduled for October opening

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Jersey Mike’s Subs continues Western Canadian expansion with new Prince Albert location scheduled for October opening

Sheila Bautz

Special to the Herald

Jersey Mike’s Subs is in the process of a Canadian Expansion Westward and will soon open a restaurant in The Great Gateway to The North.

The popular franchise brand is part of the Redberry Restaurants’ Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) franchises. 

Redberry Restaurants owns and operates more than 200 restaurants across the nation with brands such as Burger King, Taco Bell and Jersey Mike’s Subs. The Jersey Mike’s Sub franchise is employing 30 team members at the Prince Albert location, which opens on Oct. 1. The franchise brings with it a reputation for its culture of generosity and giving back to the communities they operate in.

“We are excited to get to know our new neighbors in Prince Albert. At Jersey Mike’s, giving back is central to our mission,” said Paul Day, Regional Manager-West for Jersey Mike’s Subs. “Since the beginning of 2024, Jersey Mike’s in Canada has raised more than $135,000 for local organizations and we look forward to making a difference in PA too.”

In August 2024, Redberry Restaurants opened its first Canadian Jersey Mike’s Subs in Markham, Ontario. Currently, there are 15 Ontario locations in operation. This summer, the first Saskatchewan based QSR opened in Regina to launch the franchise’s expansion into Western Canada. The corporation plans to open 300 locations across the nation over the next decade.

“We opened our first Canadian Jersey Mike’s Subs outside of Ontario in Regina in July, a great place to kick off our expansion to Western Canada,” said Day. “We have received a terrific welcome and are looking forward to opening in Saskatoon on September 24, followed by Prince Albert on October 1st.”

In 2005, Redberry Restaurants entered Canada as one of the largest QSR franchisees in the country. Since then, the corporation is the recipient of multiple prestigious awards, such as the Food & Hospitality Magazine’s Pinnacle Company of the Year award. The award recognizes corporations for their outstanding growth, giving back to the communities they operate in, and demonstrating a culture of support.  

“Our unprecedented growth trajectory is accomplished with the lens of enhancing the communities in which we serve and encouraging each of our team members to lead with kindness, while empowering them to truly be the best versions of themselves,” stated Redberry Restaurants in a public announcement.

Jersey Mike’s touts its subs as authentic and fresh, with their employees being an important ingredient through their dedicated, high-energy work ethic that forms their teams. Everything about the Quick Service Restaurant remains true to the original business, from the first subs made at the original Jersey Mike’s 69 years ago to the quality customer service. 

Jersey Mike’s Subs was founded in 1956 by a man known as Mike, who selected a New Jersey scenic vacation spot in the seaside town of Point Pleasant, USA. The location was close to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC, which proved a prime spot also for water worshippers and family vacationers. Mike built the menu and recipes, later selling the business to a teenage employee.

“Jersey Mike’s premium meats and cheeses are sliced to order right in front of you and piled high on the in-store baked bread. We always recommend our customers try our subs made Mike’s Way with the freshest vegetables – onions, lettuce and tomatoes – along with an exquisite zing of the juice, red wine vinegar and an olive oil blend, topped off with our signature spices,” said Day. “Our top-selling subs are the #13 The Original Italian and #7 Turkey Breast and Provolone. Authentic cheesesteaks are also grilled fresh to order. (Try the #56 Big Kahuna Cheese Steak!)”

Mike, the original owner, sold his business to a 17-year-old teenager named Peter Cancro, who was employed by Mike at Jersey Mike’s Subs from the age of 14. As submarine sandwiches were new concepts at that time, the teenager, Cancro, was determined to purchase the business. With the support of his football coach, who also happened to be a local banker, Cancro received a loan to purchase Jersey Mike’s Subs. 

Cancro remains the CEO with over 2,800 locations currently open or under development. Last year in 2024, Cancro was named the 2024 Restaurant Leader of the Year by Restaurant Business. Jersey Mike’s Subs also received extensive recognition for the QSR’s excellence in quality and customer service. This includes the #1 and #2 rankings for national awards. 

In 2025, Jersey Mike’s appeared as #1 Fast Casual in the Nation’s Restaurant News America’s Favorite Chains list, #1 Fast Casual Restaurant Chain in Newsweek’s America’s Best Customer Service 2024 and in the #2 position on Entrepreneur’s 2025 Franchise 500. 

Redberry Restaurants are also proud recipients of  awards such as the Restaurant Top 200 in The Nation’s Largest and Most Successful Franchisees by Franchise Times, Franchisee of the Year by Burger King for North America in 2021, and Pinnacle Award’s Company of the Year in 2024.

Jersey Mike’s Subs and Redberry Restaurants share an authentic passion for caring about the communities they serve and providing contributions back into the community. The motto of make a difference in someone’s life remains the corporation’s guiding principle at Jersey Mike’s Subs.

In the last decade alone, Jersey Mike’s Sub locations raised a combined $175 million for their local charities through their annual Month of Giving Campaign in March. The fundraiser involves every location where a Jersey Mike’s Sub restaurant is operating. The Day of Giving occurs annually on the last Wednesday in the month of March. Jersey Mike’s Sub franchise owners donate 100 per cent of the day’s profits, known as “not just profit”, to local charities. 

In addition, each Jersey Mike’s Sub restaurant holds fundraisers for local charities around each restaurant opening. In Canada, the 2025 initiative raised $100,000 for four local charities as the QSRs began operating in the country. The giving back campaign includes donating to help Make-A-Wish Canada, which grants life-changing wishes across the country for children with critical illnesses.

Redberry Restaurants continues to be a leader in supporting its brand partners, such as Jersey Mike’s, and their charitable initiatives in support of important causes. The corporation continuously sponsors multiple local community initiatives, such as being an active participant in the YMCA and University Co-Op programs, which offer jobs and career training. Another initiative, for instance, is The Burger King Scholarship program, which raised in excess of $385,000 allocated to deserving students across Canada, including Redberry restaurant employees.

The Prince Albert location opens at 801 15th Street East.

Saskatchewan Party and NDP react to labour force numbers

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Saskatchewan Party and NDP react to labour force numbers

Sheila Bautz

Special to the Herald

According to the latest labour force numbers from Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan’s full-time employment hit a record-high with 534,300 new jobs filled by August 2025.

In August alone, 16,500 new jobs catapulted Saskatchewan to the first rank of leadership in the nation with the 2.6 per cent increase in employment. In addition, the Government of Saskatchewan (GOS) is supporting businesses and workers through making amendments to employment standards. The goal is to continue maintaining equality, safety and a prosperous future for the prairie province.

“Once again, with record job numbers and low unemployment, we have proven why we are the best place to live, work and raise a family in Canada,” said Jim Reiter, the Saskatchewan Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Career Training. “Our government is committed to ensuring that this growth continues and we have the labour force to support our strong economy.”

With increased employment, boosts to various other industries naturally occur through experiencing the positive economic force and factors related to job creation. Reiter said the increase in employment is a positive indicator of the effectiveness of the GOS’s economic strategies, which create a ripple effect into other industry and retail sectors.

He said this greatly contributes to sustaining and building a healthy society and culture due to the momentum of various industry sectors providing career opportunities — as well as advancing educational opportunities to enhance existing knowledge in areas of expertise.

In response, the Saskatchewan NDP said the province is taking the economy in the wrong direction. NDP Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources Sally Housser said the job numbers create a misleading picture of Saskatchewan’s economy.

“The Sask. Party will try to brag bout a decreasing unemployment rate. It’s only decreasing because the labour force is shrinking due to 4,400 people leaving the province or giving up on finding a job,” Housser said in a press release. “After 18 years in power, the Sask. Party is out of touch, out of ideas, and running our economy into the ground. They simply aren’t focused on the future.”

The term employment is in reference to the number of people in the province who are 15 years and older and working either part-time or full-time in occupations. Employment is an indicator of the success of job creation as well as the overall labour market performance.

The job numbers also had an impact on the housing industry. In June, Saskatchewan ranked second amongst the provinces for year-over-year growth in the value of building permits. The province also ranked first for year-to-date growth in the value of building permits and urban housing starts.

In August, the addition of 16,500 new jobs created included an increase of employment for women by 4.4 per cent with 12,300 positions being filled in various occupations. For men, there was an increase of 1.2 per cent in employment opportunities, which translates to an increase of 3,900 full-time positions.

Simultaneously, the province also experienced the lowest unemployment rate amongst Canadian provinces at 4.7 per cent. The data demonstrates that the unemployment rate in Saskatchewan is well below the national average of 7.1 per cent.

Overall employment in the Prince Albert and Northern parts of Saskatchewan decreased by -0.2 per cent. The top three areas experiencing increases in employment were in central Saskatchewan and the southern part of the province. Swift Current-Moose Jaw demographic experienced the highest increase in employment at 8.4 per cent. The Saskatoon-Biggar region experienced 3.6 per cent increase in employment and Regina-Moose Mountain has a 2.8 per cent increase in employment in the region.

In the province’s two largest cities, the increase in employment opportunities over the last 12 months were highest in Regina and Saskatoon. Compared to August 2024, the City of Regina’s employment demands required 7,300 positions to be filled, which is an increase of 5.0 per cent. The City of Saskatoon experienced a 0.9 per cent increase in employment creating 1,900 positions.

The province of Saskatchewan continues to see strong growth in all areas, businesses and industry sectors. For instance, major year-over-year gains were reported for health care, construction and tourism related industries.

The top 5 areas of employment in Saskatchewan experiencing the most employment creation from August 2024 to August 2025 involved the following sectors. The Utilities sector experienced a 47.4 per cent increase in employment. Accommodation and Food Services experienced a 12.9 per cent increase while the Construction industry created 11.4 per cent more jobs. The Public Services sector increased hiring workers to fill positions by 7.2 per cent while the Forestry, Mining, Oil and Gas employment rose 3.5 per cent.

As a result,beginning on January 1, 2026, the GOC is enforcing amendments to the employment standards provision of The Saskatchewan Employment Act. The amendments will come into full force to provide support for businesses and workers.

“Having effective employment legislation in place is critical for Saskatchewan’s strong economy and secure future,” said Reiter. “This legislation strikes the right balance for both workers and employers.”

The amendments to the employment standards coming into force include a variety of areas. For instance, employers will be allowed to use a calendar day as opposed to 24 consecutive hours for the purposes of work schedules and overtime provisions. The amendments will also prohibit employers from withholding tips from their employees and limiting when employers can request sick notes.

Other provisions will include discriminatory actions by an employer being strictly prohibited through providing the director of employment standards with the authority to order reinstatement of the employee. Additionally, the director of employment standards will have the authority to order the employer to provide compensation for lost wages in cases where there was a discriminatory action by the employer. There will also be the authority to extend various leave provisions for employees, amongst other provisions.

The increasing momentum for economic growth and job creation is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan’s Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy. The GOC plan is considered a roadmap that is required to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan’s strong and growing economy. In addition, Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy plan will increase investment in the province in order to further advance Saskatchewan’s Growth plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.

The Saskatchewan prosperity momentum continues.

Wiciwakan Place rises to the top: provincial government receives a highly impressive amount of BOMA BEST Environmental Awards

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Wiciwakan Place rises to the top: provincial government receives a highly impressive amount of BOMA BEST Environmental Awards

Sheila Bautz

Special to the Herald

Recently, the Building Owners and Managers Association Building Environmental Standards (BOMA BEST) recognized a highly impressive number of Government of Saskatchewan (GOS) provincial buildings with a series of environmental certifications, ratings and awards.

Wiciwakan Place in Meadow Lake, which translates to partner in the Cree language, rose to the top in two areas. The building is owned by Flying Dust First Nation. The other GOS owned buildings garnered 17 environmental certifications and ratings, with an additional award recognizing GOS employee, Elena Diebel, Environmental Manager with the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement (SBP).

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings is North America’s most widely used environmental assessment and certification program. The corporation is unrivalled across the nation in Canada. With expertise, the corporation recognizes excellence in energy environmental management as well as performance in the maintenance, efficiency and upkeep of existing buildings. This includes energy and water usage, air quality, tenant comfort and wellness, custodial upkeep and waste management practices.

“BOMA BEST doesn’t just look at energy efficiency—it’s holistic. It looks at everything from energy use to water conservation, to the chemicals or the cleaning products you use,” said Mark Hutchinson, Vice President of Green Building Programs and Innovation with Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC). “You might also see decreased sick days and higher productivity because the building provides a healthier work environment for your employees.”

BOMA BEST™ recognizes excellence in building performance and sustainability. It is Canada’s largest environmental assessment and certification program for existing buildings within a province or territory. Many of Saskatchewan’s buildings are historical landmarks constructed since, or after, the turn of the 20th century. 

In addition to the certifications and ratings, three government buildings earned the BOMAEarth Awards for 2024. The award is presented to buildings that obtained the highest overall BOMA BEST score in each asset class. Recipients of the BOMAEarth Awards included the Government House, which is the highest-ranked Universal building. The Lloyd Place is the highest-ranking Office Building and the Saskatoon Equipment Repair Depot gained the highest-ranking for light industrial score.

“We are pleased to see so many Government of Saskatchewan properties receiving these environmental certifications,” said David Marit, Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement. “This reflects the progress we are making under the province’s Prairie Resilience Climate Strategy and our growth plan goals for 2030.”

This year, 11 GOS buildings received BOMA BEST certifications with 8 Gold and 3 Silver ratings. As a result, the recent awards received by the GOS from BOMA BEST reflect the standard of excellence in maintaining the historical Saskatchewan buildings. The results are a reflection of the dedication and daily care provided by the provincial staff who maintain, repair, manage and support the government facilities across the prairie province.

The Gold rating is awarded to buildings that meet the Baseline Practices and achieved between an 80 and 89% per cent upon verification. Recipients of the Gold certifications include the Wiciwakan Place in Meadow Lake. The McNevin Building in Nipawin also received a Gold rating along with four provincial landmark buildings in Regina: The Government House, the Regina Provincial Courthouse, the Paul Dojack Youth Centre and Lloyd Place. Gold certifications were also awarded to the Eiling Kramer Building in North Battleford and the Saskatoon Equipment Repair Depot.

The Silver rating is awarded to buildings that meet the Baseline Practices and achieved between 60 and 79% upon verification. The three historical building recipients of the Silver certification include the Melfort Court of Kings Bench, The E.I. Wood Building in Swift Current and the Saskatchewan Polytechnic E.A. Davies Building in Saskatoon.

As part of the BOMA BEST certification process, eligible Saskatchewan buildings also underwent ENERGY STAR assessments. The program administrator for the ENERGY STAR assessments is Natural Resources Canada in Partnership with EnerQuality. The ENERGY STAR rating and certifications distinguish the most energy efficient buildings through setting a benchmark with a competitive nation-wide building comparison for analysis. The competitive comparison utilizes a huge dataset compiling tens of thousands of buildings across Canada.

“To earn ENERGY STAR certification, a building owner has to benchmark at least 12 consecutive months of metered energy data and obtain an ENERGY STAR Score of 75 or higher,” said Hutchinson. “If you get a score of 75, it means that your building uses less energy than 75 per cent of comparable buildings.”

Four Saskatchewan government buildings received ENERGY STAR certification based on their scores, indicating superior energy efficiency compared to similar facilities across Canada. Once again, the Wiciwakan Place in Meadow Lake rose to the top with a score of 91 per cent, which demonstrates that the building uses 91 per cent less energy than similar buildings nationwide. The three other buildings that received the certification are Lloyd Place in Regina with a score of 87 per cent, Eiling Kramer Building in North Battleford with a score of 84 per cent and El Wood Building in Swift current with a score of 81 per cent.

The GOS received recognition not only for the historical buildings, but for an employee as well. The Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement (SBP) Environmental Manager, Elena Diebel, was awarded the Lloyd Rogers Member of the Year Award, and is now nationally nominated for Member of the Year. The award honours a member who demonstrated leadership, initiative and/or service to the commercial real estate community.

BOMA BEST is specifically credited with the highest standards in three key areas. First, the industry standard for Sustainable and Smart building operations. Second, as a building management tool for existing buildings. Third, as a roadmap for continuous improvement. The GOS remains committed to improving sustainability and taking action on climate change. As an added bonus, GOS contributed to BOMA BEST™planting approximately 450 trees.

“Starting September 1st, 2019, for every building certified or verified under BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings, we planted 25 trees,” said the corporation a public statement. “Our goal is for our BOMA community to collectively plant at least 20,000 trees per year as they certify and recertify under BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings.”

The certifications received in the province of Saskatchewan are a step towards the GOS’s Prairie Resilience: A Made-in-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy. The work undertaken to receive these awards and certificates answers the strategy’s call for reduced energy consumption in government-owned buildings on the prairies.

Focus on China: Government of Canada joins Saskatchewan Government in trade mission  

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Focus on China: Government of Canada joins Saskatchewan Government in trade mission  

Sheila Bautz  

Special to the Herald

Initiated by Canadian Premier Scott Moe, the province of Saskatchewan is leading a trade mission for international meetings with Asian countries. Recently, Premier Moe extended an invitation to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and other federal ministers, to join the China-focused agreements for the Asian business trip initiative.  

This is the first time in six years a Canadian Premier organized a trade mission to China with a goal to preserve the vital multi-billion dollar trade relationship between the two countries. The prairie Premier and his government representatives are also attending trade talk meetings in Japan and South Korea. 

“Saskatchewan has expressed urgency to the federal government and been clear that we need to see action now to support the over 200,000 people across Canada’s canola industry,” said Moe. “That’s why we are leading through this mission, reinforcing future trade opportunities and engaging with China on these temporary duties before it’s too late.” 

After requests to the Government of Canada by the Saskatchewan Premier, the Federal Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Carney, Kody Blois, confirmed that federal government officials will accompany representatives from Saskatchewan to the international meetings in China. The federal and provincial government officials will unite to participate in constructive discussions with Chinese officials. The united diplomacy from Canada seeks to address several trade irritants experienced by both China and Canada to reach a cooperative and fair resolution.  

“I’m very pleased with the announcement this morning from the federal government that the parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Carney, Kody Blois — who was at our meeting a couple of weeks ago in Saskatoon — he’ll be joining us in our mission in China,” said Moe in a televised public statement, “And that is a positive, I think, not only for the mission, but a positive for where we can get to in the broader opportunities that we might have with a country like China.”   

China is a major market for Canadian canola seeds and oil, along with other high-quality Canadian commodities, which are abundant on the Saskatchewan prairies. In 2024, Saskatchewan’s exports to Asian countries exceeded $10 billion combined. More specifically, exports to China totaled $4.4 billion. The Asian country supported the Canadian canola industry, which provided employment and lucrative industry growth in Canada. Without the international support of China, Canada’s canola industry and economic lucrativeness, particularly in Saskatchewan, appears questionable to many.  

Japan and South Korea received a combined $929 million and $162 million in Saskatchewan exports respectively. 

The federal government of Canada, which is under new leadership with Prime Minister Mark Carney, is being branded as ‘Canada’s new government’ in federal government press releases. Under Carney’s leadership, the Liberal government continues to actively work with provincial, territory, First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments across the nation.   

Carney’s federal cabinet stated they are committed to supporting farmers in the western hemisphere of Canada, along with businesses that are both directly and indirectly affected by tariffs. The federal commitment is reported to remain for the duration of the ongoing diplomatic negotiations with China and other Asian countries, such as Japan and South Korea. The unilateral goal is to solidify a collective Canadian unity, which includes building a one Canadian economy with secure and reliable international trading partners to distribute high-quality Canadian goods. As well, the federal government promises to announce additional measures in support of Canadian food producers.  

Due to the complications of the business relationship between China and Canada, China is extending the canola issue until March 26, 2026. China’s reason for the extension is due to the case involving complexities. Additional impacts about the decision include a trade dispute regarding metals and electric vehicles with the federal Canadian government.   

“I was also pleased to see Prime Minister Carney and the federal government and the Premier of China reactivate the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETC), which had sat dormant for a number of years,” said Saskatchewan Premier Moe. “That was re-energized and reactivated here just this past month. And this is, again, I would say, a positive step in the broader opportunities that may lie ahead for our two countries.”  

On August 26, 2025, the 28th meeting of the China-Canada Joint Economy and Trade Commission (JETC) took place in Ottawa, Canada. The international meeting was co-chaired by China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, Li Chenggang, and Canada’s Deputy Minister of International Trade at Global Affairs Canada, Rob Stewart. The two representatives took part in candid, practical, and constructive discussions focused on improving and developing bilateral economic and trade relations. 

Chenggang and Stewart also formerly addressed both China’s and Canada’s economic and trade concerns. The discussions addressed and advanced the pragmatic economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. The goal was to solidify a mutual respect and win-win outcome for positive and progressive results when it comes to international trade between China and Canada.  

As a result, progress towards stabilizing international trade agreements resulted for the China-Canada trade relationships agreement. The agreement includes the continued leveraging of the JETC mechanism. JETC serves to assist with accumulating positive outcomes in the economic and international trade relationship between the two countries while promoting healthy, stable and sustainable developments in the China-Canada economic and trade relations.  

In addition to the business negotiation meetings in China, Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development, Warren Kaeding, is leading a simultaneous trade mission in South Korea. Once the South Korean negotiations are complete, Kaeding is scheduled to join Saskatchewan Premier Moe in Japan where the two politicians will continue international trade discussions with South Korean government representatives.           The entirety of the Saskatchewan trade mission aims to deepen the province’s ties with international food, agriculture and energy industry stakeholders while showcasing the advantages of doing business in the Canadian province.   

“As we continue to diversify our export markets, we see a lot of opportunity in both Japan and South Korea,” said Kaeding. “Our government is working hard to navigate ongoing trade challenges, and our international trade and investment offices are the vital resource that will guide us through. We are committed to missions such as these because they bring back real results to the citizens of our province.”   

Saskatchewan continues to lead by example in supporting the province’s canola industry. Earlier this week, Moe announced funding for up to 50 per cent of the cost for road improvements to Grain Millers Drive near Yorkton to support the area’s canola producers and processors. The Premier also met with canola sector leaders in Saskatoon to discuss Canada’s response to Chinese tariffs.  

The Saskatchewan Premier’s action to lead the trade mission in Asia is representative of an action plan with purpose to maintain and strengthen international trade ties. This is particularly focused on two of the province’s largest trading partners: China and Japan. The trade mission aims to bolster partnerships and foster enhanced collaboration in trade and innovation.       

The China and Japan mission will run from September 6 to 12, 2025. The South Korea mission will run from September 6 to 9, 2025.  

Back in class: a look around the province at Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Back in class: a look around the province at Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions

Sheila Bautz

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Special to the Herald

The province of Saskatchewan attracts international scholars and produces home-grown minds.

Both near and abroad, scholars migrate to the prairie province to attain the highest standards in education. Showcased in the land of the living skies are three universities and numerous high quality post-secondary institutions.

“Our province’s future depends on a well-educated, innovative and passionate generation of leaders,” said Ken Cheveldayoff, the Saskatchewan Minister for Advanced Education. “Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions deliver exceptional education, training and research opportunities that respond to the province’s labour force and community needs while preparing students for a prosperous future.”  

Saskatchewan is the land base for three world-class universities on the prairies through the University of Regina (URegina), The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) and the University of Saskatchewan (USask). Each university offers courses and programs in a variety of academic disciplines that result in degrees, diplomas and certificates at the bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. The universities also offer distance learning and correspondence courses in a wide variety of fields to hone or up-grade existing knowledge bases, which employers highly value. 

The University of Regina (URegina) offers campus locations in Regina and Saskatoon on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories. URegina prides itself on the academic accomplishments of their faculty and scholars. In 2020, the university ranked first for undergraduate research, as well as being designated as one of Canada’s top 15 comprehensive universities. The URegina campus is all inclusive with scholars from around the world attending from 90 countries. URegina works closely with The First Nations University of Canada. 

The First Nations University of Canada’s (FNUniv) has a 40-year history of being Indigenous-owned, operated and controlled. The main campus is situated on the Star Blanket Cree Nation’s atim kȃ-mihkosit (Red Dog) urban reserve, which is also the location of URegina. There are additional specialized campuses located in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. 

The FNUniv is a unique Canadian institution with specialization in Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous based knowledge systems within a culturally supportive environment. The university welcomes enrollment of international Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars with a goal to enhance educational opportunities for all people.  

“FNUniv gave me more than an education, they gave me my identity by teaching me my Indigenous culture,” said Jada Yee in a public statement, a scholar at FNUniv. “I owe a great deal of my success to the staff and Elders at FNUniv that embedded our Indigenous teachings in me. At FNUniv you are more than a student, you are seen as family to the staff.”

The FNUniv is also home to the National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education (NCCIE) that focuses on national and international networking. In 2023, URegina and FNUniv joined a partnership with the Asian Indigenous institution — the Mongolian National University (MNU) — with a memorandum of understanding (MOU). 

“The importance of Indigenous Knowledge Systems is becoming increasingly apparent,” said Jacqueline Ottmann, President of the FNUniv about the MOU, “and this international collaboration will benefit, not only our institutions, but language and cultural sustainability initiatives globally.” 

The MOU formalized the partnership between URegina, FNUniv and MNU. The international universities share a goal for powerful collaboration on education and research to benefit students, faculty members and institutions. It established the partnership opportunities based on the three universities shared values of manacihitowin (let us lead with respect), wahkohtowin (kinship connections), wichitowin (sharing and learning together) and sîhtoskatowin (being or standing together in support). 

“The Faculty of Education and University of Regina are honoured to be included as a partner on this new agreement with First Nations University of Canada and the Mongolian National University,” said Jerome Cranston, Dean of the Faculty at URegina. “The MOU extends the Faculty’s long-standing commitment to support the ongoing development of healthier communities and people.” 

At the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask), the main campus is located in Saskatoon on Treaty 6 Territory, the traditional home of the Métis. USask is a historical campus with an outstanding reputation for providing expertise and shaping experts in a variety of fields. The university teaches scholars from 131 countries. 

In addition to the URegina, FNUniv and USask, the province of Saskatchewan proudly offers numerous federated colleges, affiliated colleges, polytechnics, Indigenous colleges, regional colleges, career colleges, French focused bilingual university experiences and health programs. International scholars abound and many homegrown academic achievers understand that it is never too late to register for enrollment into one of the many top education institutes located on the Saskatchewan prairies.  

For instance, Saskatchewan is home to the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research (GDI) with locations in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, La Loche and other community location sites. The GDI ensures a strong Métis voice as a post-secondary education provider, employment trainer and a cultural resource producer. 

The Gabriel Dumont Institute is also partnered with the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) with universities to offer accredited classes leading to degrees for students. SUNTEP is a four year, fully accredited direct entry Bachelor of Education program with an emphasis on Métis history, Michif language, social justice, anti-racist and anti-oppressive education. The SUNTEP program offers extensive classroom experience with vast knowledge on existing educational issues. SUNTEP is offered by GDI in cooperation of USask and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. 

Another example is the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT), which is a First Nations-governed educational institution. SIIT focuses on vocational and technical training alongside services and supports for employment and career growth. The SIIT has campus locations in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and other community sites. 

In addition to the main universities in Saskatchewan, the province offers six affiliated colleges and federated colleges, such as Campion College, St. Peter’s College, Luther College and St. Thomas More College. There are technical institutes, known as Polytechnics, that offer apprenticeship training, degrees, certificates and diplomas.

The 2025 fall term for post-secondary academic education enrollment is estimated at 54,000 students. The new energy, vibrance and optimism of scholars reflects onto the province’s communities, including with infusions of international students contributing to the excitement as they are welcomed from abroad. In addition, mature students and adults returning to university and colleges to enhance and build on their existing training and real-world work experience is an asset in itself. 

Prince Albert Grand Council calls on the Government of Canada for an overhaul to wildfire funding

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Prince Albert Grand Council calls on the Government of Canada for an overhaul to wildfire funding

Sheila Bautz
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Daily Herald

On August 18, the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) called on the Government of Canada to overhaul how wildfire funds are allocated in the Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program.

The PAGC states the federal Natural Resource agency’s grants are not new money and fail to reflect the wildfire risks faced by northern First Nations communities. 

In the designated $45.7 million in wildfire project funds, 10 of the 30 grants were issued to Indigenous-led projects for a combined total of $3.9 million. In comparison, $41.7 million is allocated to 20 grants focused on scientific research and demonstration projects while collaborating with Indigenous partners over a four-year period. 

“Wildfires are not abstract research topics for our Nations – they are an annual threat to our safety, homes and way of life,” said Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC). “This announcement simply repackages old money, and it forces our communities to compete for funds when we should be receiving direct allocations based on risk.

“We need money for equipment and money to support the training so that our First Nations firefighters can be the ones actioning fires in our territories. Protecting our people and our lands is not just policy — it is a matter of Treaty rights and government obligations.”

The Prince Albert Grand Council is one of the largest tribal councils in Canada with a membership of over 44,000 people, representing 12 First Nations and 28 northern communities in the territories of Treaty 5, 6, 8 & 10. 

In 2018, the PAGC Wildfire Task Force was established. The organization continues to press for First Nations-led solutions to wildfire governance. The Wildfire Task Force is guided by Elders and experts demonstrating an important influence with provincial firefighting strategies along with increasing the recruitment and hiring of First Nations firefighters. The organization also launched the Wildfire Resilience Initiative to train youth in Indigenous-led fire practices. 

The PAGC also established a proven track record with the year-round Indigenous Fire Guardians program consisting of community-based experts in land stewardship, cultural burning, fire prevention and recovery. There are also programs operating such as the PAGC Youth Fire Guardians, which are in the process of revitalizing Indigenous fire stewardship in northern Saskatchewan. 

However, these crucial wildfire programs continue to remain underfunded even while clearly demonstrating the various collective human knowledge systems and experience that remains underfunded. 

“We’ve seen too many studies sit on shelves while our communities are forced to evacuate year after year,” Hardlotte said. “Our Task Force and Fire Guardians are demonstrating what works. What we need now is direct investment: equipment, training, and resources that respect our leadership, uphold Treaty rights, and reflect our vulnerability to wildfire.” 

On August 12, the announcement about the $41.7 million for the Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program was made in Calgary by Corey Hogan, the Member of Parliament for the Calgary Confederation in Alberta. Hogan is also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Tim Hodgson, the federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. 

The wildfire funding for the 10 Indigenous-led projects do not exceed $500,000 with $42,000 being the lowest amount to be distributed to Chawatchil First Nation in British Columbia. 

“PAGC was awarded about $500,000 for its ka māmāwī–yak (Coming Together) project — valuable, but small compared to the nearly $42 million national envelope,” PAGC said in a statement.

In Saskatchewan, the Prince Albert PADC Management Co. Ltd received the funds to mobilize and demonstrate Indigenous Fire Stewardship knowledge in the Saskatchewan River Delta through cultural assessment, knowledge exchange and Indigenous-led fire practices. However, the amount of the grant allocated is not a reflection of the fact that Saskatchewan First Nations communities are amongst the highest wildfire risk areas in the country.

For the sake of comparison, the Ministry of Natural Resources received $3.5 million dollars for a scientific approach to reduce wildfire risk through forest harvesting and fuel treatment methods. 

Forest harvesting involves the removal of trees for various industry purposes. There is a reported extensive list of regulations and compliance to environmental factors, which requires years of planning and foresight.

Fuel loading is a term to describe burnable materials in the forest that occur at three levels. Ground fuels involve roots and particles in soils that burn when lit. Surface fuels involve low vegetation, such as dried leaves, grass, large logs and small shrubs. Aerial or crown fuels consist of tree trunks, branches and dead trees with moss.  

Natural Resources Canada publicly stated that “Within this program, the Supporting and Mobilizing Indigenous Fire Knowledge grant focuses on building and enhancing capacity to support Indigenous communities in identifying and managing their own wildland fire risk. It is informed by Indigenous knowledge and land management practices, and provides support for knowledge sharing and the development of tools and resources by and for Indigenous communities.”

According to the federal Government of Canada, the term ‘risk’ is defined and understood as a product resulting from the hazard of wildland fire, and the impacts it has on people, resources and assets of concern. Wildland fire hazards include the likelihood of wildfire occurring along with the magnitude of the destruction. This includes the wildfire’s intensity and the rate of the wildfires spread. 

 According to the Prince Albert Grand Council leadership, the PAGC Nations face the most severe wildfire danger in the country. A majority of PAGC Nations call Northern Saskatchewan home. The PAGC leaders state that there are structural gaps in federal wildfire funding.

Also on August 18, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre also reported a Level 5 rating for wildfires in Saskatchewan, which is the highest possible rating for severe wildfire danger in the country. A level five anticipates an extreme fire load with acknowledgment of inadequate agency resources to manage the raging fires. It also sounds the alarm for the need for emergency measures involving an international resource mobilization and an extensive interagency effort to assist in the wildfire crisis.

According to the PACG leadership, the federal government has allocated over $791 million for wildfire activities since 2022, but there is no funding for emergency response to the fires. The PAGC state that research reveals only 6 per cent of the $791 million was distributed directly to Indigenous nations or organizations. The majority of the funding was designated to post-fire reforestation and not for the prevention of wildfires. 

In addition, an overwhelming majority of wildfire evacuations in Canada – 42 per cent — occur in Indigenous communities even though Indigenous Peoples are 5 per cent of Canada’s population.

“This year alone, the Canadian Red Cross registered about 15,000 evacuees in Saskatchewan,” said Tina Pelletier with the Prince Albert Grand Council, “– about 75% from PAGC Nations including Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, not counting those from Montreal Lake Cree Nation who received support from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.” 

The PAGC is calling on the federal government to move away from project-based, competitive funding. Risk-based, community-led allocations would allow First Nations to decide what is needed, when it is needed, and how it should be implemented.

In addition to the high risk to human life due to wildfires, a Statistics Canada analysis found nearly one quarter of all economic activity in northern Saskatchewan is vulnerable to wildfire. The Government of Canada agency underscored the threat to both the livelihoods and Treaty rights of PAGC First Nations. Honouring Treaty commitments means resourcing First Nations with the tools to protect their people, lands, and livelihoods, including with vital wildfire funding.

SGEU donates to Wildfire-stricken Denare Beach

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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SGEU donates to Wildfire-stricken Denare Beach

Sheila Bautz

The Saskatchewan Government & General Employees’ Union (SGEU) has donated $10,000 to Denare Beach’s Volunteer Fire Service.

The donation was presented by Tracey Sauer, President of the SGEU.

“SGEU is proud to stand behind the people who stand up for others — especially in times of crisis,” said Sauer. “When a community is hurting, or when first responders like those in Denare Beach are stretched to their limits, our members believe we all have a role to play.”

Since 1913, SGEU is a solely made-in-Saskatchewan worker’s union with the long-standing motto ‘Working Together for Saskatchewan’. The organization was originally known as the Saskatchewan Civil Service Association (SCSA) and was initially established as a social club with nearly 300 members joining at the time. During the 1920’s, the SGEU began reinventing itself and developed a new constitution that focused on improving the working conditions for the members within their organization, transforming into a union. Today, there are over 20,000 members with 250 Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency workers represented by the provincial union.

The SGEU membership includes firefighters working to contain and eliminate the wildfires. Other members of the union faced evacuation with properties lost due to the fires at Denare Beach and other areas in northern Saskatchewan. 

“I’m sure the fire department will put it to very good use.” said Carl Lentowicz, Mayor of Denare Beach. “We appreciate it and thank [SGEU] for the service to make it happen. I hope [the union] can come up here when things are cleaned up.” 

The northern village of Denare Beach is 422 kilometers north-east of Prince Albert and 20 kilometers south-west of Flin Flon. The community is a tourist destination originally known as Amisk, which means Beaver. The community’s name was changed to Denare in the 1930’s. The new name derived from using the first two letters of the government agency Department of Natural Resources, which was in charge of overseeing the northern village built on the east shore of Amisk Lake in Saskatchewan.

In 1990, the SGEU’s Indigenous Committe was formed. Eleven years later, the first Indigenous Vice-President of SGEU was elected in.

The current President of SGEU and several SGEU representatives traveled to Denare Beach on August 14 for a tour of the area. Indigenous Vice President Hall Topinka, along with George MacLeod, the Vehicle, Equipment and Operations Component Chair, Public Service Sector Vice-President Justin Priel, First Vice-President Diane Ralph and Health Sector Vice-Chair Tracy Schmidt accompanied Sauer. They met with the Carl Lentowicz, Mayor of Denare Beach, and the Denare Beach Fire Crew, concluding the tour with a dinner with the Fire Service volunteers and their families.

Elevator Modernization for Government of Saskatchewan Buildings

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Elevator Modernization for Government of Saskatchewan Buildings

Sheila Bautz

Special To The Herald

The Government of Saskatchewan is funding two projects to modernize the elevators at government-owned buildings in the province. This is required by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK) who is responsible for elevator inspections and licensing in the province.

TSASK enforces the standards for elevating device safety, certification, approval and compliance with safety standards established under the Elevating Devices Inspection & Licensing Acts and Regulations.

Currently, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) elevator upgrades are underway with the Court of King’s Bench in Battleford scheduled to begin this September.

“These upgrades are an important investment in the safety and reliability of our government buildings,” said David Marit, Saskatchewan
Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement. “By modernizing infrastructure, we are ensuring these facilities remain accessible, efficient and ready to serve Saskatchewan people for many years to come.”

The CBC building in Regina is also the historic building containing the Provincial Archives. In 2019, the building’s ownership transferred to the provincial government.

The tender bid for the elevator reparations at the Court of King’s Bench disclosed the areas for funding. It includes elevator repair supplies, the equipment required for the repairs and all labour associated to complete the modernization of the elevator system. Both the CBC and the Court of King’s Bench elevators require repairs as specified by Goodwen Elevator Management.

The Goodwen Elevator Management corporation serves the Central and Western Canadian Construction Industry with expertise in design, operations, maintenance, repair, construction and modernization of elevators. They have experience with various building structures in healthcare, corporate offices, hotels and education facilities, such as the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

“We have been using Goodwen Managements services for several years,” stated George Foufas from USask, “and have found them to be a very valuable resource.”

The safety standards and lifetime of an elevator is between 20 to 25 years before major part replacements and vital operational components are required. According to the tender, the Court of King’s Bench operates a hydraulic elevator. Elevator experts state that hydraulic elevators have a 25-year lifespan while overhead traction elevators last approximately 30 years. Machine room-less (MrL) traction elevators run efficiently for up to 15 years. All elevators require ongoing investments for maintenance and repairs. . . . . . . . . . . . .

“An elevator will only last that long if it is well cared for throughout its operating life,” stated Ryan Hussey with Stanley Elevator Company, Inc, in a written public statement. “That means performing regular elevator maintenance, getting annual inspections and taking overall good care of the elevator.”

The elevator upgrades at the CBC and Court of King’s Bench buildings include various modernizations for compliance to the current codes. The maintenance for the improvements to the existing elevator systems must improve reliability, energy efficiency, safety for occupants and ensure optimum performance of the elevators. Additionally, the elevator maintenance schedule at the two locations includes new interior finishes alongside updated mechanical and electrical components.

The two elevator projects are scheduled for completion before spring in 2026.

Sizzling Sociology: Coercive Control extends to the legal system

Sheila Wanite Bautz
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Sizzling Sociology: Coercive Control extends to the legal system

In the summer of 2020, this writer wrote a factum for the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal addressing coercive control in child custody cases. The purpose was to explain how coercive control works in cases, and through institutions, involved in child abuse and domestic violence, also known as Intimate Partner Violence. By November 2021, the federal Government of Canada announced their focus on the issue of coercive control in family and divorce law, making amendments to family laws involving intimate partner violence.

Coercive control is used by abusers in high conflict divorce proceedings involving child custody. The central tool used in coercive control by an abuser is the incorporation of the legal system as a punishment for a victim successfully escaping the violence. Coercive control includes the abuser networking to achieve the effectiveness of both informal and formal control of his target who is forced to become a victim of the system as punishment for leaving the abuse. This is achieved and reinforced by the abuser aligning with professionals in the legal arena, and other agencies, who support the abuser maintaining their power position, even when they admit to abuse.

Motives for coercive control are based on gender inequalities and misogyny, which is a contempt, hatred and prejudice against women and girls. The hatred and prejudice against women is aimed at powerful women to create an example – unless they are aligned with the dominant abusive culture’s values, which they are then rewarded for. The legal professionals in various areas in the existing system are either manipulated by the abuser or willingly align with the motives and cultural beliefs embraced by the abuser to maintain power over his victims.

Coercive control involves a sense of entitlement in the abuser, which is not based on an earned merit. They select their targets to become their victims due to the positive traits and accomplishments of the targeted individual, which includes the obvious potential in the person that is yet to be realized. The targeted individual is selected because they embody everything the abuser wishes he could be, but isn’t.

The very existence of the targeted person is a threat to the abuser’s illusion about their superior values, social standing, intellect and foundational cultural beliefs. As a result, the abuser will recreate narratives to project his negative traits onto his victim while falsely presenting himself as having the positive traits of his victim. He will also manufacture crisis to appear as the victim during periods where he is in gross violation of the victim’s fundamental Human and Constitutional rights, as well as in violation of Canadian laws. This involves filing false police reports and sworn affidavits to the court.

Thus, an abuser is attempting to maintain a feeling of superiority while projecting an inferior and flawed illusion on the targeted victim. For instance, when the target is an excellent parent, the abuser will lie and adopt her traits as his own to replace his incompetence. When he is abusive, he will switch the narrative to appear as if he is the victim and not the perpetrator.

The incorporation of systemic bias in the practice of coercive control ensures an imbalance of power is maintained and enforced. This is accomplished through a legal domination of legal representatives in support of the abusers’ cultural values, regardless of the evidence. The extent of the bias involved in such court proceedings supporting coercive control also depends on the demographic, as a culture embraces certain ideologies of acceptable conduct.

Cultural values guide a person’s moral compass. When gross and blatantly apparent injustices and bias are evident from the legal arena, the individuals partaking in the coercive control orchestrated by an abuser are not victims of manipulation. Instead, they are fellow perpetrators of the crimes the abuser commits while they shield him from consequences due to the network of individuals enabling the abuse, both personal and professional. As a result, abusers also use individuals within the legal system as human weapons while being in control of them through either manipulation or allegiance to the cause.  

Laws are set in place. However, the new laws may be fully ignored due to cultural beliefs and the active participation of people within the system abiding by the agenda of the abuser to implement coercive control. This includes police, lawyers, judges, court clerks, social workers and members within the healthcare fields. The process is initiated and controlled by the abuser who begins the legal process and feels superior when he is able to control the legal arena to abide by his agenda. This is due to his thrill to manipulation and control the powerful legal arena or through the rush of aligning with professionals who share his cultural views and motives. 

The changes to laws often exist to enforce human rights and Constitutional rights in Canada. These rights shake the foundation of an abuser’s very core, which extends to those participating in the coercive control. With coercive control, there is a great imbalance where the abuser has extensive rights and privileges supported by a controlling legal system, but the same rights are not given to their targeted victims who are dehumanized. Bias is evident. Laws seek to balance equality.

In this way, much like abusers smear their victims’ reputations publicly, they also smear the trust in the legal entities and those who represent the law in the eyes of the public. Coercive control breeds mistrust like rabid rabbits hopping around invading everyone’s den.

To be effective, coercive control requires the willing participation of others, including in the legal system. Without the active participation of individuals within the legal arenas, coercive control would not exist to the degree it does in the current family court social climate throughout pockets of North America. The fact that coercive control exists demonstrates the cultural acceptance of gross violations to Human and Constitutional rights occurring and creating generational harm in Saskatchewan.  

It is important to note that the individuals who choose to participate in coercive control, which extends beyond the family violence, are expected to be well educated individuals. Due to aligning with the abusive oppressor, or being manipulated by an abuser, to willingly participate in coercive control does require mental wellness checks on professionals within the legal fields. They are humans like everyone else and require mental therapy without stigmatization for seeking mental wellness supports, which is an equal right for all citizens along with confidentiality. 

It is all about inequality with coercive control, which leads to oppression. The four “I’s” are next week’s topic as they apply to oppression.

Every Friday, Sheila Wanite Bautz addresses various Sociological issues in laymen’s terms. Sheila has dual Honour BAs with Majors in Sociology and English through the University of Saskatchewan. In Sociology, she specialized in Indigenous history, law, addictions and criminology.

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