by Ruth Griffiths
Last week I graded my predictions for 2016 and proved my inability to see into the future. But, buoyed by support from readers, I again embrace my fallibility and offer the following predictions for the coming year:
- Despite the Christmas market bombings in Germany and an unprecedented influx of refugees during 2016, Angela Merkel will be returned as Chancellor of Germany in national elections this fall.
- Donald Trump will initiate legal action against Hillary Clinton. Why? Because he can.
- Was it hoax or reality that Russia interfered with the U.S. presidential election? I predict that nations around the world will spend more on cyber security this year.
- Oil prices will continue in a slump, continuing to drain the Saskatchewan economy. With workers caught in the pincers of rising prices and dwindling employment, labour unrest will erupt this year.
- Nano technology with a link to Saskatchewan will facilitate the first head transplant. A mesh one molecule thick has been developed to provide a “trellis” on which the spinal column can make connections between the head and the donor body.
- A vaccine for HIV (AIDS) will become commercially available.
- Farmers’ Almanac predicts average snowfall for the Prairies and colder temperatures during the beginning of the year. I predict that colder temperatures will curtail some Winter Festival activities in February.
- The summer of 2017 is predicted to be a little cooler and drier than usual. The dry weather will tend to increase the risk of forest fires. I predict that Prince Albert will see an influx of fire evacuees this summer.
- With the legalization of marijuana on the horizon, I predict that Saskatchewan police will be trained in the use of a device for roadside testing for driver impairment due to marijuana.
- Some of the oil spilled into the North Saskatchewan River last summer still lurks in the riverbed. When spring runoff scours the riverbanks, oil will again become a problem for Prince Albert’s water treatment system. Prepare for water restrictions again this spring.
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