“Vaccination against COVID-19 among pregnant individuals sharply lowers the risk of hospitalization, admission to intensive care and premature births” - 🇨🇦 study of 20,000 COVID-impacted pregnancies from 8 provinces, led by University of British Columbia. 1/

The BC Basic Income Panel found that almost half of those living in poverty were essentially full time, full year workers. The idea that poverty is confined just to those without jobs and those on income assistance is a zombie idea. Kudos to @gillianpetit.bsky.social and Maytree for this report!

Ahmed El Ahmed A good guy without a gun www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

“more Starbucks baristas walked out last Thursday, the 22nd day of their growing…strike. It is now the longest strike the coffee giant has faced, spreading to 145 stores in more than 100 cities.…the union representing 12,000 baristas, is asking customers to shun all Starbucks stores”.

“In 2023, 🇨🇦’s largest potash producer, Nutrien, charged Americans 57% more for potash than the international price.…because the industry is so heavily consolidated, it already charges Americans well above market prices.…who benefits from the associated profits?” thestarphoenix.com/opinion/lett...

Shootings in Australia are extremely rare. Here’s why: “After the horror of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that killed 35 people in Tasmania, Australia’s then conservative government stared down the gun lobby to introduce restrictions that led to a dramatic decrease in the number of guns.”

AI-generated “synthetic respondents” can now pass the vast majority of fraud, attention, logic, and CAPTCHA checks used in opt-in online survey-based polling. They can do this cheaply and at scale. Often without being detected. (1/3)

Saskatchewan may face big challenge to dominance in world potash markets & perhaps also a future decline in oil revenue: Today, “Belarusian president…has freed 123 prisoners [inc. a Nobel peace prize winner & leading opposition figure), after the US lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash…. 1/

Saskatchewan’s govt (cabinet) now includes: - more than half the members of the Sask Party caucus, to “better ‘balance the workload‘“ (18/34) - 3/18 women members - 1/18 member from 2 cities with half the province‘s population - 0 member from 1/6th of the population that is Indigenous

In a decision reported as contradictory to the Cowichan decision in BC, a NB court rules Aboriginal title incompatible with fee simple private land ownership. Both cases will likely end up at the Supreme Court From the report here, I don‘t see the two decisions as that different, as both… 1/

This appointment suggests someone else is really running this portfolio: “As for other newcomers to cabinet, Chris Beaudry joins as the new minister in charge of energy & resources.” Harrison? Also that this shuffle may be mostly about shoring up Moe’s support in caucus.

The Saskatchewan government decided to keep selling it so American hunters could still buy their bourbon…

The Pan-American Health Organization reports “the United States has seen by far the most whooping cough cases [in the Americas] so far in 2025, with 25,057… cases, including 13 deaths.….In all countries, whooping cough deaths were primarily seen in infants under 1 year of age.” 1/

Why Saskatchewan isn’t too worried about potash tariffs:

This is why we have an independent provincial Auditor: “Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services has improved its process in securing lower hotel prices when booking rooms for emergency clients”. The lower costs follow the Province making changes the Auditor recommended following the revelation…1/

Should you wear a mask if you've got symptomatic flu? YES. If you wear it at home *from the onset of your symptoms*, your family members are much less likely to catch flu from you (but you must avoid unmasked co-sleeping and eating around same table - have your meals alone). 1/

“The predicted jump in grocery prices next year has more to do with what’s happening outside than it does with tariffs….The hardest-hit product will likely be meat, with an anticipated price increase of 5 to 7%….driven by the drought….🇨🇦 has fewer cattle than…’at any point since the late 1980s’”.

Mann Art Gallery in Prince Albert is a great example of a smaller regional art gallery. Always worth a stop to see what they have on.

A $6.8-million subsidy the City of Regina is paying Costco could have been avoidable had a provincial Crown corporation properly collaborated on the retail giant's plans for its new location, Saskatchewan's auditor said Tuesday. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/reg... #skpoli

Over 2,000 Roshel Senator armored vehicles have been delivered to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to company head Roman Shimonov. The Canadian-made vehicles are a backbone of Ukraine’s mobility, used for troop transport, logistics, medevac, and high-risk missions.

"In the first half of this year, China built more solar than the rest of the world combined. China accounts for 74% of all large scale solar and wind under construction... More than a quarter of China's economic growth in 2024 came from wind, solar and battery technologies"

This CBC Manitoba news story mentions Gary, Irwin & Harpinder Brar, as well as Western Star hotels & its hotel locations in Esterhazy & Prince Albert (Holiday Inn). A 2014 CBC Saskatchewan news story by Geoff Leo describes similar issues involving the same company in southeast Saskatchewan. 1/

On Dec. 8, 1941, the RCMP impounded 1,200 fishing boats owned by Japanese-Canadians. Within a few months, Japanese-Canadians were sent to internment camps. More than 21,000 people were uprooted. This is the story of Canada's Japanese Internment. 📸 LAC C-057250 🧵 1/12

A good step for the longer term would be for the Sask govt to shut down its coal power, as it had previously pledged.

“While it would be natural to think that farmers would be seeding less canola next year, canola prices are faring better than most other commodities.…based on current prices, canola still pencils out as one of the top options for net returns.“

“Tyson Foods will close a major beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, in January after U.S. cattle supplies dropped to their lowest level in nearly 75 years….Ranchers slashed their herds after a years-long drought burned up pastureland and hiked feeding costs.”

Carbon capture and storage remains deep in the fiction section of the climate solutions bookstore. reneweconomy.com.au/worlds-large...

Best ice cream in the world.

Total of 126 reported cases of measles since March- up from 107 the week before. Half of the 19 cases were from July 2025. All the newly reported cases were from East Central Saskatchewan, particularly Preeceville seems to be a hot spot with special cautions.

Some good things that happened in Canada today: • Unemployment falls to a 16-month low • Canadian dollar gets stronger thanks to job growth • Economic growth remains modest but positive

With Statistics Canada yesterday confirming a record 🇨🇦 canola crop, prices dropped today. But, despite the record crop, good crops in Europe & Australia, & Chinese tariffs, canola price still remains slightly above the price one year ago. At this price the 🇨🇦 canola crop is worth ~$C13B.

Saskatchewan respiratory disease (CRISP) report for 2 weeks Nov 16-29: Hospitalizations: COVID 39, flu 46, RSV 13 ICU admits: COVID 3, flu 5, RSV 1 Hospital beds occupied by all 3 diseases: 0.9-1.0% Deaths: 0 Immunization rates of population: COVID: 12%, flu 19% 1/

Alberta judge’s ruling that Alberta independence referendum violates Charter & Treaty right came <24 hours after provincial govt introduced legislation to end court action on referendum legality & permit them to proceed even if they violate the Constitution.

Landmark penalty triggers US fury as Brussels enforces first digital transparency sanction.

Alberta court rules that Alberta independence would violate Albertans Charter rights and the Treaties. Therefore a referendum on independence is unconstitutional and cannot proceed.

As we await Saskatchewan’s bi-weekly respiratory disease report tomorrow, only one site in Saskatchewan has reported viral COVID levels in💩 since the 3rd week of October: Regina reported a High level in the 3rd week of November. However, the level,is well below that of early this calendar year. 1/

🇨🇦 has set new records for wheat & canola production this growing season, supported by late season rains & excellent harvest conditions in western 🇨🇦 after a dry spring. These two crops are Saskatchewan’s main crops.

“The notwithstanding clause is a populist’s dream: target vulnerable minorities while neutering the courts….The targets of such insulated legislation have ranged from religious & linguistic minorities, transgender youth, striking teachers & homeless encampments”… 1/

How others see 🇨🇦: “Throughout our trip it was immensely gratifying to feel the almost universal admiration for 🇨🇦.” 🎁

Excellent snslysis of what’s going on in the Alberts UCP after the Alberta - federal MOU. A reminder that in both Saskatchewan & Alberta the governing parties are a coalition of increasingly fractious formerly separate parties.

This is awesome. More of this please.

My lay reading of the Medical Profession Act is that, as the College says, it has regulatory power over its members only. Alleged offences by those outside membership in the College are presumably the responsibility of the provincial prosecution service. 1/

I wish Geoff Leo would do a deep dive on private addictions clinics because we hear from patients about shady business practices and poor care.

That petition drive for a non-binding referendum for Alberta to STAY in Canada is now verified. One in 7 Alberta voters signed it. Wow, did Lukaszuk's bid worked. Lessee how Danielle Smith gov handles it.

A🧵 This is profoundly irresponsible by AGSulzberger’s NYT, @by-cjewett.bsky.social +eds. The normalization, “view-from-nowhere”, “born-yesterday”, stenography, “both-sides”, irresponsible headline are disgraceful. THE story is the CDC&FDA are being destroyed by antiscience & Americans will die. 1/n

The Alberta-federal pipeline-industrial carbon levy MOU also has implications for Saskatchewan: “the MOU to build an oil pipeline to the West Coast has broad implications for Saskatchewan. It could free up space for expanded Saskatchewan oil production on existing pipelines. Dramatic expansion… 1/

Today’s MOU between the federal government and Alberta risks unravelling Canada’s climate policy. Read our full statement ⬇️ climateinstitute.ca/news/mou-alb...

Good discussion / debate in this 🧵:

And so it starts: instead of a taking a victory lap in front of her party convention, Smith gets booed by her own party base agreeing to keep the industrial carbon pollution price.