As house prices fall in several major markets, Saskatchewan is seeing prices head the other way – once again setting new records.

Last month, the average benchmark price of a home in Saskatchewan reached $374,100, up from February’s average of $363,800, according to the Saskatchewan Realtors Association’s (SRA) latest report.

Saskatchewan logged 1,256 residential home sales in March, a slight decrease of one per cent from the record-high 2025 but still 10 per cent above long-term historical averages.

However, the release stated that new listings (1,808) were down compared to last year and were 25 per cent below long-term averages, even if the figure represented an increase from February.

Although the prices are impacting affordability, sales are remaining steady.

“This is where supply constraints start to have real impact,” said SRA CEO Chris Guérette in a Monday news release.

“We are seeing record prices not because demand is accelerating, but because there simply are not enough homes available. Saskatchewan has long been one of the most affordable places to buy a home in Canada, but that advantage is being tested in real time.’

The SRA said inventory levels were 50 per cent lower than normal levels for this time of year and price growth was recorded across every community for the third straight month.

“In other parts of the country, the story is about slowing markets and rising inventory,” Guérette said. “In Saskatchewan, it’s the opposite. Demand is still there, but supply hasn’t kept pace. That imbalance is what’s driving price growth and putting pressure on buyers, particularly those trying to enter the market for the first time.”

The SRA added that the slower start to spring has delayed the influx of listings that usually happens this time of year.

“As we move further into the spring market, the key question is whether supply can respond,” Guérette said. “We have witnessed this in regions where inventory improves, sales activity follows. But without a meaningful increase in listings, we will continue to see upward pressure on prices and increasing challenges around affordability.

The Northern, Prince Albert, Swift Current-Moose Jaw and Yorkton-Melville economic regions all reported sales above the 10-year-average.

Regina-Moose Mountain and Saskatoon-Biggar had the most strained market conditions of all six economic regions, according to the SRA.

Regina, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Yorkton, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Martensville and Warman all reported record-high benchmark prices.

City of Regina

The average price of a home in Regina increased to $343,700 in March, up from $336,400 in February.

Sales remained strong in the Queen City as 313 were reported last month.

This figure was up five per cent from 2025 and were 16 per cent above the 10-year average. This was a strong follow to the record-setting 2025.

“New listings declined by four percent year-over-year and over 20 percent compared to the 10-year average,” the SRA said.

“When paired with strong March sales, Regina currently has 1.7 months of supply, over 60 percent below the typical level for this time of year. One hundred and eighty one of the 522 available units at month’s end are conditionally sold, leaving only 341 active properties on the market heading into April.”

City of Saskatoon

Saskatoon’s average benchmark price shot up to a record $435,200 in March from $421,600 in February.

The city reported 388 sales in March which was down four per cent from last year but still eight per cent above the 10-year-average.

“Despite first quarter sales trailing impressive 2025 levels, year-to-date sales currently sit six percent above long-term, historical trends,” the release read.

“New listings improved compared to March 2025 but remain well below 10-year trends. As a result, the Bridge City continues to report the tightest market conditions in the province, with 1.6 months of supply heading into a busy spring market.”

According to the report, nearly 200 of the 638 available units were conditionally sold at the end of the month – leaving just 440 active properties on the market.

Construction season is now underway in Regina with a number of key happening around the city, and a big one expected to wrap up this year.

The 11th Avenue Revitalization Project is entering its fourth year. The project is now in its final stages.

When finished it will have an upgraded road, sidewalks and underground infrastructure. Also included are improved lighting and trees.

“People are talking about infrastructure. Not just sidewalks and roads, but water mains and water waste treatment upgrades. The things that make a city tick,” said city councillor David Froh.

Other projects now underway include the Albert Street North overpass. Its height is being raised for over-height vehicles to pass through.

The project is estimated to cost $8 million for 2026.

The intersection of Lewvan Dr. and Dewdney Ave. will also be getting an upgrade. This crossing, on average, sees nearly 50,000 vehicles passing through daily.

“This is apart of vision zero. 11th Ave. downtown, we are finally seeing the end of that. We are starting to see some light with these projects,” Froh noted.

Also being planned to begin this year is a southwest sewer upgrade which will help prevent sewer backups in the area. It is scheduled for May and into next year.

Drainage renewal is planned for Speaker’s Corner, along with drainage improvements in the Heritage and Al Ritchie neighborhoods.

Froh said the City of Regina will pay over $9 million in PST for city construction.

It’s something he hopes can change.

“We will fix over 11 kilometers of sidewalks this year,” he said. “Nearly 17 kilometers of road repairs. That’s good news, it’s just we want to do more.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is striking a softer tone as his party launches a new advertising campaign aimed at affordability and national sovereignty.

New Conservative ads set to begin airing Tuesday across Canada, focuses on the Liberal record since 2015 and the rising cost of food since then. The ads accuse the Liberal government of making life less affordable under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership.

In the ads, Poilievre does not mention U.S. President Donald Trump by name but says Canada should be “a country that stands on its own feet,” and “bows before no nation, a country that is unbreakable.”

The tag to the campaign is “affordable, safe, strong here at home.”

“Pierre Poilievre has always done a superb job at holding the Liberals accountable in the House of Commons. Everybody has seen that,” said Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman.

“I think Canadians have asked to see other types of his leadership style, things that have always been there,” she said.

Poilievre announced last week that Conservatives would push to cut federal gas taxes to zero, arguing the move would ease pressure on Canadians facing high fuel prices.

Speaking to reporters at the announcement, Poilievre said he planned to speak later that day and hoped to collaborate with Prime Minister Mark Carney to offer ideas about improving the country’s future.

The messaging marks a departure from the sharper rhetoric Poilievre has often used, relying instead on more restrained language and policy-focused criticism.

Will Poilievre’s shift resonate with voters?

Poilievre’s shift is not limited to paid advertising. In recent weeks, he has appeared on two of the world’s most popular podcasts, reaching massive international audiences on “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “The Diary of a CEO.”

Unlike previous media appearances, Poilievre did not directly attack Carney or the Liberals. Instead he characterized a difference of opinion with the Liberal government.

The interviews also offered a more personal portrayal of the Conservative leader, with Poilievre speaking about his childhood and family.

It remains unclear whether the shift will resonate with voters though.

Professional pollster Nik Nanos points out that Poilievre still trails behind Carney by a wide gap of more than 30 points in “best prime minister” ranking. He believes the Conservative leader has a long way to go with Canadians.

“I think it’s going to take more than some ads. Because the thing is he’s built up his brand over the last number of years. It has been very clear: it has been tough, it has been combative. And you know all of a sudden they see a softer Pierre Poilievre? It’s going to take a persistent and consistent strategy” Nanos said.

CBS has filled its soon-to-be-vacant 11:35 p.m. time slot.

The network said Monday that beginning May 22, the day after the finale of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the hour will be filled by “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen.”

Because “Comics Unleashed” is a half-hour program, CBS will air two back-to-back episodes each night. The 12:35 a.m. slot will then be filled by “Funny You Should Ask,” a syndicated game show created by Allen and hosted by Jon Kelley.

“Comics Unleashed” has been airing at 12:35 a.m. since last September, when it moved into the slot after CBS canceled game show “After Midnight.”

“I truly appreciate CBS’ confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block of ‘COMICS UNLEASHED’ and ‘FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK,’ because the world can never have enough laughter,” Allen, a comedian and founder and chief executive of Allen Media Group, said in a statement.

CBS has a time-buy agreement with Allen Media Group for the 2026-27 season, meaning Allen pays to air his programs on the CBS network.

The programming move comes less than a year after CBS announced it would end Colbert’s “Late Show,” which airs its final episode on Thursday, May 21.

The network cited the financial pressures of late-night television, calling the decision “agonizing.”

Many observers, however, speculated that the cancellation was political, given Colbert’s status as an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump. At the time, CBS parent Paramount was seeking approval from the Trump administration for its proposed sale to Skydance.

Weeks before the cancellation, CBS also settled a Trump defamation lawsuit that many legal observers had deemed frivolous.

Allen, for his part, has made no secret of his interest in Colbert’s time slot. Speaking at New York Ad Week in October, he said, “If they’re looking for a show, my hand is already up.”

A B.C. woman who remains behind bars in South Korea after allegedly being used as a drug mule in a romance scam is preparing for trial, with her legal team hoping to limit any sentence to months, rather than years.

Spring Parks, a 59-year-old from Surrey, B.C., has been in custody for more than two months after her lawyer says she was caught entering the country with nearly four kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in her luggage.

“Her spirits are OK. Not great, but OK,” said her lawyer, Sean Hayes. “She is in prison and it’s not a pleasant place to be anywhere.”

Defence argues Parks was unaware of drugs

Her lawyers argue Parks was unknowingly manipulated into transporting the drugs by someone she believed she was in a relationship with online.

“We genuinely believe that No. 1, she doesn’t know what was in the packages (and) No. 2, that she was a victim here,” Hayes told CTV News.

According to her legal team, Parks travelled from Vancouver to meet the man she believed she was in love with. Along the way, she was allegedly instructed to pick up a suitcase in South Africa before continuing to South Korea.

Prosecutors, according to Hayes, are skeptical of that explanation, given the quantity of drugs involved.

“When they see this amount of drugs being brought in, they don’t believe the allegation that this was a scam,” Hayes said, admitting he at first had doubts himself.

“You don’t believe it. But then when you look into the text messages and the communications going back and forth and you see how vulnerable she is. That’s what people prey on,” Hayes said. “Even incredibly intelligent people get caught up in this.”

Legal stakes

Lawyers say the outcome of the trial could range from a few months in custody to a decade in prison, depending on whether the court accepts the defence’s argument that Parks was manipulated.

“A very good outcome to this case is a suspended jail sentence. It would just be time (she already) served,” said Hayes. “Of course, we are fighting for a not guilty verdict.”

Hayes says at this point, without knowing the mindset of the judge and prosecution, a much longer sentence is still possible.

“Ten years is a really bad outcome for this,” he said.

Richmond, B.C.-based lawyer Jason Tarnow, who has represented other victims of romance scams, says cases like Parks’ show how sophisticated the scammers have become.

“They’re using burner accounts, burner phones and burner email addresses,” Tarnow said, adding it is rare anyone besides the drug mule is caught. “They’re gone with the wind after their parcel gets intercepted,” he said.

Coping behind bars

Parks is deaf, which has made communication with authorities and her legal team more challenging. Her South Korean lawyer said she has also had to come to grips with the fact that the man of her dreams turned out to be a stranger using her to transport drugs.

“She had a difficult time processing the whole situation,” said Soyoung Yoon. “She was very emotional and sad.”

Hayes says South Korean jails are generally safe, but the conditions can be challenging.

“They’re sometimes in the winter, colder places than what you should expect, so (Parks) does have supplemental clothing. The food is far from ideal. The food is very basic food, but she can substitute with bought food, and she does, we have put money in her prison bank account.”

Spring’s daughters, Andrea and Lorrene Parks, who both live in Metro Vancouver, say they first learned of her arrest through a brief, shocking text in February, and still haven’t been able to speak with her.

“It’s a mix of … trying to stay strong and then feeling completely overwhelmed at the same time,” Andrea said.

Since first sharing their mother’s story publicly, the sisters say they have also realized she is not alone.

“This is really happening to a lot of people now,” Lorrene said, with her sister adding, “This is something bigger than our mom, at this point.”

Tarnow is backing that up, based on inquiries at his Richmond office.

“There is a huge influx of these cases happening right now,” Tarnow said. “I’m seeing young girls getting caught up in these cases, people of all ages. It’s not just restricted to seniors.”

Family fundraising and support

Meanwhile, Parks’ daughters are trying to balance the emotional toll with practical concerns, including mounting legal bills. The sisters say they have already sold off many of their mother’s belongings to generate income.

An online fundraising campaign set up by the family states they are “humbly” looking for help to cover legal fees, American Sign Language interpreter costs and to rebuild Parks’ life when she returns home, which Andrea and Lorrene hope will be measured in months, not years.

Moosomin RCMP recently seized a stolen truck, a firearm, and a large quantity of drugs in Rocanville, Sask.

On March 26, 2026, officers responded to a well-being check on Francis Street, where they found a woman inside the truck and a man nearby.

Both individuals were wanted on separate warrants and were arrested at the scene.

Further investigation revealed that the truck had previously been reported stolen in Virden, Man. During a search of the vehicle, police located and seized a firearm and ammunition, along with approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine, 43 grams of cocaine, 47 grams of fentanyl, and 340 prescription-style pills.

As a result of the investigation, a 24-year-old and 29-year-old were each charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and hydromorphone.

In addition, the 29-year-old faces charges of possessing a firearm while knowing possession was unauthorized and weapons possession contrary to an order.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges may be laid.

Both made their first appearance in Yorkton Provincial Court on Friday, March 27.

Rocanville is located around 230 kilometres east of Regina.

Estimated costs for extending the life of Saskatchewan’s coal-fired power plants are now estimated to total $2.6 billion.

That’s according to SaskPower’s written submission to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel from mid-March.

The document says the estimated price tag of refurbishing 1,500 megawatts of existing coal facilities comes from external consultants, who arrived at a figure far greater than the province’s $900 million estimate.

Crown Investments Minister Jeremy Harrison told reporters last week that the move would bring “massive” cost savings to the province.

However, the minister also maintained that the decision was mostly made based on energy security.

“The decision to extend the life of existing coal-fired generation assets was not driven by a determination that coal life extension represents the lowest-cost generation option,” read the document.

“Rather, the decision reflects a strategic policy choice grounded in the principles of energy security, system reliability, affordability, and the need to ensure sufficient electricity supply to support economic growth in Saskatchewan.”

Back in June, the province opted to refurbish Saskatchewan’s remaining coal plants until 2050 instead of shutting them down by 2029 as mandated under federal regulations.

SaskPower added that extending coal-generation provides certainty as the province transitions to nuclear energy and toward net-zero by 2050.

“Saskatchewan’s electricity system faces unique structural and transitional challenges, including limited legacy hydro resources, increasing demand associated with economic development, and the requirement to maintain reliability while transitioning to a lower-emissions grid,” SaskPower wrote.

“In this context, coal life extension provides dependable baseload capacity that supports system adequacy, operational flexibility, and diversity of supply, while reducing exposure to fuel, technology, and supply-chain risks during a period of significant change.”

Extending the life of coal power would bring $21 billion in savings to the province by 2050, according to SaskPower.

The provincial Crown also said it would cost $1.7 billion to create a new 370-megawatt combined cycle gas generating plant.

SaskPower has enacted a 3.9 per cent rate hike for 2026 and is seeking another 3.9 per increase in 2027.

The increases have drawn the criticism of organizations like the Saskatchewan Industrial Energy Consumers Association, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, as well as the Saskatchewan NDP.

“We’re going to do what’s right for this province,” Harrison said.

“We’re not going to be adhering to the unconstitutional Clean Electricity Regulations; we’re not going to be adhering to the unconstitutional coal-fired power regulations. We’re going to be doing the right things for this province in both an energy security and financial context, which has positioned us uniquely to attract investment.”

As global energy prices continue to rise, many Saskatchewan residents are among those feeling it at the pump.

As of Wednesday, the average price for gas in Regina was 172.5 cents per litre, up 1.9 cents per litre from Tuesday, according to Gas Buddy.

In Saskatoon, prices remained at 172.5 cents per litre.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the 10 cheapest stations for regular gas were as follows:

• Gas Plus at 310 2 Ave., Canora at 140.9 cents per litre
• Regina Messenger at 1609 Halifax St., Regina at 147.9 centres per litre
• Regina Cabs on 3405 Saskatchewan Dr. at 149.9 cents per litre
• Gold Eagle Gas Bar on 520 Heritage Way, North Battleford: 150.9 cents per litre
• Gas Plus on 1901-100 St., North Battleford at 152.9 cents per litre
• Jackfish Petroleum at 295 Main St. W, Meota at 152.9 cents per litre
• The Rack on 703 8th St. West at 152.9 cents per litre
• Gas Plus on Highway 4 north of North Battleford at 152.9 cents per litre
• Esso on Woodlily Dr., Moose Jaw at 155.9 cents per litre
• Co-op on north Centennial Dr., Martensville at 155.9 cents per litre

In Regina, the cheapest places to get gas were:

• Regina Messenger on 1609 Halifax St. at 147.9 cents per litre
• Regina Cabs on 3405 Saskatchewan Drive at 149.9 cents per litre
• Regina Discount on 978 Winnipeg St. at 149.9 cents per litre
• Klein’s Food Mart on 1005 Pasqua St. at 159.9 cents per litre
• Costco on 2110 Anaquod Rd. at 162.9 cents per litre
• Esso on 1600 Pinkie Rd, at 173.9 cents per litre
• Co-op on 615 Winnipeg St. North at 175.9 cents per litre
• Mobil and Superstore on 4450 Rochdale Blvd at 175.9 cents per litre
• Co-op on 2020 Prince of Wales Dr. at 175.9 cents per litre; and
• Shell on 810 McCarthy Blvd. at 175.9 cents per litre.

In Saskatoon, the cheapest were:

• Costco on 115 Marquis Dr. at 164.9 cents per litre
• Gas Plus on 209 2750 Faithfull Ave at 169.9 cents per litre
• Petro-Canada on 2355 Preston Ave at 171.9 cents per litre
• Shell on 330 8th Ave at 171.9 cents per litre
• Petro-Canada on 1502 8th Ave at 171.9 cents per litre
• Petro-Canada on 343 Packham Ave at 171.9 cents per litre
• Shell on 824 51st Street East at 172.9 cents per litre
• 7-Eleven on 2132 McClocklin Rd., at 172.9 cents per litre
• Mobil on 2815 Wanuskewin Dr. at 172.9 cents per litre
• Shell on 7 Assiniboine Dr. at 174.9 cents per litre

Shocks to global fuel prices have escalated dramatically since the beginning of the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran. Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway by which at least 20 per cent of the world’s liquefied natural gas travels though, as well as roughly 34 per cent of its crude oil.

EVO Radio Network – Scheduled Maintenance Notice

EVO Radio will be conducting a network-wide server migration and infrastructure update beginning Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 3:00 AM, with work expected to be completed by Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM.

During this maintenance window, the following services may be temporarily offline or intermittently inaccessible at various points:

Websites

• https://z1035.evoradio.ca/

• https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/

• https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/

• https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/

• https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/

• https://vipclub.evoradio.ca/

• https://evomcorp.com/

• https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/

Live Broadcasting

• Z103.5

• 979 The Cowboy

• 101 The Rockhound

• Classic 88.7 The Goat

Stream Relay Network

• All Stream Relay services will be unavailable during the migration.

Because this update involves server transfers, database installations, and name server changes, exact downtime periods cannot be guaranteed. Individual service interruptions may vary, with some components taking up to several hours to complete.

Our support and technical teams will work to keep all stations and websites online for as long as possible and will restore services immediately as each system becomes available. Broadcast services and station websites will be prioritized, followed by additional network services.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete these upgrades, which are designed to improve performance, reliability, and long-term stability across the EVO Radio Network.

Thank you for your continued support,
EVO Radio Network

🎉 Update Completed Successfully! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce that our scheduled network update has been completed without any issues! 🚀 All our broadcast stations, streams, and websites are now fully operational and running better than ever.

What’s New?

Here’s what you can expect from this update:
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🎵 Stations:

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