With U.S. President Donald Trump again threatening to add a 35 per cent tariff to all Canadian products, Premier Scott Moe said on Friday it is something that, “should not have much impact on Saskatchewan.”

Trump posted a letter on his Truth Social platform that included the threat of the added sweeping tariff.

On Friday, Moe released a statement that called the threat concerning but something that would not impact Saskatoon too much.

“Most Saskatchewan products have remained exempt from tariffs under the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), so if that continues to apply to the latest 35 per cent tariff threat the impact on Saskatchewan should be minimal.” Moe said in the statement.

Moe added that all tariff and trade disputes hurt businesses, workers and consumers on both sides of the border, nothing that the threat is still a concerning one.

“So we will continue to engage with U.S. officials to encourage free and fair trade with the U.S. while also continuing to expand Saskatchewan’s export markets around the world,” Moe said.

According to Moe, Saskatchewan’s current approach to tariffs and the ongoing trade war is working, citing that the province’s economy created more than 20,000 new jobs in the past year, according to Statistics Canada’s latest employment numbers released on Friday.

Moe’s statement also said that the White House has confirmed USMCA compliant goods would be exempt from the 35 per cent tariff, adding that about 95 per cent of Saskatchewan’s exports to the U.S. fall in that category.

‘Sask. Party missing in action’

The opposition NDP feel differently and stated in a news release Friday that Trump’s latest tariff threat is a direct attack on Saskatchewan jobs.

“Despite new tariff threats Scott Moe has yet to stand up to Donald Trump. The current Sask. Party leader reversed his pro-Canada and pro-Saskatchewan procurement policies just days after Trump’s last round of steel and aluminum tariffs,” the NDP’s release said.

NDP MLA Aleana Young said Trump is trying to crush Saskatchewan’s economy in an effort to make Canada the 51st state.

“It’s reckless and it’s dangerous – and the Sask. Party has nothing to say,” Young said in the release.

The NDP is also calling on the province to immediately restore strong pro-Saskatchewan and pro-Canada procurement rules and also take American alcohol products off the shelves once again.

Trump’s 35 per cent tariff threat could come into effect as soon as Aug. 1.

The temperature has gone down in Beauval, Saskatchewan since 560 residents were forced from their homes by wildfire Thursday afternoon, but provincial fire officials say the heat is still on.

During a press conference on Friday, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency official Steve Roberts said the shift in winds that brought flames to the community’s doorstep from the north was unexpected.

“We monitor the weather consistently, and the long term, for the full day, winds were to be from the west, heading east,” he said.

“A small system passed south of the Beauval area, and because of that pressure change, it actually brought winds down into more of a southeast flow.”

Roberts said the weather system passed in about eight hours, and firefighters were able to contain the damage to a vehicle and a canteen building in the recreation grounds on the northern edge of the community.

Evacuees sent to the Travelodge in Saskatoon spent Thursday night in disbelief.

“We never thought it would hit Beauval, but it did,” resident Linda Bonneau told CTV News.

Tony Alcrow spent much of the last month on vacation before he was told he couldn’t go back home.

“It’s kind of disappointing. I miss my stuff. Hoping my house doesn’t get burned down. I’m just praying day by day that the fires are gone and rain comes by,” he said.

“That fire has completely gone around the town now, and the crews are continuing to mop that up,” he said.

Provincial firefighters had taken defensive measures before the fire arrived, says Roberts, including running a sprinkler system around the village, and stationing guards around town with access to heavy equipment.

At this point, firefighters are tackling hot spots along the fire’s path around the village.

Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s public safety minister, said a significant amount of resources and personnel were committed to defend Beauval.

“There has been an incredible number of resources, including emergency personnel, air assets, heavy equipment and value protection assets used to protect the community of Beauval,” he said.

“The bravery and dedication of this work deserves our respect and support.”

Roberts said it will be at least a couple of days before anyone the community can be repatriated, and lingering heavy smoke in the area will keep those with health risks away longer still.

With no rain in the forecast for the village in the near future — it’s too soon to tell when it will be safe to return.

Highway 918 — the road in and out of Beauval from the south — is still passable, according to Roberts.

Evacuees have been sent to Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, as Roberts said North Battleford was unable to accommodate evacuees for more than one day.

As of Friday afternoon, there were 57 wildfires active in the province, according to the SPSA’s website. Five are considered contained, 14 are not contained, 21 are subject to ongoing assessments while protecting values are the priority in 17 blazes.

Including Beauval, five communities are currently under an evacuation order. Roberts said there are currently 925 evacuees in the province.

Environment Canada has issued heat, air quality and ‘severe’ thunderstorm warnings for several provinces and territories this weekend.

There are a total of 191 alerts regarding heat and thunderstorms, and 342 alerts for air quality in place as of Saturday, according to the weather service.

Heat and thunderstorm warnings

Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador have been issued heat warnings, with storm alerts active in Quebec and Ontario as well.

Alberta could see temperatures around 30 C on Saturday through Sunday. Cooler temperatures are forecast for Monday, according to Environment Canada.

“Monitor for symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as high body temperature, lack of sweat, confusion, fainting, and unconsciousness,” the alert advises.

Newfoundland and Labrador will see “an extended period of hot and dry weather,” with daytime temperatures hitting 33 C.

Southern Ontario is expected to see hot and humid conditions through the next week. Temperatures are expected to ease on Sunday and Monday, before hot and humid conditions return on Tuesday, the weather service said.

Daytime highs could reach 32 C with a humidex of 35 to 40.

Areas in Ontario on thunderstorm watch include Dunchurch, Thessalon, Eastern Algonquin Park, Ragner Lake, Killarney, Foleyet, Greater Sudbury, Baysville, Englehart, Mattawa, Burk’s Falls, Temagami, Iroquois Falls, Killbear Park, French River and Lake of Two Rivers.

“Dangerous thunderstorms this afternoon and evening may be capable of producing severe wind gusts, a tornado, and heavy rain,” the alert reads.

Severe wind gusting up to 110 km/h and an isolated tornado may appear this afternoon into the evening, the alert warns.

Quebec will see a hot and humid weekend with a humidex of around 40 through Sunday, the alert reads.

Areas in Quebec under thunderstorm watch include Amos, Dorval Lodge, Fort William-Shawville, La Sarre, Le Domaine, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Malartic, Rapides-des-Joachims, Rouyn, Senneterre, Témiscaming, Val d’Or - Louvicourt and Ville-Marie.

“Late this afternoon and this evening, conditions will be favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy downpours,” the weather agency said.

Residents of both provinces are advised to protect themselves from the effects of heat and thunderstorms.

Air quality warnings

The regions under air quality warnings include Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

Manitoba residents over the age of 65, pregnant women and young children are urged to avoid being outdoors due to the wildfire smoke in the area.

“Smoke is causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility,” the alert reads. “During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status.”

Areas in Ontario and Saskatchewan are under similar air quality warnings due to wildfire smoke, which could persist through the weekend, alerts noted.

Additionally, Ft. Liard Region including Nahanni Butte in Sambaa K’e in Northwest Territories have been issued air quality alerts from Environment Canada.

“Wildfires burning southwest of Sambaa Ke are causing locally poor air quality,” the alert said. “Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.”

Residents may experience mild symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritations or headaches, the weather agency said. However, if anyone is experiencing fewer common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough, they are asked to see medical attention immediately.

For the third time in a month, the Regina Urgent Care Centre will operate with further reduced hours – before being outright closed for a day.

On Friday, July 11, the centre will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Saturday, July 12, hours are further reduced to just four – from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. before being closed completely on Sunday, July 13.

According to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), the “temporary” adjustment is to accommodate “physician availability.”

The health authority said residents who may need urgent care while the centre is closed should call 911 or visit the emergency departments at either Pasqua Hospital or Regina General.

Staffing issues and service outages at the urgent care centre has long been a concern since its opening last July.

The centre was supposed to be open 24/7 by this point. However, the SHA said earlier this week that it feels patient demand is being met between the centre and emergency rooms.

Despite staffing concerns continually being raised by the NDP Opposition – the province plans to move forward with additional urgent care centres in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford.

Moose Jaw RCMP is seeking tips as police attempt to find a man who has violated his release conditions and failed to appear before a judge.

Gavin Nelson, 27, failed to comply with court-ordered release conditions related to a June 2022 assault investigation and failed to appear in court, according to a news release from the Saskatchewan RCMP on Thursday.

Nelson is described as weighing 160 pounds and stands five feet 11 inches tall, with hazel-coloured eyes and red hair.

RCMP also noted that he has the phrase, ‘brothers until the end’ tattooed on his right wrist.

RCMP advises people not to approach Nelson if they see him and report all sightings or information to local police of Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.

RCMP said the investigation continues.

Two Ontario men are facing multiple charges after Saskatchewan RCMP seized approximately 4.9 million unstamped cigarettes and 247 grams of opium near Indian Head Monday night.

According to an RCMP news release, members from the Indian Head detachment stopped a tractor trailer unit on Highway 1 travelling from Ontario to B.C. around 9 p.m. near Indian Head.

Officers conducted a search of the trailer and found the opium and unstamped cigarettes.

The driver and passenger were then arrested at the scene.

As a result, a 27-year-old man and 23-year-old man from Ontario were each charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in addition to four counts related to the unstamped cigarettes.

Both men will make their first court appearances in Indian Head on Oct. 21, RCMP said.

Indian Head, Sask. is about 70 kilometres east of Regina.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says the province is committed to getting people into drug treatment — whether they like it or not.

At a news conference that called on the federal government to reform the bail provisions under the Criminal Code of Canada, Moe suggested it’s time to consider involuntary treatment for vulnerable people facing addictions and mental health struggles.

“To have a serious conversation around ensuring that people are receiving the care that they need, even when they may not be in a position to be able to make those decisions themselves,” Moe said.

Moe said while the province continues to add more urgent care centers, complex needs shelters and treatment spaces to complement a continuum of care, he said the government is also considering what he called “compassionate care.”

On Oct. 6, 2023, the province announced a two-year action plan for a new approach to homelessness, addictions and social services.

As part of the multifaceted plans, the province committed $49.4 million over five years to create 500 new addictions treatment spaces, which was expected to more than double the number of spaces available at the time.

The province also announced $40.2 million in funding over two years to create 155 new supportive housing spaces, 120 new permanent emergency shelter spaces, and 30 new complex needs emergency shelter spaces.

As part of the new approach, the province committed to move away from harm reduction and transition to a “recovery-oriented system of care.”

At the time, the province said its new approach would help patients who need more than the typical 28-day in-patient care offered under a traditional addictions treatment model.

Saskatchewan Health has since cut off funding for needle exchanges and the provision of clean drug supplies like glass pipes, and the province has passed a law declaring syringes and drug pipes “street weapons.”

Now, as the opioid crisis shows no signs of slowing down, Moe says he wants to go further.

“There are situations where, you know, individuals just simply aren’t in a state to make their own health decisions,” Moe said.

Alberta’s Compassionate Intervention Act was passed earlier this year that allows people to be forced into addiction treatment facilities without their consent, if they’re deemed a risk to themselves and others.

British Columbia also opened its first involuntary treatment beds earlier this year.

From Jan. 1, 2025 to May 21, 2025, the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to 1,149 overdoses, compared to 568 in that same span last year.

The jump represents a 102 per cent increase, largely fueled by 509 overdoses in a month where the Ministry of Health issued five of its nine drug alerts related to the spike in overdoses.

In 2024, the fire department responded to a total of 1,281 overdoses. By May 31, 2025, there had been 1,217 overdoses.

As the province looks to punish people trafficking drugs in Saskatchewan, it also wants to keep encouraging addicted drug users to get treatment.

“If your challenge is mental health, if it is unfortunately addictions to those poisonous substances like fentanyl and crystal meth, we want you in a recovery center, and we want you to be able to live a recovered life,” he said.

A large wildfire in northwestern Saskatchewan has reached the community of Beauval.

Beauval Mayor Rick Laliberte said the community evacuated essential workers and remaining residents around 3 p.m. Thursday. He said flames from the Muskeg Fire reached the village just before 5:30 p.m.

Firefighters are on the ground protecting homes.

“It’s just heartbreaking. We couldn’t stop it. This wind is just relentless these last four days. The fire front was just too big,” Laliberte told CTV News.

According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, as of 11 a.m. Thursday, the Muskeg fire covered 33,967 hectares — nearly double the size of Regina.

Beauval, Sask. is located around 450 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

🎉 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:
✅ Improved Audio Player – No more interruptions or cutting off! Enjoy seamless streaming on our websites.
✅ Enhanced Stream Stability – Our radio streams are now more reliable than ever.
✅ Upgraded Security & Quality – Improved protection and enhanced broadcast quality for an unmatched listening experience.

Fully Operational Services:

🎵 Stations:

• Z103.5 – https://z1035.evoradio.ca/
• 979 The Cowboy – https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/
• 101 The Rockhound – https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/
• Classic 88.7 The Goat – https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/

🌐 Websites:

• EVO Radio Advertiser Access – https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/
• EVO Media Corporation – https://evomcorp.com/
• DJ Spinderella – https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/

Experiencing Issues?

While everything is running smoothly on our end, we’re here to help if you encounter any issues. If you’re having trouble with our broadcasts or websites, please report the issue to us immediately so we can address it.

📧 Contact Us:

If you have having any issues please reach out to us on our websites!

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this process. We’re committed to providing you with the best listening experience possible and appreciate your support!

🎧 Happy Listening!
The EVO Radio & EVO Media Corporation Team

We’re committed to providing our audience with a listening experience like no other! To maintain this standard, we’re excited to announce a major update to our Broadcast Network.

What’s New?

This update will bring:

• A Better Audio Player: Improved performance on our websites to resolve issues with streams cutting off.
• Enhanced Session Operations: Ensuring error-free radio streams.
• Upgraded Security & Quality: Improved protection and overall broadcast quality.

Downtime Details:

• Expected Downtime: 1 hour (we’ve allocated up to 4 hours for any unforeseen circumstances).
• Impacted Services:
  • Live Broadcasts & Website Access for these stations:
    • Z103.5 – https://z1035.evoradio.ca/
    • 979 The Cowboy – https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/
    • 101 The Rockhound – https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/
    • Classic 88.7 The Goat – https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/
  • Websites:
    • EVO Radio Advertiser Access – https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/
    • EVO Media Corporation – https://evomcorp.com/
    • DJ Spinderella – https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/
  • Third-Party Apps: Any apps relying on our live broadcasts will also be affected.

Commitment to Excellence:
During the downtime, our team will work diligently to complete the update and monitor the network to ensure peak performance. We’re committed to enhancing your listening experience to the highest standards.

Stay Updated:
Follow us on Facebook or check our websites for real-time updates:

• EVO Media Corporation: https://www.facebook.com/EVOMediaCorporation/
• Z103.5: https://www.facebook.com/YourPartyStationZ103.5
• 979 The Cowboy: https://www.facebook.com/979thecowboy/
• 101 The Rockhound: https://www.facebook.com/101TheRockhound/
• Classic 88.7 The Goat: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093402861183

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we work to improve our services.

Thank you for your continued support,

The EVO Radio & EVO Media Corporation Team