In the news today: Saskatchewan Party to deliver throne speech

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Saskatchewan Party to deliver throne speech

Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government is to outline its priorities in a throne speech today — a month after the Oct. 28 election delivered the party a slimmer majority in the legislature.

Moe says his government plans to start working on affordability issues, including a promise to reduce personal income tax rates.

Read More:

• Sask. legislators prepare for shortened fall sitting, throne speech
• Saskatchewan Party government to outline priorities in throne speech
• Saskatchewan parties to focus on affordability as legislature resumes

The provincial government also plans to address problems in education, health care and community safety.

The Saskatchewan Party heads into the 61-seat legislature with 34 members, facing a larger 27-member Opposition under NDP Leader Carla Beck.

Beck, whose party gained ground in Saskatoon and Regina after the election, says she will press Moe to suspend the provincial gas tax and fix health care.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Hockey players’ sex assault case back in court

A London, Ont., judge is set to hear legal arguments today in the sexual assault case of five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team.

Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged with sexual assault earlier this year in an incident that allegedly took place in the city in June 2018.

McLeod also faces an additional charge of sexual assault for “being a party to the offence.”

Lawyers for the players have said their clients plan to defend themselves against the allegations, and all five are expected to plead not guilty.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin on April 22 of next year.

Several weeks have been set aside for legal arguments before then, but the issues discussed in those hearings cannot be reported at this time due to a publication ban meant to protect the accused’s right to a fair trial.

Nova Scotia election: one day to go

Today is the final day of campaigning before Nova Scotians head to the polls.

Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives are seeking a second mandate in tomorrow’s election.

Houston, NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Liberal Leader Zach Churchill all have news conferences scheduled this morning in Halifax.

Elections Nova Scotia says more than 147,000 early ballots have been cast as of Saturday.

The snap election wraps after just over four weeks of campaigning.

Alberta community voting on new coal mine

It’s been more than 40 years since coal was king in the scenic Crowsnest Pass of southwestern Alberta, but a referendum vote Monday could sway a contentious debate on bringing it back.

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, home to about 6,000, is asking residents to say yes or no to a straightforward question: “Do you support the development and operations of the metallurgical coal mine at Grassy Mountain?”

Advance voting began days earlier and while Monday’s result won’t be binding or have any influence on regulatory or legal challenges, it’s another factor in the ongoing, polarizing public debate of economy versus environment.

Crowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter supports the plan.

Australia-based mining company Northback said it wants to develop the Grassy Mountain coal project at a site that was mined over 60 years ago but never properly restored. It says it would be reclaimed throughout the duration of the project.

Why the shopping season is shorter this year

Canadians waiting for Black Friday to kick-start their holiday shopping have less time to pick up gifts.

There are five fewer days between Black Friday on Nov. 29 and Christmas Eve because U.S. Thanksgiving is later this year.

The shortened shopping period will shift how retailers market around the season and amp up the pressure consumers feel to make their holiday purchases sooner rather than later, experts say.

Before Halloween even arrived, Costco, Dollarama and Winners were stocking holiday merchandise and as jack-o-lanterns were being taken to the curb, some retailers had already released Black Friday flyers or even begun a month-long span of promotions.

When the Retail Council of Canada and Leger surveyed 2,510 people about holiday shopping over the summer and fall, 26 per cent said they wouldn’t start spending on the occasion until Black Friday or sometime after.

Even shoppers who began earlier in the year put plenty of importance on Black Friday. The council found Black Friday remains the top holiday shopping day for Canadians, with 84 per cent deeming it significant in terms of spending, followed by Cyber Monday/Week at 65 per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024.

The Canadian Press