LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Laws

Oct 9: Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) announced over $11.2 million in funding for eight Saskatchewan businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs. Delivered via the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) and Business Scale up and Productivity Program (BSP), the money will be used to help businesses invest in new equipment, strengthen supply chains, expand production, and enter new markets. Recipients include Northern Nutrients Ltd., Solo Italia Fine Pasta Inc., South West Terminal Ltd., M.P.S Welding Inc., and Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association Inc.

Action Point: The U.S.-Canadian trade war is escalating. Find out about the 8 things HR directors can do to help their companies survive the impact of tariffs.

New Laws

Oct 13: The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are jointly investing $74 million to improve the water, wastewater, drainage, and sewer infrastructure necessary to support housing growth and community development across the province. Among other projects, the funding will support Phase 1 of the City of Yorkton’s Water Pollution Control Plant Renewal Project.

New Laws

Sep 14: The Governments of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Northwest Territories agreed to work together to advance large-scale nuclear reactors, small modular reactors, and microreactors. The new memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishes a framework for collaboration and information-sharing on nuclear generation technologies.

Health & Safety

Oct 6: Saskatchewan residents can now book appointments to receive this year's influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. Free vaccinations, either separately or in one appointment, are available at public health clinics, participating pharmacies, and some physician and nurse practitioner offices. Children ages six months to five years may only be immunized at a Saskatchewan Health Authority public health clinic, public health office, or by a physician or nurse practitioner.

Action Point: Find out how to create a legally and clinically sound workplace Exposure Control Plan to protect your employees against seasonal respiratory viruses and other infectious illnesses.

Workers’ Compensation

Sep 1: The Saskatchewan WCB revised its rules (POL 15/2024) governing Medical Review Panels conducted by groups of physicians and chiropractors who are independent from the agency at the request of a worker or the worker’s dependent. The policy addresses all aspects of the MRP process.

Action Point: Find out how to create a vibrant workplace health and safety culture to prevent injuries and workers’ comp claims at your company.

CASES

Labour Relations: Employer Not Required to Report OHS Workplace Violence Statistics to Union

The union asked the City of Regina for an OHS report on the numbers of filed and confirmed incidents of workplace harassment and violence over an eight-year period. The City refused to provide the requested statistics and the union grieved. The Saskatchewan arbitrator dismissed the case. The basis of the union’s claim wasn’t the collective agreement but its OHS law “right to know.” And that’s a question that goes beyond an arbitrator’s jurisdiction to resolve collective agreement disputes. Even if we did have jurisdiction, the arbitrator continued, we’d reject the grievance because there was no provision in the collective agreement specifically requiring the City to provide the union OHS workplace violence and harassment statistics [Regina Civic Members’ Union, CUPE Local 21 v Regina (City), 2026 CanLII 98685 (SK LA), September 21, 2026].

Action Point: Find out how to implement a legally sound and effective Workplace Violence Prevention Game Plan at your site that provides for proper reporting of workplace violence incidents in accordance with the OHS requirements of your province.

Training: OHS Laws Don’t Require Suppliers to Provide Training on Equipment’s Use

A construction worker got killed when a heavy cart collapsed on top of him. Prosecutors charged the scaffolding company that leased the cart to the general contractor with violating its OHS duty as a “supplier” to ensure it was safe. The trial judge ruled not guilty reasoning that the company wasn’t a “supplier” under the OHS law; the appeals court reversed and ordered a new trial. In reinstating the acquittal, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal concluded that the appeals court’s finding that the company was a “supplier” because it furnished the equipment used at the work site was correct; however, its determination that the company violated the supplier duty to do everything “reasonably practicable” to ensure it was safe when used in accordance with the instructions provided was erroneous. The cart was safe and free of defects, it was just used incorrectly, the high court explained. Expecting the supplier to also provide “hands on” training on the cart’s use once the general contractor took possession of it wouldn’t be “reasonably practicable,” it concluded [R v Pilosio Canada Inc., 2026 SKCA 97 (CanLII), September 3, 2026].