SASK. NOT READY FOR FIRES

REGINA — A report from Saskatchewan’s auditor says the province’s public safety agency needs to do a better job at preparing for the wildfire season.

Tara Clemett’s report says the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency does not plan for the optimal amount of resources it needs each year to fight wildfires.

She says the agency also isn’t properly budgeting before the season begins.

Clemett says robust planning and budgeting would ensure the agency is prepared.

She says planning could also save the agency money, as it might not be as reliant on expensive short-term contractors.

The finding comes after a third-party review this month found the agency was ill-prepared to fight last year’s wildfires that destroyed communities and displaced thousands of residents.

BANK SECURITY ON STRIKE

OTTAWA — Security officers at the Bank of Canada began a strike Tuesday after talks failed to secure a new collective agreement between the central bank and the union.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says 63 security officers at the Bank of Canada’s Ottawa and Montreal offices are on strike and the Montreal workers are also locked out by the employer.

A statement from the union claims officials at the central bank are pushing for changes that would undermine how seniority affects overtime and vacation for workers, as well as proposing a rollback in maternity leave.

The union also alleges that the Bank of Canada has contacted workers to get them to work through the legal strike and plans to contract a third-party for security during the labour disruption.

The Bank of Canada would not comment on the labour action or negotiations.

The union says workers are looking for fair wages, stable schedules and “basic respect” from one of Canada’s most powerful financial institutions.

DIAB VAGUE ON CITIZENSHIP document CONFUSION

OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Lena Diab says she told her department to investigate when she became aware that “something” had happened to trigger a wave of citizenship document recalls.

The minister didn’t say Tuesday exactly what problem led to an unknown number of people getting emails last week ordering them to surrender their proof of citizenship.

The department has said the emails went to “a few dozen” people who received citizenship by descent under a new law that lets people born before Dec. 15, 2025 claim Canadian citizenship as long as they have a provable direct ancestor.

Some of the people affected who had already applied for and received a passport said they have been told they need to surrender those passports as they are no longer valid.

All 4,100 successful citizenship claims made under the new law are now being reviewed by the department as part of the investigation.

Some people who were told to surrender their citizenship certificates last week received followup emails over the weekend saying their citizenship had now been confirmed.

SHAKY ECONOMY DETERS HOME BUYING: Poll

TORONTO — A new report says prospective homebuyers see a potential window to strike a deal, but economic uncertainty is weighing on their decision.

Royal Bank of Canada’s latest home ownership poll says that among those who intend to buy within two years, 45 per cent say now is the right time. However, 75 per cent of them say economic uncertainty is making them more cautious.

It also says 72 per cent of those looking to buy within two years believe the uncertainty is the biggest challenge to buying a home, while 67 per cent are worried it will affect their homebuying plans.

The Canadian economy has struggled in recent months as it continues to adjust to U.S. tariffs and a murky future for the trade agreement with the U.S. and Mexico, while the war in the Middle East sent oil prices soaring.

» The Canadian Press

The RBC poll said rising costs are also cutting into savings with 71 per cent of those who intend to buy within two years saying inflation is causing them to save less for a home.

The survey of 1,753 Canadians aged 18 to 64 was conducted between April 23 and May 3, using Leger’s online panel.

IMAM ATTACKED IN VICTORIA

VICTORIA — Criminal charges of robbery and assault have been laid after separate attacks in Victoria, including the beating of an imam, although police say the crimes were random.

Victoria police say they were called late Thursday when the imam of a local mosque reported being assaulted as a man tried to force him out of his vehicle.

The BC Muslim Association and the National Council of Canadian Muslims both released statements after the attack, noting that the suspect went after the victim when he was wearing his traditional garments.

The B.C. association says the suspect directed xenophobic remarks at the victim, telling him to “go back to your home country.”

Police say they arrested a 31-year-old man shortly afterward, then another person called to say they had been attacked and robbed in the same area and had a similar description of the suspect.

» The Canadian Press