‘Left in the Dust’: NDP Demands Saskatchewan Act on Cult Cleanup

Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP is calling on Premier Scott Moe’s government to take immediate action to clean up the lingering sewage contamination in Richmound, a small village west of Regina that was once occupied by the Kingdom of Canada cult.

NDP MLA Brittney Senger said the province’s current health order directing the building’s owner, cult member Ricky Manz, to handle the cleanup is not enough.

“The sewage smell was horrific and traumatizing. Kids can’t even enjoy the parks,” Senger said. “The government must step in, support the cleanup, and help this community heal.”

The abandoned compound — a former school — became uninhabitable after waste from toilets overflowed and was dumped outside, creating a months-long stench.

The situation escalated when RCMP raided the building on September 3, seizing imitation firearms and arresting Manz, cult leader Romana Didulo, and several followers.

A Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) order now deems the building “unsanitary and unfit for occupation” and requires it be connected to a lawful sewage system. But residents say progress has been painfully slow.

Richmound Mayor Brad Miller said the village has been fighting this problem since 2023. “We’ve spent money, hired a lawyer, and asked for help,” he said. “We just feel left in the dust.”

Miller said while sewage on the property has begun to dry up, the community’s frustration remains. “It’s been a nightmare. We just want our town back,” he added.

22 Ontario Municipal Leaders Push Back Against Ford’s Speed Camera Ban

A group of 22 municipal leaders — including 20 mayors, a deputy mayor, and a county warden — have signed a joint letter urging Premier Doug Ford to reconsider his government’s plan to ban automated speed enforcement (ASE) across Ontario.

The leaders, representing municipalities from Brampton to Parry Sound, argue that eliminating speed cameras would jeopardize school zone safety and reverse years of progress in traffic enforcement.

“For most of us, the intention has always been to install cameras in school zones to protect our most vulnerable residents — our children,” the letter reads. “A total ban on ASE would reverse years of progress on safety in school zones, place more pressure on police, and endanger lives.”

The municipalities proposed several compromises to preserve ASE programs, including:

• Warning tickets for first-time offenders

• Speed thresholds before ticketing

• Limited operation hours during school times

• A seven-day grace period after a driver’s first fine

They also called on the province to reimburse costs if the ban proceeds, covering cancelled contracts, severance, and lost safety program funding.

Ford Calls Cameras a ‘Tax Grab’

Premier Ford has dismissed speed cameras as an ineffective “tax grab,” promising instead to fund physical traffic-calming measures like speed bumps and raised crosswalks. His government legalized ASE programs in 2019 but now plans to replace them with community safety funds.

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, one of the letter’s lead signatories, said her city spent hundreds of thousands of dollars installing six cameras that haven’t yet issued fines. “Our letter is really a plea — an SOS to the premier. Save our schoolkids,” she said.

Study Shows Speed Cameras Work

A 2025 study by SickKids Hospital and Toronto Metropolitan University found speed cameras reduced speeding by 45% in 250 school zones.

“These are not just statistics — they represent fewer injuries, fewer fatalities and greater peace of mind,” the mayors said, citing support from the Ontario Traffic Council and Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

While some municipalities like Toronto and Brampton have pledged to keep their programs, others, including Vaughan, have removed cameras after issuing over 30,000 tickets in three weeks.