‘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.
