New perimeter security screening will be implemented in the Prince Albert Provincial Court on Monday, August 18. Over the next several weeks, it will also be implemented in court houses in Regina and Saskatoon.

According to a report released today by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, the rate of police-reported crime in Saskatchewan dropped another four per cent in 2007. This is the first time in at least three decades that our crime rate has fallen in four consecutive years. It was down by four per cent in 2006, by six per cent in 2005 and by about two per cent in 2004.

The Director of Securities Division of the Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission (SFSC) issued a Temporary Cease Trade Order on July 14, 2008, against Global Petroleum Strategies LLC., Petroleum Unlimited LLC., Aurora Escrow Services LLC., as well as Roger A. Kimmel Jr., who is the president of Petroleum Unlimited and Aurora Escrow. Also named in the order are two sales representatives from Global Petroleum Solutions, Troy Gray and Stephen J. Shore. The order expires on July 29, 2008, and may be extended.

The Government of Saskatchewan has decided to withdraw a reference to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal on the equalization issue.