The Evan Bray Show – Monday, June 22

**WITH GUEST HOST BRENT LOUCKS

8:30 – Summer is officially here, and for a lot of Saskatchewan families, that means road trips, weekends at the lake, and plenty of time behind the wheel. But will drivers feel relief at the pump this summer? Roger McKnight, Chief Petroleum Analyst at EN-PRO, joins guest host Brent Loucks to answer this question.

Listener Question: Are gas prices making you adjust summer plans?

9:00 – The Saskatoon new public library is on track to open in 2027. But it still has many asking questions about the $150-million price tag and what taxpayers can expect in return. Bronwyn Eyre, Saskatchewan’s former attorney general and justice minister and senior fellow at the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy, is one of those voices who has been critical of the project. She joins Brent to talk about this and her recent piece on the Notwithstanding Clause.

LQ: Do you think the $150M price tag for Saskatoon’s new library is worth it?

9:30 – Most Canadians don’t spend a lot of time thinking about government debt, but they do care about where their tax dollars are going. A new report from the Fraser Institute says Canadians will pay nearly $95 billion this year just in interest on federal and provincial government debt. Jake Fuss, Director of Fiscal Studies, Fraser Institute, joins the show to break down what the numbers really mean and why you should care.

LQ: Do you worry that younger Canadians will end up paying the price for today’s government debt?

10:00 – You don’t often hear Conservative MPs advocating for easier access to psychedelic drugs, but Saskatoon MP Corey Tochor has introduced a private member’s bill that would make it easier for doctors to prescribe psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. He says current federal rules are preventing patients from accessing potentially life-changing treatments for conditions like PTSD, depression, and addiction, and joins Brent to explain why he believes Canada’s approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy needs to change.

LQ: Should the government legalize psilocybin (magic mushrooms)?

10:30 – BHP’s Jansen potash mine project has released another update, but it’s not necessarily a positive one. The company now says the total price tag for Stage 2 has risen by US$2 billion. Is this common for projects this size? Should the people of Saskatchewan be concerned? Paul Martin, Saskatchewan business commentator and expert, joins Brent to explain what this latest increase means.

LQ: Despite the massive investment, are you worried the price tag for the BHP mine will continue to rise?

11:00 – Saskatoon now has Saskatchewan’s first Black Legal Clinic, created to help improve access to legal information, support and advocacy for Black people and families across the province. Organizers say many Black people continue to face barriers when it comes to access and understanding of the legal system. This clinic hopes to close that gap. Anthony Olusola, Executive Director, Truly Alive Youth and Family Foundation Inc. (TAYFFI), joins Brent to talk about the clinic and its plans for the future.

11:30 – As costs rise and the agriculture industry evolves, many farm families are balancing today’s challenges with planning for the future. The Stevenson family from Hi-Lite Feedlot in northeast Saskatchewan joins us to discuss succession planning, innovation, and the realities of running a multi-generational farm. Farmers Beau and Cashe Stevenson join Brent to talk about their farm and the changing face of agriculture in this province.

LQ: Do stories like this make you optimistic about the future of farming in Saskatchewan?

12:00 – The Saskatchewan Roughriders won a thrilling overtime game against the Calgary Stampeders this past weekend. Britton Gray, Green Zone Rider reporter, joins Brent to recap the game and bring us up to speed on other sports news.

LQ: The Riders are 2-0. Does this give you hope for a Grey Cup repeat?