Premier Scott Moe joins Gormley to discuss the latest on Saskatchewan's fight against the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and his goals and priorities for 2022.

A U of S scientist is ready to take his canola pellet energy project to the next stage: scaled-up production and commercialization. Dr. Ajay Dalai has spent years working on an eco-friendly alternative to coal, using waste canola meal left behind after oil is extracted. Working at the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron, Dalai has developed a canola meal pellet that won't crumble or absorb much moisture, making it a viable alternative to coal when burned for energy. Dalai joins John to tell us about his work, and how canola could be a part of Canada's transition away from coal power.

Shari Laventure, who works as a marketing specialist for Cargill, is helping collect data for the Farmer and Rancher Mental Health (FARMh) Initiative, a thesis project underway at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. As a patient advisor, she's conducting interviews with farmers, asking about their experiences with the healthcare system and mental health, and getting their recommendations to help make it easier to access these services. Laventure joins Gormley to tell us about the project, how you can get involved, and the importance of mental health on Saskatchewan farms and ranches.

Continuing our agriculture focus, John is joined by Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, who farms near Mossbank and works with the Global Farmer Network, which is currently looking for new partnerships. Jolly-Nagel also helped spearhead the creation of an online training program called "So... Your Client is a Farmer," which aims to improve relations between producers and those who work closely with them. Jolly-Nagel joins the show to tell us about her work, and why the snow we're currently seeing on the ground gives farmers optimism for the 2022 growing season.

Tensions are ramping up between Russia and Ukraine, with Russia massing troops along the Ukrainian border and NATO preparing its response. Prof. Bohdan Kordan, who studies Canada-Ukraine relations and contemporary Ukraine at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon, says NATO should go beyond simply sanctioning Russia, and should take an active role in arming Ukraine's troops and preparing to aid a counter-insurgency should Russia invade. Kordan joins Gormley to discuss the situation in Ukraine and how Canada - and NATO - should help.

Open Session

As we continue our live broadcast from the Crop Production Show in Saskatoon, farming journalist and commentator Kevin Hursh joins John to share his outlook for the year ahead in Saskatchewan agriculture.

The Western Canadian Crop Production Show is back after a two-year break, and Gormley is broadcasting today's entire show live from the Meridian Manufacturing booth in Hall D. Lori Cates is the agriculture manager with Prairieland Park, and she joins John to tell us about the show's big return and what's got producers excited from the 2022 show floor.

There are more than 4,000 charities and non-profits active around Saskatchewan, and we're featuring some of the great people doing great work in this province during our new segment called "The Best of Saskatchewan." In this week's feature, we'll catch up with Stephanie Taylor, to learn about her work with Regina Transition House. Intimate partner violence has increased during the pandemic, leading to a number of challenges for organizations like hers.

A research team at the University of Saskatchewan has made an important discovery about the structure of the virus that causes COVID-19, leading to potential new treatment options going forward. The virus attaches to human cells using a "spike protein," and the U of S scientists have now discovered that disrupting a disulfide (two sulfur atoms bonded together) in the spike protein also disrupts the virus's ability to infect humans. Dr. Graham George was part of the research team, and he joins Gormley to tell us more about their research and how it could lead to the development of new and better COVID treatments.

A recent study by CAA polled Canadians to find out what they consider the biggest threats to safety on our roads and highways. The top results included drunk and drug-impaired driving, drivers on their phones, aggressive drivers, tired drivers, and speeding in residential areas. That's got us wondering: What's the most dangerous behavior you see out on the road? Call 1-877-332-8255 and let us know!

Open Session