Provincial News

SQUAMISH — Drivers on British Columbia's Sea To Sky Highway could see the smoke billowing from the forested hills above Squamish on Wednesday. But that didn't show how close the Dryden Creek wildfire got to homes overnight.

SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, facing criticism that his government is failing to provide timely help to those fleeing wildfires, promised Wednesday a $500 payout for each evacuee.

There has been no place quite like TD Place for the Montreal Alouettes. Montreal (1-0) visits the Ottawa Redblacks (0-1) on Friday night.

REGINA — About 7,000 people in and around La Ronge, Sask., will be allowed to return home on Thursday after the lifting of a wildfire evacuation order, the director of the local emergency operation centre said Tuesday.

Canada is expected to see a warmer-than-usual summer with uncertain precipitation levels in most provinces, based on Environment and Climate Change Canada's summer forecast.

REGINA — Saskatchewan's liquor board says it will start buying and distributing American booze to retailers, months after Premier Scott Moe announced it would stop doing so.

WINNIPEG — Manitoba urged tourists Monday to hit pause on visiting the province for now as it fights to find shelter for a growing legion of wildfire evacuees that has now reached 21,000.

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed all-star running back Ka'Deem Carey, the CFL club announced Monday. Carey was a CFL East all-star with Toronto last season after rushing for a team-high 1,060 yards with seven touchdowns.

PRINCE ALBERT — The Saskatchewan government is boosting support it's giving to wildfire evacuees, while officials say light rain and cooler temperatures this weekend could help keep some of the province's larger fires in check.

MONTREAL — Poor air quality fuelled by wildfires burning across the Prairies left a large swath of the country enveloped in a haze again on Saturday, but Environment Canada said the situation is expected to improve over the weekend.