Saskatchewan Premier Responds to Cult Aftermath in Rural Village
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has stated his government sympathizes with the rural community of Richmound, which has been tormented by the presence of a cult, and will provide help where it can. However, Premier Moe emphasized that resolving the issue ultimately falls to local authorities.
Provincial Support and Legislative Changes
Speaking to reporters, Moe described the ordeal faced by the village, located west of Regina, as "quite awful." He detailed that his government has expanded legislation to assist municipalities in dealing with derelict buildings, specifically referencing the compound occupied by the Kingdom of Canada cult, which was later fouled with overflowing sewage.
Despite this support, the Premier was clear about financial responsibility. "Ultimately, it should be the owner of the (cult) property that is paying," Moe asserted. His government also revealed it has provided a payment of nearly $130,000 from its Municipal Revenue Sharing grant to the village since the cult arrived in December 2022.
Furthermore, the provincial ministry has been actively engaged, stating it has connected with residents and village leaders on over 60 distinct occasions since concerns first arose. Moe also noted that Doug Steele, the Saskatchewan Party legislature member for the area, has maintained a direct line of communication with Richmound to offer support.
Calls for More Government Action
Premier Moe's comments came after the Opposition NDP, alongside two Richmound residents, held a news conference earlier the same day. They called on the provincial government to cover the costs the village incurred in its efforts to drive the cult out, including legal and cleanup fees.
Opposition NDP legislature member Brittney Senger criticized Doug Steele for not providing sufficient support to the community. "Residents of this town have been through two years of hell at the hands of a radical cult," Senger stated. "I'm asking today for Doug Steele and the government to do the right thing and help this community... The community just wants to move on and they want to have a bright future again." Steele was not made available for comment following these remarks.
One of the residents, Shauna Sehn, shared the profound emotional impact on the community. She recounted how cult members harassed, yelled at, and videotaped locals, leading to severe distress. "Many of us feel that we will never truly heal from this," Sehn told the news conference. "We've been through hell. It feels like the people who are supposed to represent us have completely turned their backs on our community."
The situation escalated on September 3, 2025, when the RCMP arrested a number of people, including Romana Didulo, who refers to herself as the "Queen of Canada." The arrests marked a significant development in the village's long struggle with the group's disruptive presence.
