Victims of the Ditch 2 wildfire will be waiting a while longer to see justice served. The man who pleaded guilty to arson for lighting the Ditch 2 fire has had his sentencing date pushed back. Jason Halkett was scheduled for sentencing Thursday morning in Montreal Lake, but the sentencing was pushed back until June. The Ditch 2 fire last summer forced evacuations from the Weyakwin area, about an hour and a half north of Prince Albert. The fire burned more than 200,000 hectares and grew to be almost 20 times the size of Saskatoon. The defence requested more time to go over materials, and the Crown says it is still waiting on several victim impact statements. The Crown suggested the date be moved to July to allow time for the preparation of a presentence report, but the request was not granted. The Ditch 2 fire was reported on May 26, 2025, in Weyakwin. An investigation by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency determined the fire was human-caused. Halkett was arrested Aug. 27 in Saskatoon and charged with one count of arson — damage to property. Halkett is now scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on June 4 in Montreal Lake.
