DENARE BEACH – A Saskatchewan village decimated by wildfire — and angry with the provincial government’s response to it — had a surprise visitor Friday – Premier Scott Moe.

Karen Thomson, a councillor for the village of Denare Beach, said they were surprised by Moe’s visit, as they were only expecting cabinet ministers to attend the scheduled update meeting.

She says she talked with Moe about ways the province can support mental health needs for residents, along with financial assistance to help with the rebuild.

The councillor says the absence of Moe during the fire this summer was strongly felt by residents who have condemned the province for how it responded.

“That’s kind of the elephant in the room,” Thomson said in an interview.

“Here we are today, about four months post-fire and

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