Darryl Hickie says the recent string of hot days is finally drying up the muddy, flood-soaked construction sites scattered across Saskatchewan that have put dozens of stimulus projects behind schedule. Mr. Hickie, the province's Minister of Municipal Affairs, knows the pressure is on: His government and the cities and towns under his watch risk having to pay Ottawa's share of the tab if all the projects don't finish before winter.

"We're not panicking yet," said Mr. Hickie, who estimates about $13-million worth of projects are at risk of missing the deadline. "We are hopeful Mother Nature co-operates and we have an extended construction season."

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