Dynacare strike set to begin before hearing into essential services agreement

Hundreds of Dynacare lab employees are expected to hit the picket line Tuesday, hours before a labour board hearing to determine whether they are essential workers.

NDP defends involvement of U.S. company in Hydro project

A U.S. company that donated to Donald Trump’s 2025 presidential inauguration could build Manitoba Hydro’s proposed $3-billion natural gas turbines, which has drawn criticism from an environmental group amid the NDP government’s pushback to tariffs.

Canada’s first drive-thru-only McDonald’s opens in Winnipeg

One Grimace and dozens of smiles were on display Wednesday as McDonald’s staff and supporters celebrated the grand opening of the fast-food chain’s first drive-thru-only restaurant in Canada.

Climate groups urge mayoral candidates to go green

Winnipeg city council candidates are being urged to commit to several green initiatives, such as exploring a maximum heat bylaw for rental units.

A 10-point People’s Climate Mandate, created by the Climate Reality Project Canada, Green Action Centre, Manitoba Eco-Network and others, urges candidates in Winnipeg’s Oct. 28 election to take action to combat climate change.

“We know that climate action often fights for attention in election discourse, especially given the many other urgent immediate issues facing our city,” said Hannah Muhajarine, campaigns manager for Climate Reality Project Canada.

A call to better protect Winnipeggers from extreme heat was highlighted as among the most urgent requests. The group wants the city to explore a maximum heat bylaw, enhance funding for cooling centres and expand hours at libraries, public pools and spray pads.

Ottawa extending gas tax holiday to January

OTTAWA - The federal government is extending the suspension of federal fuel excise taxes until the new year to help Canadians feeling the pressure from higher energy costs caused by instability in the Middle East.

"For Canada, it means practical relief at a time when Canadians need it most," Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday in Ottawa.

The fuel excise tax will remain suspended in full until January 2027. It will be phased back in over three months, Champagne said, beginning at 50 per cent of the regular rate in February and March, before returning to normal in April 2027.

The Liberals temporarily suspended the federal 10-cent-per-litre excise tax on April 14 after the U.S. war on Iran caused global fuel prices to spike. The pause was initially set to last until Labour Day.

Province announces free daycare for low-income families

Eligible parents will have their child-care fees waived come Sept. 13.

‘Where are they going to go?’: encampment policy blamed for homeless people sleeping outside thrift store

The owner of a Portage Avenue thrift shop says the city’s encampment ban has pushed dozens of homeless people from tent communities to spaces near her store.

Susan Lockhart, who runs Just Like New to You at 635 Portage Ave., says anywhere from 25 to 50 people can be found at any given time behind the store and along the back lane stretching between Sherbrook and Furby streets.

“Where are they going to go?” she said Wednesday from her shop. “I was just here on the weekend and I couldn’t get to our back door. There were people everywhere. Mattresses.”

Earlier this week, the city reported 275 people were known to be living in 72 encampments across Winnipeg — down from 100 encampments housing about 700 people last September. The report also noted that 141 sites have been remediated since the city’s encampment policy came into effect in November.

Blue Bombers already excited about putting a dent in Rider Pride come Labour Day Classic

Jordan Younger was in the midst of breaking down the play of his defence when a question about how many times he’s participated in a Labour Day matchup was fired his way.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator started doing the math out loud and landed somewhere in the neighbourhood of 40 or slightly higher, counting his time as a player and a coach.

As the Bombers prepare for a pivotal home-and-home series with the Saskatchewan Roughriders — beginning Sunday in Regina — Younger is more than happy to discuss what makes the matchup special, even after all of these years.

“If you had to show somebody what a regular season game could be like in the CFL that never have any idea, you would want to show them the Labour Day Classic out in Saskatchewan and the Banjo Bowl rematch back here,” said Younger. “It would give (observers) a great idea of how impactful the CFL game can be. They’re definitely fun games to be a part of.”

Ramping up home construction goal of city proposal

City council will consider an annual program that would review, approve and catalogue homebuilding plans to speed up new construction.

The program would apply to house and detached garage plans that are reviewed for building code compliance by city staff. After the plans are approved, the same set of plans could be used on multiple sites around the city, and multiple permits could be issued.

Builders would be given permits within five working days of a successful application, as opposed to the 10 working days mandated by the province.

Council’s property and development committee will discuss a report on the program next week. It proposes an initial fee for the city to review the plans, a reduced annual fee to renew the plans, and a 25 per cent discount on permit fees for builders who use plans from the program.