Good morning!
Blitz of bills: The Pallister government introduced eight bills on Monday, including some whoppers. Legislation would impose a two-year wage freeze on 120,000 public-sector workers, allow ride-sharing services such as Uber, drive up post-secondary tuition rates, and restrict the places where Manitobans can use marijuana when it’s legalized. READ MORE
Your forecast: It will be tempting to go outdoors without a hat today. After all, judging by the dry pavement and snow-free lawns, winter is almost finished. But keep your lid on and tolerate hat-hair for one more day at least. The high of -9, with a wind chill, will be like an ear-freezing -25.
In case you missed it
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESTransport Canada enacted the new measures because the number of incidents in the sky involving recreational drones has tripled since 2014, with almost 100 incidents of unsafe practices in 2015 alone.
Don’t drone on: Tough new restrictions mean drones can’t be flown within nine kilometres of airports, or within 75 metres of buildings, vehicles or people. One Winnipeg hobbyist, Laurie Gobeil, blames a few bad apples for prompting the federal government to impose regulations: “Common sense isn’t as common as it used to be.” Kevin Rollason reports. READ MORE
Police need your help: A West End community centre was crowded Monday evening for a public forum about drugs and gangs. Police officers explained how to tell whether a young person is involved in a gang, how to help safely extricate them, and how the fight against gangs requires public help. Police Chief Danny Smyth said: “Police can’t do this alone.” Jane Gerster reports. READ MORE
Up next
Asylum seekers 101: Want to learn more about the process followed by refugees and asylum seekers such as those walking across the border at Emerson? Tonight, the West End Cultural Centre will host a free public information session that will include a law professor, and a refugee claimant who recently arrived in Winnipeg. The event begins at 6 p.m.
Jets’ fans No. 1: If professional sports leagues gave a prize for best fans, Winnipeg would finally win something. Even though the Jets almost certainly won’t make the playoffs, there was high-pitched excitement inside the MTS Centre on Sunday afternoon when the Jets beat Minnesota Wild. Every seat was sold as fans celebrated by shouting jubilantly, dancing when they were displayed on the Jumbotron, and high-fiving strangers in neighbouring seats. The party continues at 7 p.m. today when the Jets host the Philadelphia Flyers. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSMartha Paungrat tends to two caribou that her son brought home from a hunt in Baker Lake. This photo was taken as part of the Free Press series Inuit Heart.
Free Press nominated: The normally stolid denizens of the Free Press newsroom indulged in a bit of back-slapping on Monday, proud that three colleagues have been nominated for prestigious National Newspaper Awards. Congratulations to writers Randy Turner and Melissa Martin, and photographer John Woods. Jane Gerster reports. READ MORE
Impaling sacred cows: Columnist Dan Lett is unimpressed by bills introduced by the Pallister government. “It became achingly clear Monday the Pallister government is intent on impaling a goodly number of sacred cows of the centre-left of Manitoba’s political spectrum,” Lett writes. “For the most part, the legislation tabled Monday had more holes than Pembina Highway on an unseasonably warm March day.” READ MORE
Trending now
Chris Pizzello / The Associated Press FilesBob Dylan
Bob Dylan: It’s no secret why this music legend’s name is trending locally — Bob Dylan will play the MTS Centre as part of a month-long Canadian tour. His Winnipeg stop will be July 12, and tickets go on sale March 24. READ MORE
On this date
On March 21, 1987: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that the downtown landscape of Portage Avenue would be forever changed as construction began on two pedestrian overpasses. A Commons committee recommended a tax credit for parents of $900 per child in daycare and $200 per child for mothers who stay home. In Manitoba, debate raged over the provincial child abuse registry and whose names would go on a list of those who have abused or were potential abusers of children. Canadian farmers planned drastic reductions in wheat seeding. READ MORE
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