Quebec lifts open fire ban, reports no active blazes in key zone

Today’s horoscope

MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping (except food and gas) and important decisions after 3:15 p.m. today. After that, the moon moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

This is a poor day to challenge anyone because you won’t be pleased with the results. (You might come off worse than when you began.) Nevertheless, it’s in your best interest to work hard. You can also make improvements at home. Romance and finances are blessed.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

‘Parental rights’ issue resurfaces

Trustee campaign material that condemns rainbow flags is being met with outrage of all kinds, written complaints and, in one case, a cease-and-desist order.

“Parental rights,” including questions about classroom diversity, equity and inclusion policies, are resurfacing heading into school board elections across Manitoba.

“People are trying to advance their politics and their issues while simultaneously calling teachers ideologues and brainwashers,” said Shannon Moore, an associate professor at the University of Manitoba who studies sexual health education. “And I find that rich.”

Moore said parents have a right to choose independent school or homeschool, but they do not have a right to dictate curriculum that is currently developed using research and mainstream morals.

Canada-U.S. trade relationship is broken, but the damage can — and will — be repaired

Canada needs to get serious about diversifying its trade beyond the United States. But at the same time, Canadians should expect relations with the U.S. to normalize after Donald Trump is no longer in the White House.

For generations, Canada-U.S. trade was considered almost a fact of geography. The two countries share the world’s longest undefended border, deeply integrated supply chains and a century of commercial relationships.

Canadian manufacturers depend on American customers. American manufacturers depend on Canadian suppliers. Energy, agriculture, automotive production and countless other industries operate across the border as though it barely exists.

That isn’t going to change dramatically, even in the midst of a bitter trade war unleashed by the U.S. president.

Suspension on the horizon for Hellebuyck as pre-season set to start

In this high stakes game of chicken, Kevin Cheveldayoff, Connor Hellebuyck or any of the potential suitors for the Winnipeg Jets franchise netminder appear ready to blink.

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Connor Hellebuyck and his family were subject to so much post-Olympic vitriol that both the Winnipeg Jets security team and even police had to get involved.

Quebec lifts open fire ban, reports no active blazes in key zone

QUÉBEC - Quebec's Public Security Department says it has lifted its open fire ban in or near forests and says there no active fires in the intensive protection zone.

Authorities say the decision to lift the ban was taken in conjunction with the province's forest fire protection agency, known as SOPFEU.

Since the beginning of the forest fire season, the province has reported 104 blazes affecting more than a square kilometre of forest in the zone where fire protection resources are deployed systematically.

By comparison, the 10-year average on the same date is 195 fires and about 2.5 square kilometres burned.