Free Press Head Start for March 24, 2026

Good morning.

When Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar opened to patrons Friday, eight months after it was one of the first targets of an alleged serial arsonist, it felt like the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel for owner Nikola Maharajh. “Honestly, it was surreal to see people in the room again,” he told the Free Press on Monday. Malak Abas reports.

Premier Wab Kinew sang an honour song and paid tribute in the legislature Monday to Amanda Lathlin, the NDP MLA for The Pas- Kameesack who died Saturday at age 49 following an illness. Carol Sanders has the story.

— David Fuller

Your forecast

Increasing cloudiness this morning, with fog patches dissipating this morning. Wind from the northeast at 20 km/h. High 1 C, wind chill -17 this morning and -7 this afternoon. UV index 4 or moderate.

What’s happening today

📖 Toronto writer and scholar Randy Boyagoda visits Winnipeg on Tuesday to deliver the St. Paul’s College Hanley Memorial Lecture at 3 p.m. in Hanley Hall in St. Paul’s College at the University of Manitoba (70 Dysart Rd.). Registration is required; click here to sign up. For more book-related news, check out Ben Sigurdson’s weekly Paper Chase column.

💲The Manitoba government delivers its budget today. Read advance coverage of what’s coming in the section below.

Today’s must-read

A key contractor has testified that he turned in hundreds of false invoices for the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters project, but stressed he did not overcharge the city for the work.

Caspian Projects owner Armik Babakhanians answered many rounds of questions about the financial documents during the public inquiry into the construction project Monday. He admitted to altering invoices from subtrades at his office.

Armik Babakhanians with his lawyer, George Orle. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

“The numbers that were on them were not the original numbers your subtrades put on them?” asked Heather Leonoff, the legal counsel for the provincial inquiry.

“We modified it,” Babakhanians answered.

Leonoff noted the inquiry has heard Caspian, and other companies it controls, exchanged a series of cheques with matching amounts with some subcontractors, as part of a “flow-through” arrangement. Joyanne Pursaga has the story.

On the bright side

A TV show creator wants to give Winnipeg businesswomen their 15 minutes of fame.

Jayne Trimble will be in Manitoba’s capital next week to film episodes for the third season of The Empower Women Show, which airs on Rogers TV. Trimble produces and hosts the show, which features interviews with women entrepreneurs, professionals and leaders from Ontario to B.C.

“I’ve always had a passion for empowering women,” said Trimble, who divides her time between Saskatchewan and California. Aaron Epp has more here.

Jayne Trimble has interviewed a number of Manitobans on The Empower Women Show, including Winnipeg-based clothing designer Miriam Delos Santos (right). (Supplied)

On this date

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Today’s front page

Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.

Manitoba budget

Carol Sanders:

Provincial budget includes free transit passes for youths in Winnipeg, four other cities

Manitoba’s NDP government will make it more affordable for youths as young as 12 to get to school, jobs and activities with free transit passes. Read More

Alex Lambert:

Province designating money for highway overpass design

Today’s provincial budget will include about $4 million for design work and land acquisition for an overpass on the Trans-Canada Highway north of Carberry. Read More

Gabrielle Piché:

NDP bolsters autism support amid families’ demands

The Manitoba government will include $30 million in Tuesday’s budget to address the demand for autism services, after families have demanded more help. St.Amant, a non-profit that supports people w... Read More

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press:

Manitoba budget expands tax exemption on food items, aims to cut deficit

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government laid out a provincial budget Tuesday that promises savings for snack lovers, many homeowners and young people who ride buses. As of July 1, the prov... Read More

War in Iran

Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press:

Iran’s parliamentary speaker Qalibaf is floated as a possible US contact in talks as war rages

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Long before he became Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf went on a charm offensive for almost two decades, portraying himself as a hard-l... Read More

Aamer Madhani, Jon Gambrell, David Rising And Samy Magdy, The Associated Press:

Trump administration offers 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Trump administration offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran, a person briefed on the contours of the proposal said late Tuesday, even as the U.S. mil... Read More

Aniruddha Ghosal, The Associated Press:

Vietnam and Russia advance nuclear power deal as energy security concerns grow in Southeast Asia

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam and Russia signed a deal to build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam as the Southeast Asian country revives its nuclear plans with hopes of boosting energy securit... Read More

Gwynne Dyer:

A series of miscalculations

Still not four full weeks into the war, and already Donald Trump’s “short-term excursion” — decapitate the Iranian regime with a surprise attack and impose harsh terms on the defeated survivors — has morphed into a global economic crisis and a region-wide war that could destroy the wealth of all the countries on both sides of the Gulf. At the very least. Read More

Top news

Dean Pritchard:

Judge scolds Crown, ends trial of man accused of killing mom

‘Highy prejudicial’ questioning leads to stay of proceedings Read More

Chris Kitching:

Parents warned about measles risk over spring break, religious celebrations

Manitoba Health is urging parents to consider the risk of measles while travelling or attending large gatherings over spring break or upcoming holidays, in a bid to slow down Canada’s worst active outbreak. Read More

Nicole Buffie:

Spring sprung, grass not riz; frozen drains flood, hide where potholes is

Chelsea Toews was driving to deliver a customer’s food order over the weekend when she saw a series of potholes she couldn’t avoid. She didn’t speed over the craters, which had opened up near Porta... Read More

Jennifer Peltz And Ed White, The Associated Press:

Flight attendant thrown from Air Canada plane survives in a ‘total miracle’

NEW YORK (AP) — A flight attendant still strapped in her seat survived being thrown from an Air Canada plane that collided with a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport, her daughter said Monday. ... Read More

New in Sports

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Dakota, Maples come out on top at provincials

This time, the Dakota Lancers got the last laugh. One year after being denied a historic four-peat at the hands of the Vincent Massey Trojans, a revamped Lancers squad returned with another chance ... Read More

Mike McIntyre:

As playoff hopes dwindle, should there be a Jets goalie controversy?

Comrie’s six-game winning streak makes a case for netminding changeup Read More

Jeff Hamilton, The Canadian Press:

Players, fans believe Winnipeg would embrace a PWHL team

WINNIPEG - The Professional Women’s Hockey League came to Manitoba for a hockey game, but what fans witnessed was a 48-hour audition for a ninth franchise. From packed morning practices at the Hock... Read More

New in Arts and Entertainment

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press:

Hayley Gene Penner, daughter of children’s entertainer Fred Penner, up for Junos songwriter award

Hayley Gene Penner was a kid the first time she held a Juno Award. It was one of her father’s. “I was giving a fake acceptance speech and I dropped it,” she recalls. “I busted my toe with a Juno... Read More

Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press:

Jury finds that Bill Cosby sexually assaulted woman in 1972 and awards her nearly $60 million

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A civil jury in California found Monday that Bill Cosby was liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972 and awarded her $59.25 million. After a near... Read More

Liam Mcewan, The Associated Press:

Now a true pop star, Miley Cyrus returns to her ‘Hannah Montana’ roots to fete anniversary special

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sporting that “Hannah Montana” blond hair and bangs, Miley Cyrus went back to her roots — celebrating 20 years of the TV show that launched the career of a real-life pop st... Read More

New in Business

Malak Abas:

Wawanesa expands Ontario, Quebec reach with Everest acquisition

The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company has acquired the Ontario-based Everest Insurance Company of Canada, in a move set to strengthen its reach outside of Manitoba. Read More

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press:

Dollarama to only pass on price increases from war where ‘absolutely necessary’: CEO

As conflict in the Middle East drives up the cost of many daily essentials, the head of Dollarama Inc. says the company will try to resist hiking its own prices as much as possible. ... Read More

Rianna Lim and Charlotte Glorieux, The Canadian Press:

Air Canada plane crash at New York airport may add to travel fears: psychologist

After the fatal Air Canada plane collision at a New York City airport on Sunday, travellers may experience an initial spike in anxiety that for some could reinforce existing concerns about fl... Read More

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

Trump threats stoking Manitoban fears

Among five people waiting for a Winnipeg bus, a recent Probe/Free Press survey suggests one of that number of Manitobans believes the U.S. will invade us in the next two years. Read More

Dan Lett:

Canadians might wonder what Poilievre said at the border about the purpose of his trip

In pursuit of a new and improved political brand, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been working overtime. Just look at his itinerary over the past few weeks: he undertook an unsolicited dip... Read More

Paul G. Thomas:

The need to reform Manitoba’s lobbying legislation

On Dec. 22, 2025 when announcing the intention of his government to establish a public inquiry into the unconstitutional, failed attempt by the former PC government to green light the controversial Sio Silica sand mine proposal, Premier Wab Kinew suggested that strengthening Manitoba’s weak, mainly symbolic lobbyist registration law would be the primary outcome of the inquiry. Read More

Head Start