Ready, Sweat, Go… Winnipeg Folk Festival attendees brave scorching temps at Birds Hill Posted: 11:13 PM CDT Sunday, Jul. 12, 2026

Letters, July 14

I commend James Wilt on his column on Manitoba Hydro’s options for increased electrical generation. For years Manitoba Hydro has put too many eggs in one basket by relying almost entirely on water power for electricity.

Would-be mayors respond to extreme heat

With Winnipeg in the midst of an intense heat wave, the city has yet to introduce maximum heat legislation for rental housing.

In 2023, the Free Press and the Narwhal reported on calls by tenants and environmental advocates to enact a law that would require indoor temperatures in rental units not exceed 26 C. It would be similar to how Winnipeg landlords, under the city’s neighbourhood livability bylaw, must maintain a minimum daytime temperature of 21 C during cold weather.

On Sunday, the Free Press emailed all nine registered mayoral candidates asking for their policy plans to tackle the dangers of extreme heat, and specifically, whether they would support a change to the city’s bylaw to create heat protections for renters.

Eight candidates responded, and of them, six — Noah Redden, Don Woodstock, Mazher Alam, Christopher Clacio, Michael Vogiatzakis and Umar Hayat — said they would support (or support exploring) a bylaw amendment to establish a maximum indoor temperature threshold.

Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard found guilty of sexual assault in Montreal

MONTREAL -  A Court of Quebec judge in Montreal has found fashion mogul Peter Nygard guilty of sexual assault and forcible confinement.

The 84-year-old, who founded the now-defunct women's apparel company Nygard International, accepted a plea deal and did not present any evidence in his defence Monday. He appeared via video call from an Ontario prison.

The Quebec case is separate from Nygard's conviction in Toronto, where he was found guilty in 2023 of four counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Quebec Crown prosecutor Jérôme Laflamme said Nygard's plea was unexpected and he was prepared for a 10-day trial before a judge only.

Carney trumps Trump with Gordie Howe bridge deal

The dispute over the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge was always and only going to end when U.S. President Donald Trump could declare he had got the better deal.

Even when he didn’t.

Trump gleefully posted on social media Saturday that after refusing to allow the completed bridge between Windsor and Detroit to open in late June, he got a “MUCH BETTER DEAL” from Prime Minister Mark Carney. Political opponents and a handful of opinion writers rushed to shake their heads at how Carney was used and abused by the big fella in Washington.

It’s not surprising that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre would do an end-zone dance as he lamented Carney’s “terrible deal; the leader of the official opposition’s default setting is “condemn.”