RCMP arrest Quebec man for alleged hate speech targeting Jews on social networks

Manitoba budget reveals province underspent on crucial departments related to justice, public safety

While concerns about homelessness and public safety continue to make headlines in Manitoba, the two government departments mainly responsible for addressing them came in under budget last year.

The 2025-26 public accounts, released Monday, show Housing, Addictions and Homelessness underspent its budget of $869 million by $18 million. Manitoba Justice underspent its budget of $994 million by $34 million.

The 247-page public accounts report attributes the underspending in justice mainly to “reduced impacts of contingency liabilities,” such as a court ruling or legal settlement.

The report did not explain how and why Housing, Addictions and Homelessness underspent its budget last year as the province addresses those critical issues.

‘Anti-worker’ status change for Winnipeg Transit Plus drivers voted down

A controversial change of status for Winnipeg Transit Plus drivers, which some feared could leave them with lower pay and fewer benefits, has been rejected.

On Thursday, Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) raised a successful motion that called for the changes to be “received as information,” which means the city will not act on them.

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), mayoral candidate Kevin Klein and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 had all urged city councillors to reject the changes.

Mayes deemed the proposal a “ridiculous anti-worker provision.” It would have repealed a 2023 council decision that required Transit Plus drivers to be employees of companies the city hires to provide accessible transit service.

Relief, reproach from law school staff after disgraced ex-dean’s arrest in France

The overseas arrest of a disgraced former law dean who defrauded the University of Manitoba out of more than $600,000 is being met both with relief and renewed frustration in the local legal community.

Court hears woman’s statement detailing pain, trauma after boyfriend shot her in the face

A.W. thought she had found love with Machuor Akau.

That was before Akau put a loaded Luger handgun to the 26-year-old woman’s head last November and told her he should “kill her now.”

Akau shot her, shattering her jaw and embedding teeth in the bones of her mouth and leaving her fighting for her life.

Now A.W. wakes up every morning in pain and sees the scars on her face and neck.

Disgraced former law dean arrested, facing extradition to Canada

Jonathan Black-Branch, the disgraced former dean of law at the University of Manitoba, has been arrested in Europe and is awaiting extradition to Canada on fraud charges, Winnipeg police say.

Black-Branch, who failed to defend himself in a lawsuit filed by the U of M and his disbarment proceedings, was ordered in May 2025 to repay more than $682,000 in misspent expense funds.

Winnipeg police confirmed his arrest and pending extradition Wednesday morning. “The extradition process is ongoing,” police said.

Black-Branch left the university in 2020 amid allegations he had misspent public dollars and schemed to evade oversight while running Robson Hall from 2016 to 2020.