CBC using Google compensation payout to boost local news coverage with 30 new hires

Dynacare strike could lead to lab test logjam

DOCTORS and health-care advocates are raising concerns about patient care if a Sept. 8 strike goes ahead at the private company that provides nearly all medical lab services in Manitoba.

There is no essential services agreement in place with Dynacare, so if its lab techs are off the job, patients who need blood tests and urinalysis will be directed to hospitals and public clinics for those services.

“There’s only so many of those workers and I’m sure that the public folks are bracing for big crunch of additional patients if the strike really goes ahead,” Noah Schulz of the Manitoba Health Coalition said Monday.

Dynacare serves 1.2 million Manitoba patients a year at 23 community lab locations.

Chefs gather in St. Boniface to see whose version of jollof is best

Chef Alex Bockarie is bringing an age-old African culinary battle to Winnipeg.

On Saturday, five local chefs hailing from Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria will go head-to-head to determine who makes the best jollof — a rice dish simmered in a savoury tomato-based stew.

“Jollof rice originated from Senegal but it has spread throughout West Africa and every country has its own method of cooking it,” Bockarie says. “It’s a long-standing fight; even among the communities here in Winnipeg, everybody’s always saying that Sierra Leone’s (jollof) is the best, Ghana’s is the best, Nigeria’s is the best.

“It’s a friendly competition; friendly, but very serious too.”

Province accused of meddling in Dynacare contract dispute as strike deadline looms

The union for hundreds of Dynacare lab employees in Manitoba has accused the provincial government of interfering in contract talks ahead of next week’s strike deadline.

Foreign workers at Manitoba hotel are owed $138K in unpaid wages and fees, labour board rules

BRANDON — The Manitoba Labour Board has ordered the Western Star All Suites Hotel to pay nearly $138,000 in unpaid wages and administrative fees after it dismissed the appeals involving three foreign workers employed by the company.

In a decision dated Aug. 25, the board ordered 6692452 Manitoba Ltd. (doing business as Western Star All Suites Hotel), 1638185 Alberta Ltd. and company director P.X. to pay a total of $137,915.79 to the Employment Standards Branch for wages owed to foreign workers S.J., J.B. and G.R.

The decision was edited to protect the personal information of the employees, who worked at a hotel, reportedly in Melita, at different times and also lived there during their employment.

The board stated the employees were owed wages after hearing evidence about long working hours, irregular payments, inadequate employment records and working conditions.

Blue Bombers already excited about putting a dent in Rider Pride come Labour Day Classic

Jordan Younger was in the midst of breaking down the play of his defence when a question about how many times he’s participated in a Labour Day matchup was fired his way.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator started doing the math out loud and landed somewhere in the neighbourhood of 40 or slightly higher, counting his time as a player and a coach.

As the Bombers prepare for a pivotal home-and-home series with the Saskatchewan Roughriders — beginning Sunday in Regina — Younger is more than happy to discuss what makes the matchup special, even after all of these years.

“If you had to show somebody what a regular season game could be like in the CFL that never have any idea, you would want to show them the Labour Day Classic out in Saskatchewan and the Banjo Bowl rematch back here,” said Younger. “It would give (observers) a great idea of how impactful the CFL game can be. They’re definitely fun games to be a part of.”

Climate groups urge mayoral candidates to go green

Winnipeg city council candidates are being urged to commit to several green initiatives, such as exploring a maximum heat bylaw for rental units.

A 10-point People’s Climate Mandate, created by the Climate Reality Project Canada, Green Action Centre, Manitoba Eco-Network and others, urges candidates in Winnipeg’s Oct. 28 election to take action to combat climate change.

“We know that climate action often fights for attention in election discourse, especially given the many other urgent immediate issues facing our city,” said Hannah Muhajarine, campaigns manager for Climate Reality Project Canada.

A call to better protect Winnipeggers from extreme heat was highlighted as among the most urgent requests. The group wants the city to explore a maximum heat bylaw, enhance funding for cooling centres and expand hours at libraries, public pools and spray pads.