Coronavirus crisis
UFFW president Alex Forrest called for changes that would designate some fire-paramedic stations to serve only fire-rescue emergencies and restrict others to focus on non-virus-related emergency medical service. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Forrest faces hearing: Alex Forrest, president of the city’s firefighters union, is facing a disciplinary hearing after he publicly called for major changes so that fire crews and paramedics can operate “in silos” to reduce their risk of exposure to the virus. Joyanne Pursaga reports. READ MORE
Learning a lesson: In her latest column, Melissa Martin says students are out of class but learning from a historic global event and “seeing the truth of how society works.” The province announced Tuesday it is suspending in-person classes indefinitely. READ MORE
Wage subsidies: Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Small Business Minister Mary Ng are set to announce more details today about the federal government’s proposed wage subsidy program. A Tuesday news conference was cancelled. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Daily details: Manitoba Health officials will give their daily update on COVID-19 cases at 1 p.m. The province announced seven new cases Tuesday, for a total of more than 100. Carol Sanders and Larry Kusch report. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Mainly sunny this morning and then cloudy, with rain in the late afternoon, a high of 10 C, wind from the southeast increasing to 30 km/h and gusting to 50 this afternoon, and wind chill as low as -7 this morning.
More on pandemic
Sandbags are filled at a city facility in 2017. Flood preparations will require a new approach due to COVID-19. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Social distancing and sandbags: A seasonal city employee said he was told he would risk losing seniority if he did not show up for a shift on a sandbag assembly line despite his concerns over social-distancing protocols. The city said its operational plan includes the recommended two metres of separation between employees. Danielle Da Silva reports. READ MORE
Seeking tablets for seniors: The Misericordia Health Centre Foundation’s Facebook page is raising money to buy iPads so the centre’s long-term residents can connect with loved ones during the pandemic. Doug Speirs reports. READ MORE
Business opportunity: Some businesses that are closed or less busy are using the opportunity to take online seminars to make sure they survive the crisis — and improve their chances of success once it’s over. Martin Cash reports. READ MORE
Postponing pilgrimage: Saudi Arabia today urged people hoping to travel to Islam’s holiest sites for the hajj this summer to delay their plans, suggesting the pilgrimage — which most Muslims must make at least once — might be cancelled. READ MORE
Another deadly day in Spain: Spain reported 864 deaths from COVID-19, the second consecutive day the country has surpassed its previous high for the most in a 24-hour period, for a total of more than 9,050. READ MORE
In other news
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to address Canadians on the COVID-19 pandemic from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Gas price goes up: The planned increase in the federal carbon tax takes effect today. Drivers in Manitoba, and five other provinces and territories that have not imposed their own price on carbon that meets Ottawa’s standard, will pay about an extra two cents a litre at the gas pump. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
On this date
On April 1, 1997: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that North American stock markets took another beating as jittery investors continued an Easter selloff that hit “everyone in a mutual or pension fund.” The Red River was beginning to show signs of stirring at its source in Wahpeton, N.D. Steve Rambam, who made his reputation hunting war criminals in Canada, did not want to talk about his own past, which included an arrest in the United States on an explosives charge, which Rambam said had been expunged. In Winnipeg, 4,000 mostly teenaged fans flocked to Portage Place mall for a chance to see and get autographs from the Backstreet Boys.
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press READ MORE
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