Federal budget
CPFinance Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks with the media after purchasing a new pair of shoes — a budget tradition — in Ottawa on Wednesday. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press)
Billions in new spending: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will introduce the budget in the House of Commons this afternoon. Outstanding promises from the Liberal campaign platform amount to about $48.5 billion in net new spending. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
No surprises expected: The NDP is confident the governing Liberals’ budget will honour spending pledges made in a formal agreement between the two parties. READ MORE
What happens after: The Canadian Press explains the voting process on the budget. READ MORE
Today
The Selkirk Bridge is closed because of high water levels. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)
Floodway might be used: The province could start sending water into the Red River Floodway as early as today. The province said late Wednesday afternoon that it was preparing to activate the floodway within 24 to 48 hours. Erik Pindera reports. READ MORE
COVID-19 questions: Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, who has not appeared at a news conference since March 16 and has not been made available to answer questions from reporters, is set to hold a media availability today or Friday. READ MORE
Vote on SCOTUS nominee: The U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, securing her place as the first Black woman on the court. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE
Baseball begins: Major League Baseball’s regular season will begin at Wrigley Field in Chicago shortly after 1:20 p.m. The World Series champion Atlanta Braves will raise a banner before their game. Cleveland’s team will play its first meaningful game with its new name. The Toronto Blue Jays — who are off today — played their first regular season game, a home win over the Chicago White Sox, after a snowstorm on this date 45 years ago. READ MORE
Golf tourney begins: The Masters tournament starts at Augusta National this morning. READ MORE
Weather
Your daytime forecast: Snow that started falling Wednesday remains on roads, and the Trans-Canada Highway is closed from the city limits to Richer because of poor winter driving conditions. More snow ending later this morning, with a high of 3 C, wind chill as low as -9 this morning, and wind from the north at 40 km/h gusting to 60, increasing to 50 km/h and gusting to 70 this afternoon.
In case you missed it
Jordan Ross / The Carillon filesSteinbach Regional Secondary School students protest against provincial COVID mandates in February.
‘Trying time for staff’: More than 20 employees reported workplace safety concerns after a protest against COVID-19 restrictions at a Steinbach high school in February. Maggie Macintosh reports. READ MORE
Jets spiralling: The Jets lost their third consecutive game, to the Detroit Red Wings, on Wednesday night. Mike McIntyre reports. READ MORE
On this date
On April 7, 1965: The Winnipeg Free Press reported new federal funds would be pumped into public welfare as part of prime minister Lester Pearson’s newly declared “war on poverty.” Jim Daly, executive director of the Pan American Games to be held in Winnipeg in 1967, said a funding agreement between all levels of government had been reached. The West German parliament met in Berlin for the first time in seven years, despite harassment from communist forces. READ MORE
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press READ MORE
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