What’s happening today
A car enters Canada at the Emerson border crossing. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Set for strike action: About 9,000 Canadian Border Service Agency workers could begin strike action, leading to lineups for travellers. The Public Service Alliance of Canada has said Customs and Immigration Union members would begin a “sweeping” series of actions at airports and border crossings if a contract wasn’t reached by 5 a.m. CT today. PSAC tweeted this morning that its “bargaining team has been at the table all night, and we’re giving them a bit more time to negotiate,” but work-to-rule actions have begun. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Rockets fired after airstrikes: Hezbollah says it fired rockets near Israeli positions close to the Lebanese border, calling it retaliation for Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday. The attacks are an escalation between Israel’s new government and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE
What’s happening this weekend
Nikki Tardi does Erica Halmarson’s hair at Élan Hair Studio, where they will be keeping a mandatory mask policy. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)
Relaxed restrictions take effect: New provincial pandemic health orders that include eliminating the mask mandate take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. READ MORE
Goldeyes game a first: The Goldeyes play Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon in the first professional sports events in Winnipeg under new health orders — and catchers and employees will be the only people required to wear masks. The Goldeyes said earlier this week they will not institute their own mask mandate for fans. READ MORE
Olympics nearly over: The closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics begins at 6 a.m. CT Sunday. READ MORE
Border opens to Americans: The Canadian border opens to U.S. citizens and permanent residents at 11:01 p.m. Sunday.
Weather
Your forecast: Sunny with a high of 27 C and peak winds from the east at 10 km/h beginning late this morning.
In case you missed it
Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans packed the stands at IG Field for the return of the CFL. (Alex Lupul / Winnipeg Free Press)
Bombers are back: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the first CFL game since the teams played in the Grey Cup game in November 2019. Last season was cancelled because of the pandemic. Jeff Hamilton reports. READ MORE
Life sentence sought: The Crown is seeking a life sentence for a man convicted of killing two others in Bloodvein First Nation when he was 16. The maximum sentence is seven years, at least three of which must be served outside jail. Dean Pritchard reports. READ MORE
‘Put Manitoba on the map’: Manitoba’s role in a study that is helping to change the way COVID-19 patients are treated could lead to faster and more frequent clinical trials after the pandemic. Katie May reports. READ MORE
On this date
On Aug. 6, 1992: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that a hamstring problem kept Kenora’s Michael Smith out of action in the decathlon at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. A leaked CN memo included plans to cut up to 10,000 jobs over the coming five years; workers were guarded in their reactions, after the company had reduced its workforce from 125,000 to 32,000 over the previous 25 years. In Ottawa, a proposal aimed at garnering Quebec’s support for an elected Senate included a stipulation that each province elect one francophone senator.
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the WInnipeg Free Press READ MORE
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