What you need to know
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESSPrime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question about Child and Family Services at a town hall meeting at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Wednesday, January 31, 2018.
Trudeau town hall: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosted a town hall meeting to a capacity crowd of 1,800 at the University of Manitoba last night. Heckling was a theme throughout the evening, and one woman who yelled at Trudeau for not respecting Indigenous rights was removed. Ryan Thorpe reports. READ MORE
Doping decision: Olympic doping bans for 28 Russian athletes were overturned today in a ruling that will also see seven Russian medals from the 2014 Sochi games reinstated. It’s not clear how many of the 28 would seek to compete in future Olympics, as some have already retired from competitive sports. The International Olympic Committee said the decision “may have a serious impact on the future fight against doping.” READ MORE
Water woes ongoing: Swan River is continuing to urge residents and businesses to conserve water until pumps are repaired, restoring the town’s water supply. As of this morning, residents are still being asked to refrain from taking baths or showers, washing clothes and running dishwashers. Another update is expected later this morning. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Today will be sunny with a high of -20 C, wind chill of -37 and wind from the northwest at 30 km/h.
In case you missed it
‘Lack of consultation’: Part of the Booth Centre will today become a shelter space designated for members of the LGBTTQ* community. “We believe there are people at risk who might literally die rather than go to a shelter,” said Salvation Army spokesman Maj. Rob Kerr. “We don’t want to see that happen.” Rainbow Resource Centre executive director Mike Tutthill says it has concerns about a “lack of consultation.” Carol Sanders reports. READ MORE
Playoffs begin in Penticton: The playoff round at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Penticton, B.C., begins today. Despite some stumbles Wednesday, Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson, Michelle Englot and Jennifer Jones all advanced. Melissa Martin reports. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian WyldThe Senate has passed a bill to make the national anthem more gender neutral, fulfilling the dying wish of Liberal MP Mauril Belanger.
Lyric legislation: The Senate has passed a bill to change the national anthem’s lyrics from “in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command.” Tory senators fought the legislation, which still requires royal assent before it becomes law. Liberal MP Mauril Belanger had pushed for the bill, which passed in the House of Commons in June 2016, two months before he died. READ MORE
Trending now
#mentalhealth: Trending on Twitter after Bell Canada’s day of raising public awareness for mental health issues.
On this date
On Feb. 1, 1913: The Manitoba Free Press reported that the Derry election in the United Kingdom was seen as good news for the government, as it served as Ireland’s answer to the lords’ vote on the Home Rule bill, and came during a week when the government was suffering in prestige over its blundering management of the issue of women’s suffrage. In the Manitoba legislature, Langside MLA C.D. McPherson criticized the government’s budget for increasing the direct debt of the province to $10,000,000. READ MORE
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