Free Press Head Start for Feb. 15

Good morning.

Sexual assault allegations against a former Winnipeg doctor, brought to light in a patient’s lawsuit, are raising questions about how the province’s physicians watchdog handled complaints against him years ago. Katrina Clarke has the story.

And the provincial government plans to upgrade its website, and is seeking a company to “revitalize” the government’s domain, manitoba.ca, to become user-centred and service-focused. Danielle Da Silva reports.

— David Fuller

Your forecast

Sunny with blowing snow in open areas this morning. Forecast high is -15 C, wind chill as low as -35 and wind from the north at 40 km/h gusting to 60 this morning.

What’s happening today

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to depart today for the Bahamas, where members of the Caribbean Community are gathering to discuss regional issues, including a deepening crisis in Haiti. Trudeau is participating as a special guest at the summit of 20 Caribbean leaders in Nassau, as the group celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Canadian Press reports.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Patrick Doyle / The Canadian Press files)

Today’s must-read

A Winnipeg man has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to biting off part of a man’s ear during an unprovoked attack at a West End bus stop.

Nathaniel Aaron Pittman pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault for the June 9 assault that left his 55-year-old victim fearing he was going to die.

“These are an exceptionally grave set of circumstances,” provincial court Judge Ray Wyant told Pittman, 26, at a sentencing hearing last month. “What you did to that gentleman was beyond the pale and cannot be tolerated in a civilized society.” Dean Pritchard has the story.

Court heard the victim was at the corner of Notre Dame Avenue and Arlington Street at about 11 p.m. when Nathaniel Aaron Pittman, with no warning, punched him in the head and took him to the ground. (Erik Pindera / Winnipeg Free Press files)

On this date

On Feb. 15, 1946: The Winnipeg Free Press, publishing jointly with the Winnipeg Tribune, reported the Canadian Army’s 47-man research expedition, Exercise Muskox, left Churchill, heading into the Northwest Territories on the first leg of a 3,100-mile trek. Following an attack on an elderly woman in St. Boniface, two men pleaded guilty to charges of assault and attempt to rob. Canadian troops in the army of occupation in Germany would begin returning home in April. Search our archives for more here.

Today’s front page

Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.

Top news

Erik Pindera:

‘Everything started going good for him — then this happened’

Man, 57, had turned life around when he was viciously attacked by strangers on Main Street Read More

Carol Sanders:

Manitoba hopes to boost immigration after setting record in 2022

Manitoba is welcoming growth and bracing for a challenge in 2023, with another record-breaking year for immigration expected to relieve a shortage of labour while adding to demand for housing. Read More

Danielle Da Silva:

Manitoba to get $194M more for health from Ottawa

Premier Heather Stefanson says Ottawa’s top-up to Manitoba’s health transfer payment will be too small to make a major difference in the coming fiscal year. The province is expected to receive an additional $194 million in 2023-24, Stefanson said. “It really doesn’t have a massive impact,” she said Tuesday. Read More

New in Sports

Mike McIntyre:

Jets grind out come-from-behind shootout victory over Kraken

It was a playoff-style game, filled with all the tight checking and attention to detail that is so important as the stakes get higher. Where every shift and every mistake is often magnified, and the margin between success and failure can be razor-thin. Read More

Jeff Hamilton:

Unfinished business

Elite receiver Lawler returns to Bombers in pursuit of third Grey Cup in four seasons Read More

Taylor Allen:

Brier turning into a family affair

Gordon joins cousin on Team Carruthers for run at national men’s curling title Read More

New in Arts and Entertainment

Ben Waldman:

Following righteous ripples

Decades after playwright fought for her vision, 'Trouble in Mind' is still spreading influence and empowerment Read More

Alan Small:

The Boss set to satisfy Winnipeg’s Hungry Heart

Springsteen to play first gig in Winnipeg… finally Read More

Holly Harris:

At peace in art, at war onstage

True to his pledge to heal through story, Andrew Balfour’s mini-opera is an ode to Indigenous soldier sacrifices Read More

New in Business

Gabrielle Piché:

Drones power crop protection

Volatus Aerospace, students trying to create algorithm to detect Dutch elm disease early Read More

Martin Cash:

Manitoba adds medical marijuana to list of items it exports

Last week, Manitoba added another item to its long lots of exported products — medical marijuana. Read More

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

Province should move to tax-sharing plan

Manitoba’s Municipal Relations Minister Andrew Smith says the province is prepared — after a seven-year funding freeze — to open the purse strings and provide the City of Winnipeg with a “generous” increase to its operating grant. Read More

Tom Brodbeck:

Federal-provincial deal could improve quality, access to health-care data

If Ottawa’s new health-care funding agreement with the provinces provides Canadians with improved data on wait times and medical outcomes, there could be something to salvage out of this deal, after all. Read More

Chris Rutkowski:

It’s a bird, it’s a plane…

With the news of the downing of a fourth aerial craft over North America, there is a great deal more attention being paid to objects observed and detected in the sky. Read More

Head Start