Biden era set to begin
CPThe U.S. Capitol and a stage are lit as the sun begins to rise before the presidential inauguration. (Patrick Semansky / The Associated Press)
Set to be sworn in: Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. will become the 46th president of the United States when he is sworn in at noon ET. After a pared-down ceremony at the U.S. Capitol amid security concerns and pandemic protocols, Biden will sign 15 executive orders as he quickly begins the work of dismantling Trump’s policies. READ MORE
Boycotting Biden’s big moment: Trump will be the first U.S. president in modern history to skip his successor’s inauguration. By the time Biden is sworn in, Trump will be in Florida, where he plans to live at his private Mar-a-Lago club. A sendoff ceremony at a military base just outside Washington, complete with a red carpet and a 21-gun salute, was set for this morning. READ MORE
Presidential pardons: The most notable pardon among the more than 140 acts of clemency Trump announced was that of Steve Bannon. Trump’s former chief strategist was charged with misappropriating money people donated to build a border wall. READ MORE
World will be watching: People across Canada and around the world will be watching the inauguration. “I’m cautiously optimistic that, hopefully, things won’t be as bad as it seems like there’s a potential for,” Wanda Beatty of Peterborough, Ont., said. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Vigil for virus victims: Biden, who arrived in Washington from Delaware on Tuesday, spoke at an evening vigil for COVID-19 victims at the Lincoln Memorial. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Periods of light snow mixed with rain, a high of 2 C, wind chill as low as -14 this morning and peak winds at 50 km/h gusting to 70.
What’s happening today
TADENS MPWENE / LA LIBERTÉ MANITOBAGreg Fenske (left) testifies at the bail hearing for Peter Nygard (right) who appeared by video from Headingley Correctional Centre.
Release hearing resumes: A bail hearing for Peter Nygard is scheduled to conclude today. The former fashion mogul is facing possible extradition to the U.S. on multiple charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Two men who currently or previously worked for Nygard testified on his behalf Tuesday. Dean Pritchard reports. READ MORE
New case numbers: Provincial health officials will announce the latest COVID-19 numbers this afternoon. On Tuesday, chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced a number of possible changes to new orders set to take effect Saturday, but neither the premier nor his ministers were made available to journalists. Danielle Da Silva reports. READ MORE
Set to vote on Sloan: Conservative members of Parliament will vote on whether to expel MP Derek Sloan for accepting a donation from a white nationalist last year. Sloan has said an MP can’t vet every contribution to a campaign. READ MORE
Updated economic outlook: The Bank of Canada will update its economic forecast when it announces its interest-rate decision. Meanwhile, Statistics Canada will release its headline inflation reading for December. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
In case you missed it
Winnipeg Jets players gather around Nikolaj Ehlers after he scored the game-winning goal in overtime past Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray in Ottawa on Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Overtime win in Ottawa: The Jets twice overcame two-goal deficits to beat the Ottawa Senators for their second overtime win of the season last night. The Jets, who are 2-1 to start the season, have yet to lead in any of their games. Mike McIntyre reports. READ MORE
Seeking to stay in Canada: Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the former truck driver responsible for the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that killed 16 people and injured 13, has filed paperwork stating why he should be allowed to remain in Canada when he gets out of prison. READ MORE
‘Headed in the right direction’: Julia-Simone Rutgers has a story on Lynn Lake, where a pandemic curfew remains in effect. “The response has been great, which is why you can see already that the cases are going down so fast,” a local business owner said. READ MORE
On this date
On Jan. 20, 1989: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that federal grains minister Charlie Mayer had stripped the Canadian Wheat Board of its monopoly in the $100-million oats trade, prompting calls for his resignation and questions about the board’s future. Canadian Airlines’ parent company bought one of its competitors, Wardair. A Western Canada Lottery Corp. worker was fired from his $16,600-a-year job after he won $10,000 in the lottery. In Washington, D.C., George H.W. Bush was set to be sworn in as the 41st president of the United States.
Today’s front page
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