COVID-19 crisis
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSPremier Brian Pallister has made clear his government’s intentions of revamping higher education to better prepare students for jobs since he was re-elected in September.
Premier pens letter: In a perhaps unprecedented move, Brian Pallister has written a congratulatory letter to be given to all graduating high school students along with their diplomas. “The Class of 2020 may not be able to commemorate their graduation milestone as planned, and yet, the difficult context surrounding it ensures it will never be forgotten,” the premier’s letter, obtained by the Free Press, states. Maggie Macintosh reports. READ MORE
Vandal’s virtual chat: Federal cabinet minister and Winnipeg MP Dan Vandal is blaming the province for a lag in infrastructure projects, noting none of the $112 million in federal funds earmarked for northern and rural needs has been allocated. Dylan Robertson reports on Vandal’s virtual forum with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. READ MORE
Whole new ball game: Softball leagues got the OK to play ball this week. Taylor Allen reports on the restrictions that remain. READ MORE
Scootaround sticking around: Like many businesses, Scootaround — a Winnipeg-based company that provides wheelchair and mobility services and has strong ties to airlines and the hotel industry — is struggling amid the pandemic but says it will survive. Managing director Kerry Renaud says the company learned valuable lessons after 9/11. “We are absolutely staying in business,” he said. “The advantage we have is that we have been through this before.” Martin Cash reports. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: A mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of showers, a high of 17 C, and wind from the north at 10 km/h increasing to 30 km/h this afternoon.
In case you missed it
CPTHE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Hydro rate class nixed: The Manitoba Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday the Public Utilities Board “exceeded its jurisdiction” by creating a lower hydro rate class for people living on First Nations. Kevin Rollason reports. READ MORE
Statues toppled: Protesters tore down a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis along Monument Avenue in Richmond, Va., Wednesday night. In Portsmouth, about 130 km away, protesters beheaded and pulled down four statues that were part of a Confederate monument. One of those statues fell on a protester, knocking him unconscious. He was sent to hospital, and his condition wasn’t immediately clear. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE
Grocery store switch: Sobeys announced Tuesday that Winnipeg is getting four more FreshCo stores. Three will replace existing Safeway stores, while the other replaces a former Safeway store. Gabrielle Piché reports. READ MORE
On this date
On June 11, 1953: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that the re-election of Liberal premier D.L. Campbell’s cabinet was complete in the recent provincial election, and his party gained strength as four more Liberal-Progressive candidates won seats. A Winnipeg man was fined $100 and costs for striking a Chinese Pomeranian dog with a pair of grass cutters; the blow had broken the dog’s back. The man, who pleaded guilty, was also ordered to pay $30 to the owner of the dog, which was later destroyed. In Berlin, East Germany’s Communist rulers announced sweeping reductions in the communization of the Soviet-occupied territory, signing a peace treaty that gave the Protestant Church major concessions.
Today’s front page
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