Free Press Head Start for March 22

Good morning.

Winnipeg firefighters were summoned to fewer calls in 2022, but they were still run off their feet as sick days and overtime surged. “To be frank, it’s quite onerous. Our crews run very, very busy days,” said Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Assistant Chief Scott Wilkinson. Erik Pindera has the story.

And a Winnipeg teen arrested following a fatal high-speed crash in a stolen car was on bail for a violent machete attack four months earlier, a court has heard. The now-18-year-old accused is charged with dangerous driving causing death for an Oct. 16 collision that killed 81-year-old Corazon Manguerra. Dean Pritchard reports.

— David Fuller

Your forecast

Periods of light snow ending this morning then clearing, with a high of -4 C and a low of -17.

What’s happening today

Winnipeg city council will cast the final vote on the 2023 budget, following final tweaks made by the executive policy committee. Joyanne Pursaga reports.

Mayor Scott Gillingham (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

The Irish Rovers play Club Regent Event Centre, 7 p.m.

Today’s must-read

A group of nurses trained to gather criminal evidence and support sexual assault survivors at Manitoba’s largest hospital have resigned amid a staffing crisis, as Health Minister Audrey Gordon placed blame on management for failing to deliver promised 24-7 nursing coverage. Danielle Da Silva has the story.

Health Minister Audrey Gordon (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

On this date

On March 22, 1951: The Winnipeg Free Press reported Manitoba would budget for a record revenue of nearly $43 million and a surplus of $900,000 for the 1951-52 fiscal year, according to premier Douglas L. Campbell. Residents of Greater Winnipeg would pay an increase of one cent more per quart of milk in the coming week, with a delivered quart of milk costing 19 cents and one in the store costing 18 cents; the additional cent would go straight to the producers. In Assiniboine Park, spring flowers including lilies, tulips and hydrangeas were in bloom. 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

Kevin Rollason:

Human rights complaint alleges MPI discriminatory in surveillance

A Winnipeg woman has filed a human rights complaint against Manitoba Public Insurance, alleging its video surveillance — to document whether she was lying about the extent of her injuries — was discriminatory because of her disabilities. Read More

Erik Pindera:

Chief slams school division for hiring ‘police abolitionist’ to review program

Winnipeg’s police chief has criticized a city school division for its “curious choice” to hire a researcher who had been highly critical of police to conduct a report into its police-in-schools program. Read More

Chris Kitching:

‘I was just standing there’: man stabbed with needle in random attack monitored for infection

A Winnipeg man who was randomly stabbed with a hypodermic needle at a local restaurant faces an anxious wait to find out if he was potentially infected with any disease during the attack. Read More

New in Sports

Jeff Hamilton:

Desperate Jets hang on to beat Coyotes

Strong goaltending and fast start enough to keep playoff hopes alive Read More

Photos by John Woods:

Gallery: Manitoba High School 2023 AAAA Provincial Basketball Championship

As the defending provincial AAAA champs, the Dakota Lancers' varsity girls team held onto its title Monday night after a 67-43 victory at Investors Group Athletic Centre against the Garden City Gopher... Read More

Taylor Allen:

Canada drops game to ‘beatable’ Swiss

Inconsistent ice confounds top teams at World Women’s Curling Championship Read More

New in Arts and Entertainment

Ben Waldman:

Strong brew of tea and tears

Rosanna Deerchild waited. Her mother finally shared residential school stories. A new play carries it forward Read More

Eva Wasney:

Cracking the bro code

Winnipeg prof’s study of male bonds highlighted in Secrets of Friendship documentary Read More

New in Business

Gabrielle Piché:

More than a paycheque

The 35 companies on this year’s list of Manitoba’s top employers ensure they can attract and retain staff with flexibility, a positive workplace and community involvement Read More

Martin Cash:

Imperative to invest in technology highlighted at conference

At one of the seminars during CME Manitoba’s first major conference in four years, Chris Bachinski, the president of customs brokers, GHY International, spoke about significant changes Canadian importers and exporters will soon have to address. Read More

Fresh opinions

Editorial:

Trudeau-Biden meeting must focus on China

Xi Jinping, the political master of China, arrived in Moscow yesterday to cosy up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the world’s leading warmonger. The visit will encourage Mr. Putin to continue his cruel and outrageous year-old war against neighbouring Ukraine. Read More

Tom Brodbeck:

NDP clears path for crucial teachers accountability bill

I am happy to report I was wrong in my prediction the Opposition NDP would side with its union allies and kill a teachers accountability bill. Read More

Scott Forbes and Allison McCulloch:

Keep Brandon University from meeting Laurentian’s fate

IN February 2021, Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ont., became the first Canadian public university to, for all intents and purposes, declare bankruptcy. It sought creditor protection and, in an unprecedented move, fired more than 100 tenured faculty and cancelled more than one-third of its programs, gutting the arts and humanities that are the core of a university. Read More

Head Start