Coronavirus crisis
Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer speaks with the media following Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, February 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Federal funds: The House of Commons will debate a bill today on billions of dollars in emergency spending to fight the pandemic. Monday night, the Liberals backed off a measure that would have given their government sweeping new powers to spend as they wanted till the end of 2021, without Parliament’s approval. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Pandemic poll: Twenty per cent of Canadians think the pandemic is being blown out of proportion, a poll conducted this weekend found. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
China lifting lockdown: China will end a two-month lockdown in most of Hubei province, which was hit hard by the coronavirus, at midnight local time. The city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started, will remain locked down. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE
Talking about trillions: In Washington, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Monday night negotiators have nearly reached agreement on a virus aid package worth nearly US$2 trillion. READ MORE
Daily briefing: The provincial government will give its latest update on the virus situation later this morning. There have been 20 probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Monday. Meanwhile, Manitobans are being urged to cancel or postpone trips outside the province, Carol Sanders and Larry Kusch report. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Mainly sunny with a high of 5 C (no, that’s not a typo) and strong wind, from the south at 30 km/h and gusting to 40, increasing to 40 km/h and gusting to 60 later this morning.
More on the virus
Christopher Morris/COCWater polo player Shae Fournier, a Winnipegger who is on Team Canada, will not be going to her firstOlympics this summer now that Canada has officially pulled out of the games due to COVID-19.
Dreams dashed: The Free Press spoke with several Manitoba athletes who were set to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, which are likely to be postponed until 2021. Jason Bell reports. READ MORE
COVID-19 and cabs: The taxi industry says hundreds of drivers may be forced to park their cabs to avoid financial losses because of the pandemic. “Business has pretty much collapsed,” Duffy’s Taxi board member Balbir Brar said. “Eighty per cent of our customers are seniors, and seniors are staying home.” Danielle Da Silva reports. READ MORE
Justice system strained: A provincial court judge said “extraordinary circumstances” were a factor in granting bail to a man facing child-luring charges. “There are exceptional circumstances in place right now with the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is a great strain on our prison systems and staff that work there,” Judge Lindy Choy said in court Monday. Dean Pritchard reports. READ MORE
Getting back to golf: Several Manitoba courses are planning to open this season, “with the right precautions.” Taylor Allen reports. READ MORE
On this date
On March 24, 1937: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that Manitoba premier John Bracken announced the time had come to lay the foundations for a “new deal” for the province, which would make great changes along social and economic lines. Revenue for Manitoba from the department of mines and natural resources was expected to reach $1 million annually within a few years. In Winnipeg, city police teamed up with RCMP officers in the search for the kidnapper and killer of young Julia Johnson. Europe continued to seek to contain the Spanish Civil War.
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press READ MORE
|
