Good morning!
New child benefit program: The Canada child benefit was one of the biggest planks of the Liberal election platform last year, with an annual price tag of about $22 billion, and, as Free Press Ottawa bureau chief Mia Rabson reports, cheques will be sent out to families starting Wednesday. The single tax-free benefit incorporates the universal child care benefit, the Canada child tax benefit and the national child benefits supplement. The Liberals are also eliminating credits brought in by the former Conservative government: family income splitting and arts and fitness tax credits for children’s extra-curricular activities. READ MORE
Your forecast: In the immortal words of Guns N’ Roses, all we needed was just a little patience (Head Start took the liberty of changing the tense). We made it through the July (not November) rain, and now it’s going to be like paradise city here in the ‘Peg after today’s clouds drift away. Our daytime high temperature today is 21 C. From Friday to the middle of next week, we can expect a whole lot of sunshine, with temperatures ranging from 24 C Friday to highs of 25 C on the weekend to 31 C by Wednesday. Welcome to the jungle.
In case you missed it
THE CANADIAN PRESS / HANDOUT / Gilead Sciences, Inc.An Epclusa bottle and pill
Hep C drug gets green light: Health Canada has approved a drug being touted as a cure for hepatitis C, a disease believed to have infected hundreds of thousands of Canadians, many of whom are unaware they harbour the virus, reports The Canadian Press. The drug, sold under the brand name Epclusa, is a once-daily pill taken for 12 weeks that can rid the body of all six strains of hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus that can lead to severe liver damage and liver cancer if left untreated. READ MORE
A terrible mistake: A 25-year-old Steinbach who mistakenly shot and killed a teenage boy three years ago because he thought a bear was attacking was given an 18-month suspended sentence Wednesday after pleading guilty to careless use of a firearm. Jacob Russell Wright, 17, died early on June 2, 2013, when Tyler James Goertzen grabbed his loaded 12-gauge shotgun and fired, mistakenly thinking a bear was coming into their tent during a wilderness canoe trip to the Bloodvein River. READ MORE
Art and water: More than 100 First Nations communities struggle to access clean water, and its absence has had devastating effects on health. On Saturday, Winnipeggers will get a chance to explore this question with Reflects in Water, an interactive “art action” set for Stephen Juba Park in the Exchange District. The event will bring together the public, grassroots organizations and artists to cast a visual representation of the fight for indigenous water rights. READ MORE
Up next
BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSAndrew Harris and Maurice Leggett practice with the team Wednesday in preparation for the Bombers’ home game against the Edmonton Eskimos Thursday.
Gunning for second win: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will try to post a back-to-back triumphs for the first time in nearly two seasons when they host the Edmonton Eskimos this evening at Investors Group Field. Game time is 7:30 p.m. A week ago, the Bombers posted a 28-24 road victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSTyler Birch at Barn Hammer on Wall Street
New on tap: A new brewery, Barn Hammer, is the first in the province to take advantage of new legislation allowing breweries to operate taprooms, which are regular pubs on the premises of a brewery and can include food and other craft beers. The brewery, which opened Wednesday on Wall Street, offers six varieties of craft beer brewed on-site. READ MORE
Roll out the barrel: Canada’s reigning “Polka King” is adding a lottery win to his list of accolades. Walter Ostanek has had a successful 60-year career, with three Grammy wins and the Order of Canada under his belt. Now, he’s won the $1-million grand prize in a London, Ont., dream lottery. READ MORE
Mayor gives kudos to council: Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman praised the efforts of city council Wednesday, lauding the group for its hard work and dedication to making the city stronger. Council is heading off to enjoy the summer break, but not before it gave the green light at the final meeting to several projects. READ MORE
Trending now
JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSTaffy Allie Menzimer and Madge Janessa Johnsrude help kick off the 29th annual Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival at Old Market Square today. The festival showcases 170 performances over the next 12 days.
#WpgFringe: Well, that didn’t take long. The annual international theatre festival centred in the Exchange District kicked off Wednesday, and the hashtag is already trending across Manitoba. READ MORE
#ChangeALetterFilm: There’s silliness afoot in Twitterland this morning. People are switching up a single letter on famous movie titles, and the results are pretty funny. Take these, for example: The Lizard of Oz; The Silence of the Lamps; Apocalypse Cow; Pilates of the Caribbean; The Welding Crashers; and, Star Wart.
On this date
On July 14, 1990: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that Winnipeg’s chief commissioner was proposing a morale-boosting reform for senior bureaucrats’ pay scales that would increase top salaries but decrease starting wages. In Oka, Que., Quebec’s Minister of Native Affairs John Ciaccia called on the federal government to intervene in a crisis between Mohawk warriors and the provincial police that had lasted three days so far and claimed one life.
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