Good morning!
Your forecast: It’s two weeks too early for an April Fool’s trick. But looking out the window this morning, you’d swear someone was pulling a fast one on you. Everything’s covered in snow, so be prepared to brush off the car and expect a lousy commute to work or school. Environment Canada says there’s still a 60 per cent chance of flurries later today, and the daytime high is only 0 C. The temperature drops to -10 C overnight. On Friday, expect a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 2 C, while Saturday will be sunny and 1 C.
In case you missed it
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSA protester is seen during the NDP procession to Government House.
Not a welcomed follower: That pesky PST tax hike keeps dogging the NDP. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation staged a campaign stunt Wednesday as Premier Greg Selinger dropped the writ, signalling the start of the provincial election campaign. A colourful mascot carrying a sign that said ‘Cut the PST.ca’ followed Selinger and his enthusiastic NDP supporters across the legislative driveway to the lieutenant-governor’s mansion next door as he paid the formal visit to signal the election campaign is now officially on. READ MORE
When justice fails: Court documents show a 22-year-old woman who faces a list of charges following a Feb. 27 crash that killed a 71-year-old man has a record of alcohol-related offences, including a suspension of driving privileges. Police alleged the woman was drunk and driving a stolen car at a high rate of speed when she slammed into another vehicle near the McPhillips Street Casino. READ MORE
Staving off layoffs: The Winnipeg Police Service didn’t get all the money it wanted from city hall but will look for ways to avoid putting about 60 officers, including most of the cadets, out of work. Winnipeg’s executive policy committee decided not to hike the police budget by more than 6.3 per cent – or $16.7 million. The service says the move will likely also force the cancellation of a 20-officer fall recruit class. READ MORE
Up next
Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian PressMinister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum speaks to reporters on Parliament Hill to outline a new subcommittee of cabinet that will be overseeing the logistics of bringing in more Syrian refugees.
Syrian refugees: John McCallum, the federal minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, visits Winnipeg today for an announcement about Syrian refugees. He will be joined by officials including Mayor Brian Bowman, provincial minister of employment MaryAnn Mihychuk and Winnipeg Foundation CEO Richard Frost. The announcement is at 10:45 a.m. at Welcome Place. Free Press multicultural reporter Carol Sanders will be there.
Waiting for organs: Statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information are expected today on the number of people waiting for organ donations. The disparity between the number of Canadians waiting and the number of organ donations made has been widening incrementally over the last 10 years. And despite concerted efforts to increase the number of donors in Canada, nearly two-thirds of eligible deceased donors do not successfully make it through the complex organ donor process.
Around the water cooler
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILESWorld War Two veteran Len Kropioski salutes and sings the anthem at a Winnipeg Jets game in 2012.
Beloved Jets fan on the mend: The 98-year-old war veteran who’s almost always shown on the MTS Centre scoreboard, standing at attention and saluting at the end of the national anthem hasn’t been around lately at Winnipeg Jets home games. Len Kropioski has been laid up in hospital since early February. His family says “Kroppy” aims to be back by the March 30 game against Ottawa. READ MORE
Still can’t win three: Once again, the Jets botched an opportunity to post a winning streak after dropping a 4-1 decision to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Winnipeg was coming off wins against Colorado and Vancouver but couldn’t follow up with a third victory. The Jets host former captain Andrew Ladd and the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. And as Free Press columnist Ed Tait points out, he definitely had the support of his teammates when he wore the ‘C’ in Winnipeg. READ MORE
Trending now
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
#StPatricksDay: Forget all that white stuff out there. Start thinking green. It’s St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s national holiday, so why not share a pint with friends today.
Orca: SeaWorld says it will stop breeding killer whales, also known as orcas, in captivity. On Thursday, the company said shows would be phased out at all three of its parks over the next three years. SeaWorld has parks in San Diego, San Antonio and Orlando.
On this date
On Mar. 17, 1959: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that the difference between a leprechaun and a clurichaun is that “a leprechaun is a fairy shoemaker who hoards crocks of gold and plays practical jokes on people” whereas the clurichaun “spends his time getting drunk in gentlemen’s cellars.” Irish flags were flown from the Winnipeg Free Press building in honour of St. Patrick’s Day. Waiting lists for operations in Winnipeg hospitals had grown so long that St. Boniface Hospital stopped its waiting list at 300 and would not add more patients to it.
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