Good morning!
Manitoba in new trade deal: The federal and provincial governments have negotiated a new trade agreement that gives Manitoba businesses far greater access to markets in other provinces — and vice-versa. “This is a positive, positive piece of news for our country,” said Premier Brian Palliser. Larry Kusch has the exclusive story. READ MORE
Your forecast: Bid farewell to those small white patches that remain in backyards and fields. The next four days will reach highs of between +8 and 10 C, which should be enough to melt the shrinking islands of snow and ice. Today is expected to be a mix of sun and cloud, with wind from the south at 30 km/h with a high of 10.
In case you missed it
PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Abortion pill arrives: Mifegymiso is a hard word to spell and pronounce, but Manitobans will soon hear more about it. The so-called abortion pill was used in a Manitoba hospital for the first time last week, and a comprehensive rollout is expected. Issues include whether public drug plans should pay for the pill regimen, which costs $350 per abortion. Jane Gerster has the exclusive story. READ MORE
Trudeau visits Winnipeg: The people welcoming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Winnipeg on Wednesday did not include Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, who listened to Trudeau’s comments on a news feed. Trudeau pledged support for a $60-million aerospace and automotive research hub for Winnipeg, but Pallister said he wants to see a commitment in writing. Larry Kusch reports. READ MORE
Up next
MATT MURPHY PHOTOChristopher Tierney and Bronwyn Reed play the roles made famous by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
Dirty Dancing: For fans of the film Dirty Dancing, a musical play opening in Winnipeg on Friday could be the time of their lives. The original 1987 dance-filled romance starred Jennifer Grey as Baby and Patrick Swayze as Johnny and was a box-office smash that also earned an Academy Award for best original song for the hit “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” The five-show run ends on Sunday. READ MORE
Jets versus Ducks: One of the teams is first in the Pacific Division of the National Hockey League and is being touted as a good bet for the Stanley Cup finals. The other team has missed the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. So which team will you cheer for when Anaheim Ducks (42-23-11) meet the Jets (35-35-7) tonight in Winnipeg at 7 p.m.? Yes, us too. Go Jets go! READ MORE
Around the water cooler
Weird mutilations: What kind of person kills a goat, a miniature pony, three coyotes and a raccoon — and then cuts off the animals’ ears? Free Press reporters Randy Turner and Bill Redekop talked to experts including a psychologist about the disturbing state of the carcasses found in ditches about 15 kilometres south of Brandon. READ MORE
Women’s hockey program cut: Four Manitoba women who played hockey for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks are among the players without a team after the university slashed its women’s hockey program — a victim of the athletic department’s effort to cut $1.3 million from its budget. Jason Bell reports. READ MORE
Trending now
#PrecedeInMyPantsWithAmovie: Well, they couldn’t be worse than most other sequels, remakes and reboots coming soon to a theatre near you: “My Left Foot in My Pants”; “Finding Nemo in My Pants”; “White Men Can’t Jump in My Pants”; “9 1/2 Weeks In My Pants”; and, inevitably, “Commando, in My Pants.”
On this date
On March 30, 1988: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that then Winnipeg mayor Bill Norrie was in favour of an plan that would see Winnipeg Transit offer seat sales on buses headed downtown, similar to the way airlines sold seats; riders heading downtown during off-peak hours would get a return bus trip free. In Ottawa, a preliminary study of 170 bank service charges indicated banks might be bending or even breaking the law. In Manitoba, the provincial NDP was set to choose a new leader after then premier Howard Pawley stepped down, following a vote of no confidence in the government’s budget, which forced an election. READ MORE
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