Good morning!
Winnipeg’s poker kingpin: When Pizzeria Gusto waiter Patrick Serda serves you, perhaps a tip is unnecessary. The 26-year-old Winnipegger won nearly $1 million playing poker in Prague this week, bringing his total poker winnings to about $2 million. But he says he’s not about to quit his serving job: “Honestly, it’s what makes me happy,” he told reporter Ben Waldman. READ MORE
Your forecast: A modest snowfall overnight means shovels and car brushes will be handy implements today. Another two centimetres of snow is expected this morning. The high temperature will be -8 C, with wind from the west at 20 km/h.
In case you missed it
BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSFinance Minister Cameron Friesen says there is ‘no one single silver bullet’ to wiping out the deficit.
Deficit hits $1 billion: Manitoba’s deficit now exceeds $1 billion, and the Pallister government said Tuesday the most significant factors are irresponsibility by the spendthrift NDP, and Ottawa’s refusal to transfer adequate funds for health care. Nick Martin reports. READ MORE
Justice for dead toddler: Finally, the public might get answers to the mysterious death of 21-month-old Kierra Elektra Star Williams. The toddler died in July 2014 on Peguis First Nation but officials refused to explain details, such as why the toddler was returned from foster care to her parents. A judge ruled Tuesday there is enough evidence to bring her parents to trial. Katie May reports. READ MORE
Up next
Blue Christmas: For people finding the holiday season is difficult because they are grieving or otherwise downcast, Westminster United Church offers tonight a special service of support and consolation through scripture, music, candlelight and reflection. The church is at 745 Westminster Avenue, and the service starts at 7 p.m.
Victorian Christmas: Beginning today and running until Friday, Dalnavert Museum halls is decked out in full Victorian Christmas. The fun includes seasonal music and listening to the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol performed by Charlene Van Buekenhout with her Victorian Shadow Theatre. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Around the water cooler
SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESSManitoba Premier Brian Pallister listens to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s opening remarks at the Meeting of First Ministers in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016.
Our snowbird premier: Columnist Dan Lett says it’s irresponsible for Premier Brian Pallister to be in Costa Rica during the end of December, when the provincial budget is being composed. “He has already been absent for several important events that, under normal circumstances, would have benefited from his presence.” READ MORE
Unique cocaine defence: Judges hear a lot of unusual excuses from defendants, but a defence presented Tuesday was unique. A 22-year-old man caught with 80 rocks of crack cocaine said he wasn’t trafficking — he’d simply robbed his drug dealer. “I didn’t plan it out. I just did it because I seen there was a lot there,” he told the judge. Katie May reports. READ MORE
Trending now
#PeopleWhoMadeMy2016: Share something about someone who made the year what it was for you — someone who made a difference in your life for the better.
On this date
On Dec. 21, 1962: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that U.S. president John F. Kennedy and British prime minister Harold MacMillan had agreed to create a nuclear armoured force and put Polaris-armed British submarines in action under the NATO banner. The governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Mantiba pressed for a meeting with the federal government over national rail companies’ decisions to abandon uneconomic lines on the Prairies. READ MORE
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