The Wrap: Bus driver shortage, health-care changes and a tour of Winnipeg’s dim sum hotspots

More and more people are taking Winnipeg Transit, but a shortage of bus drivers is leading to cancelled routes, packed buses and missed pickups.

Winnipeg Transit has hired 118 drivers this year so far — but about 100 drivers have quit or retired, making it difficult to chip away at the shortage.

In one of his first acts of government, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has “hit the pause button” on the diagnostic and surgical recovery task force appointed by the previous government.

While the task force made progress in several areas — including eliminating the pandemic backlog for cataract surgery and some imaging tests — it was also accused of running roughshod over the public health system and some physicians.

Meanwhile, Kinew asked health-care professionals, “with the greatest humility,” to continue working in the system as his government musters the support and resources necessary to deliver “excellent patient care.”

Carter Chen is a gregarious local food influencer and host of the Chinatown Dim Sum Tours offered by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. The tour is part-history lesson and part-marathon dining session.

“Culturally, it means a lot to the Chinese community… I feel like dim sum restaurants are keeping Chinatown alive in Winnipeg.”