The Wrap: New Métis/Hydro deal, election blackout to begin, Brodbeck on ERs and 100 years of Mennonite immigration

Good evening. Here’s a look at what our newsroom has been working on today:

'Justice has prevailed'

A new $120-million “Revitalization Agreement” between Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Métis Federation spans 50 years and marks the end to a lengthy political and legal saga after former Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister directed the utility to cancel a tentative $67-million deal in early 2018.

Danielle Da Silva:

‘Justice has prevailed’: Métis sign $120-M deal with Hydro

Manitoba Hydro has signed a $120-million agreement with the Manitoba Métis Federation to lock in support for existing and future developments, reviving a tentative agreement cancelled five years ago a... Read More

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'Pulling out all the stops before the blackout'

Election blackout rules prohibit the provincial government from advertising or publishing “any information about its programs or activities” in the 60 days before election day — that means today’s the last day for government spending announcements before an expected Oct. 3 vote.

Carol Sanders:

Tories’ spending blitz ends ahead of election blackout

At a splashy media event complete with professional basketball players, cheerleaders and an array of fans at centre court, the Tory government made one of its final spending announcements Thursday, on... Read More

'No acknowledgement, no apologies, no plans'

Today’s long emergency-room wait times are the accepted norm for government, writes columnist Tom Brodbeck, and it doesn’t appear Premier Heather Stefanson, Health Minister Audrey Gordon or anyone from Shared Heath has laid out a plan to reduce those wait times.

Tom Brodbeck:

ER wait times do not have to be new normal

What is stunning after six years of health-care reform in Manitoba is the Progressive Conservative government appears to have no plan to reverse the damage it caused when it closed three emergency dep... Read More

'Making that history more real to me'

Memories of Migration: Russlaender 100 is a cross-country train tour from Quebec to B.C., replicating the journey of Mennonites who came to Canada from the Soviet Union a century ago. Faith reporter John Longhurst got on board to talk to participants about what the tour meant to them.

John Longhurst:

Moving memories

Cross-country train journey retraces trek of 21,000 Mennonites who came to Canada a century ago, fleeing persecution in the Soviet Union Read More

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Local

Nicole Buffie: Whistleblower pharmacist fined for misconduct after complaint

Erik Pindera: RCMP charge 11 people with weapons offences after investigation into northern First Nation violence

Scott Billeck: Police seize cocaine valued at $1.5M, about $750K in cash in raid on St. Vital house

Free Press staff: Two charged in random attack in Osborne Village

Erik Pindera: U.S. court denies man’s appeal in human smuggling case where family died near Emerson

Joyanne Pursaga: Infill development on minds of all three River Heights-Fort Garry candidates

Eva Wasney: Amazon in the weeds over damage to tall grass reserve

Maggie Macintosh: Record number of school trustees win by acclamation

Gabrielle Piché: Perfumer battling city hall to keep his shop open

Dean Pritchard: Woman who joined mother in young girl’s brutal abuse, neglect should go to prison for nine years, Crown says

Opinion

Editorial: Essential workers ruling raises questions

Tom Brodbeck: Khan’s abrupt departure presents desperate Tories with a valuable opportunity

David McLaughlin: Learning to win: a real problem for conservatives

Brian Ramsay: Who protects collegiate athletes?

Dan Lett: How confusing; seems there’s more than one candidate in Hanover named Shayne Barkman

Free Press: Letters, Oct. 5

Dan Lett: Residents who blame civic politicians for all that ails us should know it’s not entirely their fault

Kate Kehler: Winnipeg and choosing its future direction

Paul Deegan: Real journalists matter in an AI world

Hersh Seth: Seven Wilsons, one regional spirit

Arts & Life

Wyatte Grantham-philips, The Associated Press: Paramount completes its takeover of Warner Bros to become one Hollywood giant known as Skydance

Bob Thomas And Jake Coyle, The Associated Press: Eva Marie Saint, star of ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘On the Waterfront,’ dies at 102

Denise Duguay: Telekinetic teen hits small screen

Ben Waldman: Band keeps plight of MMIWG close to heart on new track

Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press: Emmy Awards to move to Prime Video in 2027 in 6-year deal between Amazon and the Television Academy

Hannah Schoenbaum, The Associated Press: Jeffrey Archer, bestselling British novelist and scandal-ridden politician, dies at 86

Matt Sedensky And Wyatte Grantham-philips, The Associated Press: What Paramount’s Warner Bros. takeover means for streaming, movies and news

Julie Carr Smyth And Patrick Aftoora-orsagos, The Associated Press: Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn is sentenced to life in prison for wife’s murder

Holly Harris: Moving drama at MTYP gives voice to boy who changed law

David Sanderson: Morning-show veteran swaps microphone for macchiatos at new Corydon café

Sports

Ken Wiebe: Jets trending in right direction after picking up points in first three games

Mike McIntyre: Moose goalie tandem off to hot start

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press: IOC confirms India, Qatar among 7 bidders who want to host 2036 Olympics

The Canadian Press: Canadian hammer thrower Rogers named Women’s World Athlete of the Year finalist

Joshua Frey-Sam: Six high school hockey programs ceased operations following new Hockey Manitoba policy

Taylor Allen: Bombers on outside looking in after beatdown from Als

Ken Wiebe: Waiver wire pickup leads Jets to victory in Pittsburgh

Ken Wiebe: Sidney Crosby sings praises of Jets' Bjorck, summer training partner Barron

Joshua Frey-Sam: Rifles win the battle, but lose post-season push

Stephen Whyno And Noah Trister, The Associated Press: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin says his 22nd NHL season will be his last

Business

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press: Business leaders want capital gains deferral to keep money in Canadian firms

Matthew Frank: Ribbon cutting marks new roads, buildings start in Water Tower District

Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press: Industry minister presses Stelco’s U.S. owner to present job-saving plan in 5 days

The Canadian Press: S&P/TSX composite rises amid tech sector strength, U.S. markets also move higher

Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press: Emera to buy Canadian Utilities to create $72B energy ‘powerhouse’

The Canadian Press: Shoppers to spend less this holiday season, willing to pay more for Canadian goods: PwC

Abiola Odutola: Brandon meat packer thriving on its own

Kaitlyn Huamani And Barbara Ortutay, The Associated Press: A reckoning on social media addiction came late for many kids. Will AI safety be different?

The Canadian Press: S&P/TSX composite inches higher, U.S. markets also gain ground

Scott Billeck: Hydro reports $446-M loss in 2025-26, points to fourth drought year in past five

Canada and World

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press: Gunshots ring out at B.C. ostrich farm as cull moves ahead

Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press: Canada reports fastest population growth in history in third quarter of 2023

The Canadian Press: Canadian judokas Gauthier-Drapeau, Reyes win bronze at Tokyo Grand Slam

Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press: Sweeping tariffs could be 3% hit to Canadian economy, even with carve-outs: report

Charlotte Kramon And Jeff Martin, The Associated Press: Shooter attacked CDC headquarters to protest COVID-19 vaccines

Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press: Canadian ice climbers bring thriving, nascent sport to world championship in Edmonton

The Canadian Press: Woman faces more charges in Taylor Swift ticket scam, 2nd person charged: police

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press: Heightened security for Manitoba politicians appears to be a sign of the times

Giada Zampano And Sylvia Hui, The Associated Press: Thousands join pro-Palestinian rallies around the globe as Oct. 7 anniversary nears

The Canadian Press: Emir of Qatar to visit Ottawa on what will be his first official trip to Canada

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