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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Nexom founder Martin Hildebrand with the new Cyclor Turbo wastewater treatment technology at the East St. Paul Wastewater Treatment Facility on Thursday, April 16, 2026. For Aaron story. Free Press 2026

Manitoba company Nexom puts East St. Paul treatment technology demonstration facility in international spotlight

Aaron Epp 7 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

Rural Municipality of East St. Paul — If Martin Hildebrand has anything to do with it, people from across the continent who are exploring wastewater treatment options will soon be visiting East St. Paul.

Last week, the founder of Manitoba water solutions company Nexom and other stakeholders celebrated the opening of North America’s first full-scale Cyclor Turbo wastewater treatment demonstration facility.

The project showcases a compact, chemical-free treatment technology that delivers phosphorus and nitrogen removal while significantly reducing infrastructure footprint.

It’s a project that has generated “a huge amount of interest” across North America, said Hildebrand, whose company brought the technology to the community.

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Inflation jumps on Iran war shock but few signs yet of spreading price hikes

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Preview

Inflation jumps on Iran war shock but few signs yet of spreading price hikes

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Updated: 3:42 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Statistics Canada reported a jump in the headline inflation rate for March but economists parsing the latest data argue there are few signs so far that the price shock from the Iran war is spreading beyond the pumps.

The agency reported Monday that the annual rate of inflation accelerated to 2.4 per cent last month, an increase of 0.6 percentage points from February.

It said higher gas prices tied to the war in the Middle East were the main reason for the jump. But economists had expected a slightly larger increase in the headline inflation rate and pointed to signs of easing elsewhere in the consumer basket.

"I would say, apart from those fuel-related inflation spikes, the report was fairly benign," said TD Bank senior economist Leslie Preston.

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Updated: 3:42 PM CDT

A woman gasses up at a gas station in Mississauga, Ont., Tuesday, February 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
A woman gasses up at a gas station in Mississauga, Ont., Tuesday, February 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

WestJet cuts flight capacity due to jet fuel costs, following Air Canada’s lead

Daniel Johnson, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

WestJet cuts flight capacity due to jet fuel costs, following Air Canada’s lead

Daniel Johnson, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 5:17 PM CDT

CALGARY - WestJet says it is cutting flight capacity as the war in Iran causes the price of jet fuel to soar. 

The Calgary-based airline said it has reduced capacity by about one per cent in April, three per cent in May and nearly six per cent in June. Travellers affected by the changes are being provided alternate flight options, it said. 

"As fuel prices continue to rise, WestJet has adjusted some flying to align with demand and best manage associated fuel costs," the airline said in a news release.   

WestJet said it hasn’t eliminated any routes so far, but it is “evaluating its summer schedule” with an eye to possible cuts. It said it is in regular communication with its fuel suppliers and continues to monitor the global jet fuel supply situation. 

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Updated: 5:17 PM CDT

A WestJet logo is seen in the domestic check-in area at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on May 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A WestJet logo is seen in the domestic check-in area at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on May 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Bank of Canada appoints two deputy governors, dropping ‘external’ title for one

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Bank of Canada appoints two deputy governors, dropping ‘external’ title for one

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 3 minute read 1:34 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada is filling two vacancies on its governing council with a pair of economists who are already well known at the central bank.

In May, the Bank of Canada's managing director of economic analysis, Marc-André Gosselin, will become a deputy governor at the central bank, where he has worked in progressively senior roles since 1999.

External deputy governor Nicolas Vincent will also join the board on a full-time basis starting in August and will serve as the Bank of Canada's G7 and G20 deputy.

The Bank of Canada will launch a recruitment process soon to fill the external deputy governor position left vacant by Vincent, who first assumed the role back in 2023 while serving as a professor at HEC Montreal.

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1:34 PM CDT

The Bank of Canada is seen in Ottawa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Bank of Canada is seen in Ottawa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Alberta, South Korea reach deal to eliminate three per cent tariff on crude exports

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Alberta, South Korea reach deal to eliminate three per cent tariff on crude exports

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 6:28 PM CDT

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has signed a joint statement with South Korea to waive a three per cent tariff on crude exports from the oil-rich province.

The Alberta government says the agreement will open up more market access for energy producers shipping bitumen from Canada.

It says Alberta exported almost $400 million in crude oil to South Korea last year, but with tariffs removed, that number could grow to between $400 million and $1 billion annually.

Smith has stated her goal is to double oil and gas production in the province by 2035, and she wants to see more pipeline capacity to make it happen.

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6:28 PM CDT

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith answers questions at a news conference in Calgary, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith answers questions at a news conference in Calgary, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
MIKE THIESSEN / FREE PRESS

Sentinel journey, sentimental memories

Wooden elevator reduced to rubble after towering over Austin for 75 years

Ben Waldman 7 minute read Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

Provinces on track to allow cross-border alcohol sales by next month, Ottawa says

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Provinces on track to allow cross-border alcohol sales by next month, Ottawa says

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 3:12 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The federal government says 10 provinces and the Yukon are on track to allow consumers to buy Canadian alcohol directly from producers by next month.

Pierre-Alain Bujold, a spokesperson for the Privy Council Office, says provinces and territories are continuing to work toward the May 2026 deadline.

He says each participating province and territory will decide how to implement the policy within their jurisdictions.

All 10 provinces and the Yukon signed an agreement last year to allow consumers to order Canadian wine, spirits, beer and other alcoholic beverages for personal consumption directly from producers.

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Updated: 3:12 PM CDT

Bottles of British Columbia wine are displayed at a liquor store in Cremona, Alta., on Feb. 7, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Bottles of British Columbia wine are displayed at a liquor store in Cremona, Alta., on Feb. 7, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

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Mustard farmers face cross-pollination risk

Laura Rance-Unger 5 minute read Preview

Mustard farmers face cross-pollination risk

Laura Rance-Unger 5 minute read Saturday, Apr. 18, 2026

Genetically modified crops may have gained widespread adoption among farmers since their introduction 30 years ago, but they remain a polarizing force within the farming community.

Because GM technology still struggles to achieve full market acceptance, many farmers reap the benefits at the expense of a few others who lose relatively small but important markets.

For example, nearly 100 per cent of the commercial canola produced in Canada comes from varieties that are herbicide-tolerant, which is most often a result of GMO traits.

Their widespread use makes it impossible for organic farmers to grow canola that is certifiably free of GM contamination, thanks to Prairie winds that move pollen easily from one field to another.

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Saturday, Apr. 18, 2026

Mike McCleary / The Associated Press files

A new genetically modified canola has the potential to push into areas previously too hot and dry for it — areas mustard (above) thrives in.
Mike McCleary / The Associated Press files A new genetically modified canola has the potential to push into areas previously too hot and dry for it — areas mustard (above) thrives in.

Grand enhancement for Jeep

Kelly Taylor 4 minute read Preview

Grand enhancement for Jeep

Kelly Taylor 4 minute read Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

For 2026, and the vehicle that arguably launched the luxury SUV segment — the Jeep Grand Cherokee — it’s what you can’t see that makes the biggest difference.

Under the hood, the venerable Pentastar V-6 engine continues, but expanding the list of powertrain options is a new Hurricane 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine.

It would be easy to see that change as a step backward. If four cylinders are good, six are better, right?

Not so fast. The new engine is the high-output option, offering more power, more torque and better fuel economy than its six-cylinder stablemate.

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Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

Supplied

The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets what is best described as a mid-cycle refresh, but also a new engine: an available 2.0-litre Hurricane turbocharged four-cylinder. A larger infotainment screen is the big news inside the Grand Cherokee cabin.
Supplied The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets what is best described as a mid-cycle refresh, but also a new engine: an available 2.0-litre Hurricane turbocharged four-cylinder. A larger infotainment screen is the big news inside the Grand Cherokee cabin.

BlackBerry stock up 13 per cent on expanded partnership with Nvidia

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

BlackBerry stock up 13 per cent on expanded partnership with Nvidia

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 3:40 PM CDT

BlackBerry Ltd.'s share price popped by 13 per cent as the firm deepened its ties to tech giant Nvidia.

The Waterloo, Ont.-based software developer's share price closed the trading day at $7.50.

The rise came after BlackBerry announced it has expanded a partnership that will allow its developers to build and deploy AI systems for Nvidias' IGX Thor platform.

Nvidia's IGX Thor is meant to be used in regulated environments for things like autonomous, humanoid and surgical robotics, medical imaging and industrial automation.

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Updated: 3:40 PM CDT

The BlackBerry logo located in the lobby of the company's B building in Waterloo, Ont. on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Ryan
The BlackBerry logo located in the lobby of the company's B building in Waterloo, Ont. on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Ryan

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