Manitoba Federation of Labour calls for independent review of Workers Compensation Board

A major labour association is calling for an independent Workers Compensation Board review as Manitoba leads the country in workplace injury rates.

Last year, 2.5 employees in every 100 reported a workplace injury serious enough to take time off, WCB tracking shows. The number is higher than any other province — just as it has been for the past three years, according to the Manitoba Federation of Labour.

(In 2025, the next highest time loss injury rate was in British Columbia: 2.04 people for every 100.)

“Our prevention work in Manitoba is failing Manitobans,” said Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. “We need an independent review to help shine a light on, ‘What is happening on the prevention front of WCB?’”

Manitoba tourism reached new heights in 2025

Despite a devastating wildfire season, tourism in Manitoba hit record highs in 2025.

Oil and gas emissions dropped in 2025 despite increased production: report

OTTAWA - Canada's oil and gas sector accounted for a lower level of emissions in 2025, despite boosts in production, while the country's overall emissions ticked up thanks to increased reliance on natural gas to heat homes.

Those are among the findings in the Canadian Climate Institute's annual national emissions report, released Thursday.

The institute, which receives three-quarters of its funding from the federal government, is releasing early estimates of Canada's year greenhouse gas emissions. Ottawa's estimates for 2025 are expected in April.

The institute found Canada's total emissions increased in 2025 by about one per cent in 2025 to 691 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to the emissions produced by 161 million gas-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year.

Traveller costs must stay down in airport privatization plan: industry group

OTTAWA - As aviation leaders descend on Ottawa for a conference today, the head of the country’s main airline industry group says any plan for private investment in airports should keep a lid on costs for travellers.

Jeff Morrison, CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada, says more details need to emerge about the federal government’s move to partially privatize airports before he adopts a firm stance, but that affordability is key.

Examples abroad offer mixed results, with Australia frequently cited by Ottawa after the country handed control of its airports to private investors between 1997 and 2003.

The move has resulted in billions of dollars in capital investment, yielding faster baggage handling and passenger check-in processes as well as more lounges.

Myanmar’s military-backed leader seeks closer ties on visit to Malaysia as he pivots to diplomacy

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Myanmar’s military-backed leader pressed on with his pivot to diplomacy on a visit to Malaysia, his first since becoming president earlier this year, holding talks Thursday with the country's prime minister and other officials in an effort to boost ties.

But the visit by Min Aung Hlaing, a former military chief inaugurated as president in April after a general election judged by rights groups as designed to cement the military’s hold on power, has not been free of criticism.

The Myanmar leader has also faced pressure from other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the regional bloc known as ASEAN, to end the civil war in his country.

The visit comes just days after nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals were returned to Myanmar from Malaysia. The United Nations refugee agency and rights groups have slammed the repatriations, saying that the security and humanitarian situation in parts of Myanmar remains volatile, and returnees could face persecution and forced military conscription in an active war zone.

New Lululemon boss overhauls leadership team to reinvigorate brand

Lululemon Athletica Inc.'s chief executive is marking her first month on the job with a slew of leadership changes she says will make the business even more competitive.

The Vancouver-based apparel company has appointed ex-Athleta chief executive and president Maggie Gauger as Lululemon's president and chief product officer.

Former Walmart Canada executive Joseph Godsey is becoming chief operating officer.

Lululemon is searching for candidates to fill the chief brand and chief technology officer roles as well as someone to become its next chief communications officer.

Kristi Miller named interim chair of Hockey Canada’s board of governors

CALGARY - Kristi Miller has been named interim chair of Hockey Canada's board of directors, the governing body announced Wednesday.

Miller has been on the board since Nov. 18, 2023.

She was among the new appointees who replaced a transition board installed at the height of the Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal.

The previous Hockey Canada board, along with president and CEO Scott Smith, resigned on Oct. 11, 2022, amid criticism of the organization’s handling of sexual assault allegations involving five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team.

Conservative motion seeking more diesel relief defeated in House of Commons

OTTAWA - The Conservative party's proposal to extend federal relief on diesel fuel was voted down in the House of Commons today.

Global prices for diesel and gasoline have spiked since the spring as the war in Iran has disrupted fuel shipments from the Gulf region.

The Liberal government already has extended an earlier pause on the federal fuel excise tax, which includes diesel, into 2027, but the Conservatives want to see the government go further.

The Conservatives tabled a motion Tuesday calling for an end to all federal taxes affecting diesel fuel until Canada Day and seeking tax relief to build infrastructure that would support domestic diesel production.