News briefs for Thursday, January 30, 2025

Jets blast Bruins 6-2

9:06 PM

BOSTON – The Winnipeg Jets blasted the Boston Bruins 6-2 on Thursday night to improve their winning streak to five games.

Forward Parker Ford, who was making his NHL debut, scored his first NHL goal for the visitors. Mark Scheifele had a pair on the power play, while Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor also scored.

Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves.

The Jets are now 36-14-3 on the year, which has them in first place in both the Central Division and Western Conference.

They’ll conclude a three-game road trip on Saturday night against the Washington Capitals, who lead the Eastern Conference.

Province gives out $86K as tariffs loom

1:36 PM

The Manitoba government is giving $86,000 to 19 small and medium-sized companies to expand the export of their products and services into more diversified markets in advance of potential U.S. tariffs coming into effect.

The funds will come from Export Support Programming, which provides financial help to enterprises to participate in trade shows or missions outside the province, with the goal of expanding existing export markets or entering new ones.

“With the threat of U.S. tariffs looming, we know it’s a crucial time to support Manitoba companies market their products to a global audience,” Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses said in a news release Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on goods from Canada and Manitoba on Saturday because he said the countries have not done enough to stop people and drugs illegally flowing into the neighbouring state.

Police and MPI put brakes on auto-theft operation

1:26 PM

A major auto-theft operation with connections to vehicles stolen from Ontario has been shut down in Winnipeg.

City police and Manitoba Public Insurance said the joint operation, called Project Buyer Bee Aware, has led to a significant number of charges being laid.

Few details were released Thursday, but a news release said cloning of vehicle identification numbers was part of the scheme.

Provincial Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, MPI CEO Satvir Jatana and Winnipeg Police Service Supt. Cam Mackid are scheduled to hold a news conference on the operation Friday, where seized vehicles will be on display.

Police arrest alleged West Kildonan arsonist

12:04 PM

An arsonist lit two blazes in West Kildonan late Wednesday, Winnipeg police say.

Patrol officers spotted a fire in a garbage bin near a business on the 800 block of Leila Avenue at about 11:15 p.m. and called for firefighters, who doused the flames. The fire caused about $5,000 in damage.

Police soon arrested a suspect on the nearby 2300 block of McPhillips Street. They found about nine grams of methamphetamine on him, police allege, and found a lighter nearby.

Major crimes detectives, who took over the investigation, allege the suspect had earlier gone to another business on the same block of McPhillips and set a pile of cardboard on fire in a room where garbage was kept. That fire was also doused but caused about $10,000 in damage.

Bombers quarterback Grainger moved to retired list

10:52 AM

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers said Thursday that quarterback Darren Grainger has been transferred to their retired list.

The Bombers announced on Oct. 22 that they had signed the 24-year-old American for the 2025 season after he spent part of last season with the team. He spent time on the team’s practice and active rosters in 2024 but did not play in any games. The Canadian Football League’s website states he was moved to the retired list Monday.

Grainger had a five-year collegiate career with Furman University (2018-19) and Georgia State University (2021-23).

Property tax hike approved

10:01 AM

Winnipeg’s city council has approved bylaws to implement the 2025 budget, which includes the highest property tax hike since the 1990s.

The bylaws, which were expected to be approved along with a final budget vote Wednesday, did not pass at that point. Council cast a final 11-to-five vote to approve the operating budget and a 10-to-six vote in favour of the capital budget that day.

Council approved the third and final reading of budget-related bylaws in a second vote Thursday morning, finalizing the process. Councillors Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) and Russ Wyatt (Transcona) voted against the bylaws.

Winnipeggers will pay a 5.95 per cent property tax hike this year.