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Bill 35 step toward teacher transparency

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Bill 35 step toward teacher transparency

Editorial 4 minute read Monday, Mar. 20, 2023

Through a simple online search, Manitobans can find out whether their doctor, lawyer, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist or veterinarian has a history of impropriety. These are just a few of the occupations held to account through professional complaint and discipline registries designed to protect the public.

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Monday, Mar. 20, 2023

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Bill 35, the proposed Education Administration Amendment Act, would establish an online database of teachers and appoint an independent commissioner to monitor complaints of misconduct.

Trudeau puts rapporteur in no-win situation

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Trudeau puts rapporteur in no-win situation

Editorial 3 minute read Monday, Mar. 20, 2023

Over his years leading the Liberal party and the government of Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shown a remarkable capacity for making bad situations worse.

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Monday, Mar. 20, 2023

Supplied

Former governor general David Johnston

Mall development requires vision, consultation

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Mall development requires vision, consultation

Editorial 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 17, 2023

The long-stagnant Portage Place mall has become something of an avatar for all of downtown Winnipeg’s problems.

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Friday, Mar. 17, 2023

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Portage Place mall.

PCs wilfully obtuse about harm reduction

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PCs wilfully obtuse about harm reduction

Editorial 4 minute read Thursday, Mar. 16, 2023

If there is a single issue on which Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government has clung relentlessly to a position that seems rooted solely in ideology — despite being on the wrong side of expert information, public opinion and plain old common sense — surely it’s the question of how best to address this province’s expanding drug-addiction crisis.

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Thursday, Mar. 16, 2023

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

In an op-ed published this week, Mental Health Minister Janice Morley-Lecomte suggested “forthcoming measures could open a new window … for licensed and regulated supervised-consumption sites.”

Action on physician shortage lacks urgency

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Action on physician shortage lacks urgency

Editorial 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 15, 2023

It has been four months since the Progressive Conservative government announced its $200-million health human resource action plan to recruit, train and retain front-line staff. One of the key objectives of the initiative: to add 2,000 medical professionals to the system.

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Wednesday, Mar. 15, 2023

ERIK PINDERA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Dr. Candace Bradshaw, president of Doctors Manitoba, called the province’s failure to offer immediate relief “devastating.”

City flushing away positive outcomes

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City flushing away positive outcomes

Editorial 3 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2023

When Amoowigamig, the permanent public washrooms on Main Street, opened last June, it was cause for celebration.

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Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2023

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The ceremonial opening of new downtown permanent public washroom which has been named, Amoowigamig, and will be open to the public on May 30th. See Joyanne Pursaga story 220517 - Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

U.S. bank failure could warn of recession

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U.S. bank failure could warn of recession

Editorial 3 minute read Monday, Mar. 13, 2023

Friday’s Labour Force Survey for February found employment holding steady in Canada from January to February and the unemployment rate holding at five per cent. The data suggested the Canadian economy was recovering nicely from the depressing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Monday, Mar. 13, 2023

Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has promised a federal budget for March 28 in which she must support economic expansion and employment growth without adding to the inflation already impoverishing Canadian households.

Free contraception should be province’s Plan A

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Free contraception should be province’s Plan A

Editorial 3 minute read Monday, Mar. 13, 2023

In their March 7 budget, Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives announced a meaningful change to health coverage that lives up to the party’s name: it’s both socially progressive and, in the long term, fiscally conservative.

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Monday, Mar. 13, 2023

Rich Pedroncelli/The Associated Press files

Birth control pills will be free in B.C.

Health-care solutions start closer to home

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Health-care solutions start closer to home

Editorial 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 10, 2023

Success stories in Manitoba’s health-care system are so hard to find, the provincial government travelled halfway around the world to look for one.

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Friday, Mar. 10, 2023

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Health Minister Audrey Gordon

Politicians of every stripe must combat misogyny

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Politicians of every stripe must combat misogyny

Editorial 4 minute read Thursday, Mar. 9, 2023

In the current political climate, in which co-operation and consensus-building are viewed mostly as quaint and antiquated notions, the idea that elected officials from across the political spectrum should unite on a single topic seems as close to impossible as the business of governing can become.

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Thursday, Mar. 9, 2023

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Local - Politics Physical Appearance

Hon. Rochelle Squires, Riel Minister of Families, in her office prepping for QP Wednesday.

For feature story on Politics physical appearance by Danielle.

March 1st, 2023

Transparency, accountability key to police trust

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Transparency, accountability key to police trust

Editorial 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023

Police forces internationally are suffering from a crisis of public confidence. There are valid reasons for concern.

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Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Winnipeg Police Service cruiser car

Staffing crucial to solve child-care crisis

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Staffing crucial to solve child-care crisis

Editorial 3 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023

Last week’s announcement by the federal and provincial governments to reduce child-care fees in Manitoba to $10 a day is an important first step in expanding access to early childhood learning.

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Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023

Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press files

City, province must act to stop ruin of Point Douglas

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City, province must act to stop ruin of Point Douglas

Editorial 3 minute read Monday, Mar. 6, 2023

Black clouds drifting over the Point Douglas neighbourhood lately should be warning Mayor Scott Gillingham and Premier Heather Stefanson where that innermost part of the city is headed: up in smoke.

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Monday, Mar. 6, 2023

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Fire at 800 block of Main Street last week.

No real strings attached to health-care deal

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No real strings attached to health-care deal

Editorial 3 minute read Monday, Mar. 6, 2023

The only thing certain about the $6.7-billion agreement in principle Manitoba signed last week with Ottawa on health-care funding is that more federal dollars will flow to provincial coffers over the next 10 years.

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Monday, Mar. 6, 2023

Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press files

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Altering national anthem not unpatriotic

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Altering national anthem not unpatriotic

Editorial 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 3, 2023

The old saying about sticks and stones tells us words can never hurt us, but there’s no doubt they make an impact.

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Friday, Mar. 3, 2023

Chris Young/The Canadian Press files

Toronto singer Jully Black

Tory promises can’t rekindle voter romance

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Tory promises can’t rekindle voter romance

Editorial 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 3, 2023

It’s a scene that has been played out countless times in movies in which a broken relationship is a central theme:

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Friday, Mar. 3, 2023

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Premier Heather Stefanson has apparently decided it’s time to for a last-ditch gesture aimed at convincing whoever in the voting public will listen that this relationship can, and indeed should, be salvaged.

Poverty reduction needs sustainable approach

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Poverty reduction needs sustainable approach

Editorial 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

The season of giving has come and gone, yet, as usual, the need remains.

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Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Luke Thiessen of Siloam Mission.

Ottawa stumbles on road to reconciliation

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Ottawa stumbles on road to reconciliation

Editorial 4 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

Canada, it is often argued, is making meaningful progress on the road to reconciliation. Whether that’s true is the subject of ongoing debate. In every journey, however, the forward-progressive steps are inevitably punctuated with occasional and unfortunate missteps.

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Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

SEAN KILPATRICK / CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller

Election-meddling inquiry must be nonpartisan

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Election-meddling inquiry must be nonpartisan

Editorial 3 minute read Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

The Canadian public is being teased and troubled by anonymous hints and allegations about surreptitious Chinese interference in our elections. The hints are plausible enough to justify careful investigation by an authority free of political party influence.

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Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

A woman enters Maple High School in Vaughan, Ont., to cast her vote in the Canadian federal election in 2015. (Peter Power / The Canadian Press files)

‘Milgaard’s Law’ a step in the right direction

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‘Milgaard’s Law’ a step in the right direction

Editorial 4 minute read Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

The federal government’s decision to create an independent commission to review wrongful convictions is a historic and long overdue innovation for the criminal justice system.

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Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

Chris Young / The Canadian Press files

David Milgaard

Hazy health-care plan lacks real details

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Hazy health-care plan lacks real details

Editorial 3 minute read Friday, Feb. 24, 2023

Manitobans continue to be left in the dark over the Stefanson government’s alleged plan to hire, retain and train 2,000 health care workers. It may be aptly described as an “alleged” plan, since the province continues to provide few, if any, details about the program, including when and how it expects to solve an acute staffing shortage in hospital emergency rooms.

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Friday, Feb. 24, 2023

MIKAELA MACKENZIE/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Health Minister Audrey Gordon

Diplomatic steps vital to end war in Ukraine

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Diplomatic steps vital to end war in Ukraine

Editorial 4 minute read Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023

The resilience of Ukraine and its people since missiles and bombs began besieging its cities and Russian forces invaded the country a year ago has inspired many parts of the free world.

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Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023

EFREM LUKATSKY / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Justice grounded in northern courts

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Justice grounded in northern courts

Editorial 3 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023

A decision to privatize Manitoba Justice air services has done a grave disservice to people in northern Manitoba who depend on aviation to keep the wheels of justice turning in their communities.

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Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023

Exchange Income Corp. owns hangars and aircraft operating under carriers such as Bearskin Airlines, Calm Air, Custom Helicopters, Keewatin Air and Perimeter Aviation. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Rouleau report reveals flaws in information sharing

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Rouleau report reveals flaws in information sharing

Editorial 3 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023

Ottawa police commanders did not know what had hit them when the so-called freedom convoy rolled into the capital on Jan. 28 last year. They figured the anti-vaccine demonstrators would park their transport trucks through the weekend, peacefully express their protest and then head back home.

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Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023

(The Canadian Press File)

Trucks participating in a cross-country convoy protesting measures taken by authorities to curb the spread of COVID-19 parked on Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Jan. 28. An inquiry into the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act to break up the protest has heard from residents who describe the problems they faced during the occupation.

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