The union for about 55,000 Canada Post workers says the latest offers from the corporation ‘fall short’ and without a deal today, employees will be on strike shortly after midnight. The union says on wages, Canada Post has offered 13.5% over 4 years, while it’s looking for around 19%. Other sore points include a proposal to add more part-timers – and a plan to remove workers ‘five-minute wash-up time’.
———-
According to the province, the wildfire danger is moderate throughout Manitoba, however the southeast corner and northwest remain dry. Parts of Whiteshell Provincial Park a safe distance away from an out-of-control wildfire have reopened, but all seasonal and nightly campsites remain closed. There are 12 active wildfires across the province, and we’ve had a total of 85 to date.
———-
A cabin burned down at Falcon Lake in the Whiteshell this week, but RCMP believe it wasn’t caused by a wildfire. They say there’s a “very strong possibility” arson destroyed the cottage once owned by disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard. The new owner had been reportedly renovating the property with the hopes of opening a bed and breakfast.
———-
Measles cases continue to rise in the province. The total now sits at 60 confirmed cases with four more probable ones – up from 44 and 4 probable cases last week. To try and halt the spread, the province says infants as young as 6-months-old, who live in the Southern and Interlake Health Regions, are eligible for the vaccine. Most of Manitoba’s exposures and cases have been located in those two health regions.
———-
A report has found former premier Heather Stefanson and two of her cabinet ministers, Cliff Cullen and Jeff Wharton, acted improperly by pushing for the approval of a silica sand mining project. Manitoba’s Ethics Commissioner says they tried to get the project ‘green lit’ after the Tories lost the 2023 election – but before the new NDP government was sworn in. The three could face fines of up to $18,000.
———-
There are no plans yet to get rid of parking meters in Brandon, but Winnipeg is preparing to remove pay stations from streets and city-run parking lots this summer. Once gone, drivers will be expected to pay for on-street parking using prepaid parking booklets or PayByPhone, which is available as a mobile app. Removing pay stations will save almost $5-million, but some are asking what if you don’t have a credit card or phone to use the mobile app? While others say the app doesn’t always work properly.
———-
Finance ministers from the G7 are wrapping up their summit in Banff with discussions including the global trade system upended by U-S President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Other topics on the agenda are artificial intelligence
and the war in Ukraine.
———-
Canada is considering joining in U.S. President Donald Trump’s new Golden Dome missile defence program. Prime Minister Mark Carney says high-level discussions are underway, but he refused to provide a number for how much Canada might contribute to the massive undertaking. The project could cost $175-billion.
