-Premier Wab Kinew says he’s not going to fulfil a 2023 election promise. The promise was to regulate gas prices; in Manitoba. The concern appears to be, that companies in regulated environments might apply for higher prices than needed, to ensure they’re protected against any sudden, unexpected change. Kinew argues the permanent tax reduction is more effective than regulation would be. The GasBuddy listed Manitoba as having the second-lowest average gas price among provinces, behind Alberta.
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-Manitoba Public Insurance saved taxpayers $17 million dollars last year. This, after more than 26-hundred fraudulent claims were investigated. MPI says that “insurance fraud has a cost.
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-Manitoba has officially lowered the self-referral breast cancer screening age from 50 to 45. The Manitoba Government says those individuals aged 45 and older can start booking appointments on Jan. 2. Why? The Health Minister says Earlier screening saves lives and lowers the self-referral age, helping more Manitobans get the care they need.
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-The HMCS Brandon won’t be given a new home in Brandon after all. This from Mayor Jeff Fawcett. The Brandon Sun says Officials have ruled out moving the recently retired ship to Brandon, because of the logistics and cost of transporting it. Mayor Fawcett says conversations have also started on potentially getting a naval reserve base in Brandon.
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-The Manitoba Trucking Association is pushing for a ‘trusted employer’ within Canadian immigration programs. This, in an effort to prevent worker abuse. The M-T-A wants a program to show foreign workers how things are done, and help them get a drivers license and social insurance number. The executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association, plans to pitch the certification to Ottawa in 2026.
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-The rural doctor shortage in Southwestern Manitoba is about to get better. That’s because Minnedosa and Killarney have hired four new doctors who are already on the job. In Killarney, the two new doctors are a husband and wife team. Southwestern Manitoba communities are paying a recruiting firm 6-figure sums to find physicians. Doctors Manitoba says our province ranks second-last in Canada when it comes to physicians per capita, and rural areas are hit the hardest.
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-Tim Hortons at the Brandon Regional Health Centre has finally re-opened. The Brandon Sun says the outlet closed for repairs September 11th, after Prairie Mountain Health sued Tim Horton’s’ licensing company February 6th. P-M-H said Tim’s is responsible for the flooding in the walls that caused mold in a dialysis unit and boardroom. Prairie Mountain Health declined to comment on the matter. Its unclear whether the lawsuit had been settled or if the court proceedings are ongoing.
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-The City of Brandon’s skating oval got a massive new expansion. It just opened last week and it’s close to double the size. The Brandon Sun says the area adjacent to the main oval was expanded and with the Westman Speed Skating Club using this skating oval for training, it just made good safety sense. The Wheat City Golf course also received upgrades to its cross-country skiing trails, as well as its Tobogganing hills.
