A spring storm that has hit the region will continue the rest of the day before ending late this evening. Brandon has received several centimetres, but the heaviest snowfall was in the Parkland region around Dauphin where some highways were closed.
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The Manitoba government is granting $1.5 million to the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters to develop a program to support industries impacted by Trump tariffs. Premier Wab Kinew has also directed the civil service to ensure that from now on – Canadian-made steel is used for any government projects. The U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum earlier this month.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to have a phone conversation in the coming days. It’ll be the first talk between the two since Carney became Prime Minister. Word is Canada may get some reprieve from automobile tariffs. Carney says Trump’s office reached out earlier this week to schedule the call.
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For the second day in a row, Liberal Leader Mark Carney has been pulled away from campaigning to discuss Trump’s tariffs. He’s to meet virtually with Canada’s premiers today to talk about the country’s response to the latest
U-S duties – 25% tariffs on automobile imports.
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The province is looking south to America to recruit nurses. The government says it’s responding to a spike in interest from U-S health-care workers, and will offer incentives including a $5,000 relocation fund.
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A 36-year-old Brandon man faces new charges after a second person alleges he uploaded intimate images to an adult website without their consent. Police say the man was was originally charged in 2021 in connection
with the first victim, and received a custodial sentence. He’s to appear in court in May.
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Researchers at the University of BC are working on a stir stick that can detect drugs in drinks to help prevent sexual assaults. ‘Real-world testing’ is to begin soon with the goal of commercializing the idea. The device called ‘Spikeless’ – which looks like an ordinary stir stick – would change colour if a drink is contaminated with drugs like GHB and ketamine.
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It’s Spring Break for the kids next week – and the annual Royal Manitoba Winter Fair gets underway at Brandon’s Keystone Centre. This year, the fair is celebrating 55 years of its ‘Royal’ designation. The event featuring livestock shows, entertainment, food vendors and more begins Monday morning with ‘Breakfast at the Dome Building’.