A record number of Canadians – 7.3-million – voted at advance polls over the long weekend; that’s a 25% increase from the 5.8-million who voted in the advance polls in the 2021 federal election. Elections Canada says it’s too early to say whether the record-high advance turnout will lead to higher voter turnout for the election overall, but it’s a sign Canadians are engaged. Election Day is next Monday, April 28th.
———-
A debate between candidates for the Brandon-Souris riding will be held tonight at Brandon University. It starts at 7:00 pm in the Evans Theatre. Conservative Grant Jackson and New Democrat Quentin Robinson will take part, but Liberal candidate Ghazanfar Ali Tarar is not expected to be there. He’s been in Winnipeg attending to a family matter.
———-
As we near election day, attacks from federal party leaders are heating up. Liberal leader Mark Carney says the Tory platform relies on “phantom math” – while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says the Liberal platform was authored for former prime minister Justin Trudeau. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, meanwhile, is seeing support for his party dwindle, with the Green Party falling below them.
———-
Manitoba RCMP continue to investigate a fatal crash near Virden that happened last Friday. A 20-year-old woman was killed when her vehicle collided with a pick-up truck on the Trans-Canada at Highway 83. The 74-year-old driver of the truck suffered non-life threatening injuries.
———-
The province has lifted a ban on growing your own pot plants. Starting May 1st, Manitobans aged 19 and older can farm up to 4 plants – but they must be grown indoors and secured away from kids.
———-
A new study, meanwhile, has found the legalization of cannabis products in Canada may be linked to growing use among teens. Teen use is up 26-percent overall – while just the use of edibles rose 43-percent. Experts say using
cannabis during adolescence, especially heavy use, could alter brain development.
———-
Tuesday was Earth Day and the Manitoba government announced plans to spend $2-million to fight climate change. The province highlighted funding for 35 eco-friendly projects: everything from reducing greenhouse gases and enhancing watershed districts – to installing new EV charging stations in several locations – Brandon included.
