Manitoba politicians will vote today on imposing fines on former Progressive Conservative premier Heather Stefanson, and two of her cabinet ministers. In May, the ethics commissioner ruled they violated conflict of interest legislation by pushing for a sand-extraction licence for an Alberta mining company after the PC’s lost the 2023 election. Stefanson faces a fine of $18,000.
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Manitoba’s NDP government wants to get the province to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The plan is to create a new climate change-focused cabinet committee, as well as jobs in the low-carbon economy. It also involves collaborating with Ottawa on a national marine conservation area in Hudson Bay, and working with Indigenous nations on renewable energy initiatives.
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Brandon city councillors are expected to vote on installing a new electric vehicle charging station for city vehicles. The 4 ports at the A.R. McDiarmid Civic Complex could reportedly cost over $100,000. Mayor Jeff Fawcett told the Brandon Sun the city’s EV’s are used all the time, and will save money in the long run.
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The federal government has rejected an application for Brandon’s Chinese head tax monument to be named a national historic site. It says the site is not at least 40-years-old. The sculpture was unveiled in 2011 to commemorate the tax on Chinese immigrants between the 1880’s and 1923.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals will table their budget on November 4th, and say going forward, they’ll continue with fall budgets. For years, the documents have been released in the spring. The prediction is the new budget will see the federal deficit rise to nearly $70-billion.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to have his second meeting with American president Donald Trump in the Oval Office today. They’ve been in constant contact since they last met at the White House in May, Experts don’t expect Trump will drop tariffs, but for Carney it’s about playing the long game.
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“Freedom Convoy” leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are expected to learn their sentences today. They led a protest four years ago that blocked downtown Ottawa for several weeks. They were both found guilty of mischief, and could each face between 7 and 8 years in prison.
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This story out of Newfoundland is likely part of a country-wide trend. In the last month, 6 people have arrived at Gander airport looking to meet someone they met online, only to find that person doesn’t exist. It’s called ‘catfishing’ – using a fake persona to typically get money from victims. You’re being asked to be aware if family members, especially older ones, seem to be involved with someone online.
