In yesterday’s Throne Speech, the Manitoba government promised to build an overpass at Highway 1 and 5 near Carberry, the site of a deadly bus crash two years ago. Design work is to begin next year. On Thursday afternoon at 2:00, Premier Wab Kinew and Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor will attend a public meeting in Carberry to discuss the project – which could cost well over $100-million.
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A proposed $3-billion combustion turbine facility in Brandon was also announced in yesterday’s Throne Speech. The additional turbines would be installed at the Brandon Generating Station, and be in place by 2030. Manitoba Hydro says the facility is needed because it anticipates power shortages in the coming years. Other highlights from the Speech include twinning Highway 1 to the Ontario border – a plan to create a police task force to target the meth trade – ending mandatory overtime for health care workers and eliminating sick notes. And the government also pledged four new schools and over 400 daycare spots.
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A proposal for a cell tower on 34th Street in Brandon was voted down at city council last night, despite a warning that service in the area could worsen when a Rogers tower is decommissioned next year. About 40 people showed up opposing the planned site including a toxicologist who said there’s the potential children in the neighbourhood could be exposed to a lifetime of radiation.
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The province is to conduct a test of the ‘Alert Ready’ system this afternoon. The alarm will go off at 1:55 pm on all compatible cellphones, and will interrupt radio and TV broadcasts. The system is designed to warn us about floods, wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, civil emergencies and amber alerts.
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Newer model, higher-priced SUV’s and pickups remain top targets for auto theft across Canada. With more than 2,000 reported stolen in 2024 – the Toyota RAV4 topped the list. The Toyota Highlander SUV and Tundra pickup also made the top 10 – along with the Honda CR-V, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Ram and Ford F-150.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney is on his way to Abu Dhabi today making him the first Canadian prime minister to visit the United Arab Emirates since 1983. He’s there to try and drum up investment to help diversify Canada’s economy in response to the U.S. trade war.
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England will ban the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic – a huge cause of pollution and sewer blockages…so-called ‘Fat Bergs’. Concern has been growing about the state of the country’s waterways and how it deals with sewage. In Canada, there’s no specific ban on flushing wet wipes, but you’re strongly encouraged to toss them in the trash.
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Some valuable pieces in the Hudson’s Bay’s art collection will hit the auction block today in Toronto. The star of the auction is a 1935 painting by former British prime minister Winston Churchill that’s expected to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000.
