Manitoba Monitor: Weekly news roundup for September 18
- Manitoba moves to permanent daylight saving time
The Manitoba government announced Thursday that the province will remain on daylight saving time permanently, meaning clocks will not go back on Nov. 1. The decision follows a public consultation that received nearly 72,000 responses. Of those surveyed, 92 per cent supported ending seasonal clock changes, with 58 per cent favouring permanent daylight saving time and 34 per cent preferring permanent standard time.
- Winnipeg police officer charged with sexual assault and other offences
A Winnipeg police officer with 20 years of service faces charges including sexual assault, assault by choking an intimate partner, breaking and entering and committing assault, and two counts of uttering threats. Police say responding officers found a man assaulting a woman inside a home on Wednesday night. The woman reported that he had broken in and threatened to kill her. The officer was taken into custody, and the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has been notified.
- Businessman and philanthropist Doug Harvey die
Winnipeg businessman and philanthropist Doug Harvey has died. In a statement Wednesday, Mayor Scott Gillingham praised Harvey’s contributions to the city’s economy and his support for non-profit organizations, community boards and fundraising campaigns. Gillingham also recalled Harvey’s induction into the Manitoba Business Hall of Fame, where he credited his family and staff for his success.
- Manitoba aims to triple critical mineral production
At the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto on Tuesday, the Manitoba government announced plans to triple critical mineral production as the mining sector expands over the next five years. Planned measures include faster environmental licensing for advanced projects, streamlined early exploration and additional staff to process approvals. The province also plans to address electricity connections for mining projects and increase mineral exports through the Port of Churchill.
- Nomination period opens for Winnipeg election candidates
The nomination period for Winnipeg mayoral, council and school trustee candidates opened Wednesday. Candidates must submit their papers in person to the senior election official at the City Clerk’s Department. Mayoral candidates need at least 250 signatures from voters on the voters list. Council and school trustee candidates need at least 25 signatures from voters on the list for the ward in which they are running. The deadline is 4:30 p.m. on September 22.
- Free youth transit launches in Brandon
The Manitoba government announced more than $1 million in funding Thursday to provide free transit for Brandon youth. The program covers those aged six to 17, as well as high school students aged 18 to 21. Passes are being distributed through schools, with distribution moving to the Brandon Transit Information Centre in November. The province says families could save more than $700 annually per child.
- Manitoba expands emergency medicine training
The province announced Wednesday that annual emergency medicine residency positions at the University of Manitoba have increased from 11 to 17. The expansion includes additional seats in both the five-year emergency medicine residency and the one-year program for family physicians seeking further emergency medicine training. All 17 positions were filled for the current intake, with residents beginning their training July 1.
- Francophone communities receive funding for recreation and cultural projects
Seven projects in Manitoba’s rural francophone and bilingual communities will share more than $330,000 in provincial funding announced Tuesday. Projects include upgrades to the Saint-Laurent Heritage Library, an accessible playground in Île-des-Chênes and improvements to the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes arena. Funding will also support a park commemorating Métis musicians in Woodridge and free skating and broomball programs for children and youth in St. Laurent.
Graham McDonald, U Multicultural Journalism and Media Arts Centr