Manitoba Monitor: Weekly news roundup for September 4
- Winnipeg mayoral race heats up as Kevin Klein enters
Former city councillor and Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Kevin Klein officially registered Thursday to run for mayor of Winnipeg, becoming the 12th candidate in the race. Incumbent Mayor Scott Gillingham criticized Klein’s previous vote against pursuing additional legal action related to the Winnipeg police headquarters scandal, while CUPE Local 500 also attacked Klein over comments on Canada-U.S. trade. Klein accused Gillingham of running a smear campaign and said some of the mayor’s comments are being reviewed by legal counsel. Winnipeg voters go to the polls Oct. 28.
- Manitoba expands rent-control coverage
More Manitoba rental units will fall under provincial rent-control rules beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The monthly rent threshold for units exempt from rent regulation will increase from $1,670 to $2,000. The province has also set the general rent-increase guideline for 2027 at three per cent.
- Manitoba names new trade representative in India
The Manitoba government has selected consulting firm Nueconomy to serve as the province’s trade representative in India. The firm has offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore and will work to promote Manitoba exports, with the province highlighting opportunities in agriculture, life sciences and manufacturing. Manitoba has budgeted $150,000 for the first year of the contract.
- Canada loses 42,000 jobs in August
Canada’s economy lost about 42,000 jobs in August, while the national unemployment rate remained at 6.4 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. Youth employment fell by 19,000 and the youth unemployment rate rose to 12.9 per cent. Manitoba’s unemployment rate remained at five per cent, with employment in the province little changed.
- Express Entry draw targets physicians with Canadian experience
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 229 invitations to apply for permanent residence Thursday through an Express Entry draw targeting physicians with Canadian work experience. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score was 198. The draw followed a Canadian Experience Class round on Sept. 1 and a Provincial Nominee Program draw on Aug. 31.
- Ottawa phases out advanced newcomer language classes
Advanced federally funded language classes for newcomers are being phased out as Ottawa reduces settlement-program spending. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says Stage 2 Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada and its French-language equivalent are being eliminated so funding can be concentrated on basic language instruction.
- Manitoba eliminates remaining child-care fees for some low-income families
About 4,100 children from 3,000 low-income Manitoba families will qualify for free child care beginning Sept. 13. The province is eliminating the remaining $2-per-day fee paid by families receiving the child-care subsidy. The government estimates eligible families could save between $520 and $2,600 per child annually.
- StandardAero opens major Winnipeg expansion
StandardAero has opened a roughly 70,000-square-foot expansion of its Winnipeg maintenance facility, increasing the site’s footprint by nearly 40 per cent. The Manitoba government contributed $3 million toward the project. StandardAero employs about 1,500 people across eight Winnipeg facilities.
Graham McDonald, U Multicultural Journalism and Media Arts Centr