Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press

A strike by thousands of health-care workers in Manitoba has been called off after their union says it reached a tentative deal on a new contract. 

The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals says the strike planned for today is postponed until workers can vote on the tentative agreement.  

The union says 7,000 of its members, including paramedics, physiotherapists, midwives and social workers have been without a collective agreement since last April.

The Manitoba government signalled Thursday it may curtail exports of hydroelectricity to the United States in response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, but stopped short of cutting back supply immediately or adding surcharges.

The NDP government issued a directive to Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro that says cabinet approval is now needed for any new major power purchase or export contract with bodies in the U.S., or any extensions or cancellations of existing deals.

The Manitoba government is planning to eliminate a little-used rule that says students must sing "God Save the King" every school day.

The provision has not been enforced in decades but was recently revived in the Mountain View School Division in western Manitoba.

The move was met with public opposition from those who said it was not consistent with truth and reconciliation measures.

Education Minister Tracy Schmidt says the bill, if passed, would also require school boards set up a policy on land and treaty acknowledgments in schools.

Politicians are set to return to the Manitoba legislative chamber today amid economic fallout from U.S. tariffs and ongoing challenges in provincial health care.

Premier Wab Kinew says tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump will be a "serious economic headwind" as the NDP government prepares its spring budget.

He says one priority is protecting jobs during the uncertainty and that tax deferrals for businesses announced this week will help.

The Manitoba government offered tax deferrals to businesses in the province Tuesday and pulled United States products from liquor stores in response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Businesses affected by the tariffs will have the option of deferring payments of both the provincial sales tax and the health and post-secondary education tax levy — commonly called the payroll tax — for at least three months.

A Winnipeg man is showing signs of improvement after suffering horrific injuries in an explosion in Hawaii.

Darren Stevenson remains in hospital following a blast in a communal barbecue area at a resort last week.

Police in Maui have said seven people were injured, with three in critical condition, and the blast seems to have involved liquefied petroleum gas that supplies the barbecues.

Stevenson's friend, Randy Van de Mosselaer, says Stevenson suffered severe burns and complex bone fractures to his head, chest, and lower body.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says Manitoba hydroelectricity rates must remain affordable, partly in order to help people switch from other fuels and to help the environment.

Kinew's NDP government promised a one-year rate freeze on electricity in the last election, and Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro says it will ask provincial regulators to keep rates frozen this year.

The utility also says it needs money to maintain and upgrade infrastructure, and has commissioned an opinion poll with a number of options for the future.

While the Manitoba government has promised to keep electricity rates low, the province's energy Crown corporation is asking people for their thoughts on a rate hike for electricity and changes that could see different rates applied at different times of the day.

Manitoba Hydro has commissioned an opinion poll saying it's faced with aging infrastructure and a growing demand for energy.

The poll covers a variety of topics and floats some options.

The Manitoba government's new advertising campaign encouraging people to spend their dollars in Manitoba and support local businesses is being questioned because some of the government money is being spent on international social media sites.

The government announced $140,000 on Wednesday for a four-week "Buy Local" ad campaign, aimed at supporting Manitoba businesses that may be harmed by tariffs threatened by the United States.

The Manitoba government launched a website and advertising campaign Wednesday to convince people to buy local products and support businesses threatened by potential tariffs from the United States.

The website links to retail associations, farm co-operatives and local shopping platforms within the province. The ad campaign will see $140,000 spent over the next month to urge consumers to spend their money with local businesses in mind.