Annual state of the province speech in Manitoba takes on election campaign tone
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson delivered her annual state of the province speech Thursday with a bit more partisan messaging than usual.
The annual speech to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce traditionally involves a premier going over their accomplishments of the past year and focusing on economic development before a business crowd.
Stefanson touched on those but also said the provincial election slated for next October will be a choice between two very different visions for Manitoba on issues such as crime.
New rules, more thorough record-keeping could help find more murder victims, NDP says
Tighter rules and more thorough record keeping could help prevent cases where human remains are lost in landfills and murder victims' families are left dealing with an added layer of grief, Manitoba's Opposition NDP said Wednesday.
"At the end of the day, we have to give the … information to police that helps them do their job and that gets justice for families," Nahanni Fontaine, NDP justice critic, said in an interview. Fontaine is the caucus spokesperson for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.
Manitoba Hydro revises its rate-hike request, cites cut in government charges
Manitoba Hydro is reducing its request for rate increases for the next two years and is crediting a recent provincial government fee reduction.
Earlier this month, the Crown-owned utility said it would ask the provincial regulator, the Public Utilities Board, for rate hikes of 3.5 per cent in each of the next two years. The utility said Tuesday it is revising that request to two per cent in each year.
It's also revising its long-term projections, from annual rate hikes above the rate of inflation to rate hikes of two per cent annually for the next 19 years.
Manitoba politician pushes for crackdown on people who leave pets in vehicles
The Manitoba government may soon crack down on people who leave their pets in vehicles in extreme hot or cold weather.
A Progressive Conservative backbencher, Obby Khan, has introduced a private member's bill that would forbid people from leaving a pet unattended in a vehicle when the outside temperature is above 22 C or below -10 C.
There is an exception if the vehicle is left running and the climate control is on.
The proposal is similar to recent changes to Winnipeg's pet ownership bylaw, but it would extend the measure across the province.
Manitoba government cuts Crown utility fees, could keep energy rates low
The Manitoba government is sharply cutting fees it charges its Crown-owned energy utility in a move that could keep electricity rates down with an election less than a year away.
The Progressive Conservative government is halving two fees paid annually by Manitoba Hydro to the province — one for water rental and one for guaranteeing the utility's debt. The changes are retroactive to April 1.
The move will save the Crown corporation almost $190 million a year and help stabilize its finances, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen said Wednesday.
Manitoba considers move to permanent daylight time, but there are conditions
The Manitoba government is planning to do away with seasonal time changes and move to permanent daylight time, but only if the United States leads the way and the idea gets public support.
Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke introduced a bill in the legislature Thursday that would let the province ditch the annual ritual of moving clocks forward an hour in March and back an hour in November.
The aim, she said, is to stay in sync with trading partners south of the border if the U.S. adopts permanent daylight time.
Manitoba Hydro seeks rate hikes and issues warning about government targets
Manitoba Hydro is asking the provincial regulator, the Public Utilities Board, to approve electricity rate increases of 3.5 per cent in each of the next two years.
It also warns that it will likely need rate hikes above the rate of inflation in the future if it is to meet government debt-reduction targets.
Manitoba's pre-election throne speech promises better health care, less crime
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government promised to improve health care, tackle crime and set up new oversight for teachers in a pre-election throne speech Tuesday.
The annual speech, which outlines the government's priorities for the coming year, pledges 1,000 addiction treatment spaces and new infrastructure to upgrade or replace aging hospitals.
The province also plans to increase the involvement of the private sector in delivering diagnostic services and surgeries.
The pedestal of a toppled statue at the Manitoba legislature is being removed
The last remnant of a statue of Queen Victoria on the front lawn of the Manitoba legislature is being cleared away in the coming days, more than a year after the statue was toppled.
The large pedestal that served as the base of the statue remained intact and will soon undergo maintenance work.
There is still no decision on what may become of the statue and the pedestal, and the provincial government is examining options for a new statue or other structure to put in its place.
Manitoba government passes several bills into law before legislature break
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government passed several bills into law Thursday night covering items ranging from electricity to weeds before the legislature's autumn break.
One bill approved in a final vote sets debt-reduction targets for Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro and caps annual rate increases. The government said the measures will keep increases reasonable while helping the utility's financial stability.