Steinbach

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is expected to introduce a bill today spelling out the federal government's next steps on border security.

The recent throne speech promised legislation to bolster security at Canada's borders and new tools for police and intelligence agencies to help them stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and its precursors.

The government also said the Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to examine goods destined for export to prevent the movement of illegal and stolen products, including cars.

The federal government plans to work urgently to remove Chinese tariffs on Canadian agriculture and seafood products, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday.

"The Canadian government is engaging with its Chinese counterparts at the ministerial level and we'll continue those discussions," Carney told reporters after meeting with premiers in Saskatoon.

"They're a top priority for us." 

The commitment came in a statement after the meeting and it says premiers want Canada's trading relationship with China to improve. 

Manitoba politicians reached a deal to speed passage of a free trade bill Monday, hours before the legislature was to break for the summer. More than 30 other bills were also set to be approved on the last day of the spring sitting.

The trade bill, based on a deal with Ontario, would remove trade and labour barriers for some goods and services between Manitoba and other jurisdictions that pass similar laws. Other provinces have recently joined the effort, as part of a national plan to boost the economy and respond to tariffs imposed by the United States.

Chase Stegall, the 20-year-old son of Winnipeg Blue Bombers legend Milt Stegall, has died.

The Blue Bombers confirmed the news in a statement shared Monday by team President and CEO Wade Miller.

“We are heartbroken to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of Chase Stegall, beloved son of Blue Bombers legend Milt Stegall,” said Miller. “Chase was a bright and talented young man with a promising future, and his loss is felt deeply across our entire Blue Bombers family.

Manitoba remains in a provincewide state of emergency, due to rapidly spreading wildfires and extreme fire conditions. 

The Manitoba Wildfire Service (MWS) reports the majority of Manitoba is under extreme fire danger today with small pockets of high fire danger. Human activity continues to significantly contribute to Manitoba's current wildfire situation. Today's precipitation, while welcome, is not enough to contribute towards wildfire suppression efforts and comes with the risk of lightning starts from thunderstorms.

Southeastern Manitoba has finally received rain after a lengthy dry spell.

It's been a dry spring all around. According to Environment Canada, over the whole season, Steinbach received about 64 mm of precipitation, down from the normal 122 mm.

With the threat of fires, and seed in the ground, rainfall is welcomed by fire fighters and farmers alike.  

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Monday hotels in Winnipeg are opening up to thousands of evacuees who have fled their homes due to raging wildfires.

Speaking ahead of the premiers' conference in Saskatoon, Kinew said some 1,000 hotel rooms are being made available for evacuees in the province's capital city.

"Nobody wants to sleep on a cot for more than a day or two, even in an emergency," Kinew said.

"We're connecting folks who need those enhanced accessibility supports first and then broadening it out to everybody else who needs help, too."

The Senior Climatologist for Environment Canada says May was a remarkable month for weather. 

David Phillips says it is quite possible that the 35.9 degrees that was recorded one day last month in Steinbach, will go down as the hottest day of the year. And believe it or not, that happened in the first half of the month, on May 13th. 

May produced five days of at least 30 degrees in Steinbach. Phillips says on average, Steinbach sees fewer than one of those annually in May.