Steady May inflation figures don't make the case for rate cuts: economists

May inflation figures showed marginal improvements in some of the Bank of Canada's closely watched price figures — a step in the right direction, some economists say, but likely not enough to convince the central bank to cut interest rates.

The annual pace of inflation held steady at 1.7 per cent last month as cooling shelter costs helped tame price pressures, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.

Assiniboine Park Zoo mourns sudden loss of young gibbon

The Assiniboine Park Zoo is mourning the loss of one of its white-handed gibbons. 

On Tuesday, the zoo announced that four-year-old Merrick passed suddenly.

"Merrick was a brave and adventurous gibbon. He was the typical middle child – a rowdy, handful little brother to Salju, and an amazing big brother to Maavi," said the zoo. "He was very attentive when Maavi was born and loved taking her on adventures around the habitat. While mom Maya was always close by, he didn’t always want to give Maavi back!"

Crime bill with tougher bail, sentencing provisions coming in fall: justice minister

The Liberal government will table a bill this fall introducing stricter bail conditions and sentencing for some crimes, particularly those involving organized crime, human trafficking, home invasion and car theft, Justice Minister Sean Fraser said in an interview.

"It's perhaps obvious, given the tenor around the criminal justice system, that reforms are in order," Fraser told The Canadian Press.

Meat producers warn internal trade bill could cause blowback with trade partners

The Canadian Meat Council is warning that the Liberal government’s legislation to ease the movement of goods and services within Canada could actually undermine red meat exports.

Lauren Martin, senior director of public affairs for the organization, says the bill is raising questions about whether it could lead the federal government to recognize provincial rules for inspecting meat processing facilities as equal to federal standards.

École Charleswood students unveil mural honouring nature and Indigenous teachings

École Charleswood School is home to a new large mural.

With guidance from mural artist Fred Thomas, Grade 7 and 8 students helped design and paint the new artwork, The Passage.

The art piece was inspired by things the students learned after trips to Tom Chester Park, Assiniboine Forest, Oak Hammock Marsh and Brokenhead Wetland.

The seven sacred teachings can be found within the painting as well as the four traditional medicines, with every inch of the mural created with intention and detail.

Fixing problems with Phoenix payroll system cost taxpayers $5.1 billion: official

A top federal official said fixing the payroll problems caused by Phoenix cost taxpayers more than $5 billion — and they'll keep paying extra to run two public service payroll platforms at once as Ottawa weans itself off the problem-plagued system.

Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, said the alternative to running the Phoenix system in tandem with its replacement, Dayforce, would have been worse.

"The unfortunate situation is there's no easy path," he said. "This is the one that's going to impact employees the least."

Pedestrians to return to Portage and Main after 46 years this Friday

The iconic Portage & Main intersection in downtown Winnipeg is set to open up to pedestrians on Friday. 

The busy roadway has been closed to pedestrians since 1979.

In March 2024, Mayor Scott Gillingham recommended the intersection be reopened, as the costs to repair the Portage and Main underground began to soar. 

Construction to take down the barricades at Portage and Main began in October 2024, with several lane closures throughout the following months. 

'Like my big brother': Survivor of Banff rockfall says friend who died saved him

A survivor of a rockfall last week in Banff National Park is remembering his 33-year-old roommate, who didn't make it out alive from under the rubble, as a kind and generous friend.

Khaled Elgamal says Hamza Benhilal of Surrey, B.C., was one of two people who died after a slab of mountain gave way Thursday, raining rock down on hikers at Bow Glacier Falls, about 200 kilometres northwest of Calgary.

Manitoba lifts state of emergency as wildfire threat improves

Manitoba has lifted its provincewide state of emergency. 

Premier Wab Kinew announced that as of Monday at noon, the state of emergency under the Emergency Measures Act has been rescinded as many Manitobans have started to make their way home. Kinew says though we are still in a very serious situation, battling the wildfires is something that can be done through "normal government powers." He adds it is important to have a light touch when it comes to something as serious as declaring a state of emergency. 

Applying for building permits in Winnipeg just got easier

The permit process will now be more convenient for Winnipeggers following an upgrade to Permits Online. 

It is a one-stop shop to manage the full permit process. Customers will now be able to manage the web portal from their mobile device. The portal is also accessible and uses secure, cloud-based digital technology.

Users who are registered can now: