Westman

The Manitoba government is responding to requests from Manitoba’s agricultural sector and opening two new Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) Service Centres in western Manitoba to better meet the needs of Manitoba farmers, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced here today.

Media Release - January 21, 2025

Canada's annual inflation rate ticked lower in December, thanks in part to Ottawa's temporary GST tax break, but economists still see interest rate cuts on the horizon as potential tariffs loom.

Statistics Canada said Tuesday the annual inflation reading for December came in at 1.8 per cent, down from 1.9 per cent in November. 

The report noted restaurant food purchases and alcohol bought from stores contributed the most to the deceleration — items which were subject to the tax reprieve, along with children's clothes and toys, among others.

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced details of the 2025 Agri-Insurance program, administered by Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) today.

“Farmers in Manitoba are known for delivering top-quality products to Canadians and the world,” said MacAulay. “It’s vitally important that they have access to flexible risk management programs to help them protect their operations, so they can keep meeting the demand for the products they produce.”

Motor Vehicle Accident

 On January 20th at 11:12 am Police were called to a single vehicle rollover on the 1st street bridge. A Ford Ranger was heading northbound on first street when it lost control, hit the guard rail and the vehicle flipped on its roof. The 89-year-old male driver was transported to Brandon Regional Health Center for non-life-threatening injuries. The accident is still under investigation.

Arrest Warrant

Captain of the Virden Oil Capitals Ethan Guthrie believes that since the holiday break, the Oil Caps are hitting their stride, ramping up toward what they hope is a special second half and into the playoffs. 

Last week, Portage la Prairie was the unwilling backdrop to the scene of a three-car accident which resulted in the death of an innocent young woman from High Bluff.  

No one should have to go out on the road, unsure if they will return back home, but this is becoming the reality for many. People drive too fast or under the influence and it doesn’t just put their own lives at risk; their choices endanger everyone else on the road as well. This begs the question: is there anything to be done to reduce the number of accidents on our roads?  

On Friday, January 17th, a two-vehicle collision near Carman prompted a swift response from the Carman-Dufferin Fire Department. The emergency call wasn’t made by a person but by an iPhone’s crash detection feature, marking the second successful use of the technology for the department in just three weeks. 

Funeral For:  Norma May Harder 
Funeral Date: At a later date 
Norma May Harder, 77, of Morris formerly of Rosenfeld, passed away Monday, January 20th at Boundary Trails Health Centre. She is survived by 1 sister, and 3 brothers. She was predeceased by her parents Erdman and Nelly Harder. 
A memorial service for Norma May Harder will be held at a later date, with ash interment at Rosenfeld Cemetery. 
Arrangements by Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler. 

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Donald Trump's suggestion that he will impose sweeping tariffs on Canada on Feb. 1 is "nothing new," and insists Canada has plans ready for several possible scenarios.

LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stepped out of a cabinet meeting in Montebello, Que. to deliver a statement to reassure Canadians after the newly installed U.S. president signed a stack of unrelated executive orders Monday evening.