Portage

Every Monday, the Portage Learning Literacy Centre (PLLC) buzzes with laughter and the rustle of pages as children aged 7–10 gather for a book club designed to support immigrant families. The program, which launched in February 2025 with funding from First Book Canada and TD Bank, offers free books, snacks, and activities, making a welcoming space for kids to grow their English skills while connecting with other youth.

Portager Jack Klippenstein is making another trip across the Atlantic Ocean to compete in an elite tournament in Italy. Klippenstein has been working on his game with the U13 Central Plains Capitals, which has a team in action for the first time in about 15 years, he says.

Klippenstein's journey to Italy began with his impressive performance in Calgary.

The drama continues at Oak Tree Towers in Portage la Prairie. Portage MLA Jeff Bereza delivered a Private Member’s Statement at last week’s Manitoba Legislative Assembly, outlining ongoing ordeals at the facility as residents remain fearful of what might happen next.

Bereza issued a stark warning about deteriorating conditions at Oak Tree Towers, a once-peaceful 55-plus housing complex now plagued by crime and neglect. Speaking in the legislature, he detailed disturbing accounts from seniors who describe feeling trapped.

The expectation is we should all see immediate relief at the pumps today as the consumer carbon price is officially set to zero.

Liberal leader Mark Carney, shortly after winning the party's leadership race, signed an order in council making the removal official on April 1st. The carbon price came with a quarterly rebate to offset the cost of inflation; the final rebate will come in April.

From Portage Terriers Marketing Director Cody Buhler

The Portage Terriers finished off their first round series with the Steinbach Pistons on Monday night picking up a close 3-2 win on home ice.

After starting slow in game five, the Terriers came out strong in the deciding game six. Dawson Madden opened the scoring for Portage, tipping in a point shot midway through the first period. The goal seemed to wake up the Pistons who got on the board two minutes later from Brayden Barnett.

Many workers in Manitoba are set to see a slight increase in their wages this fall.

The Manitoba government says the minimum wage is to go up by 20 cents to $16 an hour.

The increase is to take effect on Oct. 1.

Manitoba's minimum wage is updated annually and tied to inflation.

The government says the latest increase reflects the province's 2024 inflation rate of 1.1 per cent.

The federal minimum wage for employees in the federally regulated private sector is $17.75.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2025.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney promised Monday to get the federal government back into the business of home building, while Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives pitched a national energy corridor to fast-track approval of key infrastructure.

The New Democrats rolled out their own national project — a promise to help retrofit 3.3 million homes and pay for it by cutting supports for big oil and gas companies. 

Manitoba farmer Tyler Fulton is the new President of the Canadian Cattle Association. The Birtle area cattle producer moved into the role during the organization's recent annual meeting in Ottawa.

"Well, I'm excited," shared Fulton. "I'm a little tentative just given the political environment and the geopolitical environment and the reliance on trade. Overall, I feel well prepared, well supported, and so in that sense I'm excited to take on the challenge, and do my best to just represent cattle producers across the country with all the sectors covered off."

Southern Manitoba faces a mix of lingering snow and delayed warmth as April begins, with Environment Canada meteorologist Justin Shelley outlining a week of cooler temperatures and scattered flurries before potential double-digit highs arrive.

Unsettled pattern brings light snow

Shelley notes a "relatively unsettled pattern" dominates the forecast. "There aren’t any big systems of note," he says, "but a weak system on Tuesday could produce a couple of centimetres of snow." 

Flurries may persist through Friday, though accumulations remain minimal.

UPDATE #2:

As a result of the ongoing investigation into the death of the 37-year-old male inmate at the Stony Mountain Institution on July 22, 2024, RCMP Major Crime Services has now made additional arrests and have charged the following additional six men with 2nd Degree Murder.