Portage

Tariffs and trade are top of the agenda as the country's premiers arrive in Ontario's cottage country for a three-day meeting that comes at a pivotal time for both Canada-U.S. and domestic relations.

The premiers' summer gathering in Muskoka will also feature a Tuesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, as trade talks with the United States are expected to intensify.

After 45 years in their Jasper home, it took mere minutes for Wes Bradford's quaint mountain abode to burn to a pile of ash.

A year later, he and his wife are itching to rebuild. They've hired a contractor and designer, and their insurance will cover the expected $1-million price tag. But they can't start yet — not until their empty lot, currently a flat mound of dirt, has been declared contaminant-free.

"We're up against the wall," says Bradford, after meeting their builder in Jasper the day before.

Choosing the right replacement heifers is more important than ever for cattle producers, especially with today’s record-high calf prices.

“Replacement heifers represent the genetic potential of a producer’s operation,” says Alexis DeCorby, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Yorkton office.

“They’re a costly investment that requires about two years of inputs before they produce a live calf.”

Start taking some notes.

The upcoming Portage District General Hospital is set to transform how residents access health services, with two distinct public entrances replacing the single-entry design of the current facility. Implementation Lead for Clinical Programming Kyle MacNair says the changes are intentional and aim to minimize walking distances while separating traffic flow for different kinds of care.

Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox is applauding the Manitoba government’s recent announcement to expand its electronic monitoring program, which will add up to 100 new ankle monitors to track offenders released on bail across the province.

“We are very glad to see the province expanding the ankle monitoring program. It’s definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to keeping our communities safe and especially holding those repeat offenders accountable here in Portage,” Knox says.

A long-awaited resurfacing project is now underway on Highway 26 between the junctions of Meadows Road and Highway 248, covering an 18-kilometre stretch west of St. François Xavier. 

While it’s been a dry year across much of southern Manitoba, local vegetable growers near Portage la Prairie say the 2025 harvest is holding up surprisingly well.

Rebecca McKay, who helps run Kyle’s Fresh Vegetables just outside of Austin, says the growing conditions have been challenging, but manageable.

“Our slough is a little bit drier than normal, so we’re definitely battling with that,” she remarks. “But we’re managing.”

McKay notes that the plot used for vegetable production covers about seven acres, and the growing season so far has been steady.

Producers are being urged to monitor livestock closely during hazy days as we've had in the Portage la Prairie area for several days due to wildfire smoke.

Saint Claude-based veterinarian Marc Philippot with the Saint Claude Veterinary Clinic says there is no formal alert or advisory from Manitoba’s livestock authorities regarding smoke exposure in cattle, but he confirms it is a concern that vets are watching.

The Bank of Canada has largely kept to the sidelines as it tries to get a sense of how U.S. tariffs will impact the economy — and some economists think it might just stay there.

After a quarter-point cut in March, the central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.75 per cent in April and June.

With last month's jobs figures showing a surprise gain and core inflation levels holding steady at around three per cent, economists now broadly expect the central bank will continue its holding pattern at its next decision on July 30.

Drivers in Portage la Prairie should prepare for a full road closure on a busy stretch of Crescent Road West.

The City says starting at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2025, both eastbound and westbound lanes of Crescent Road W between 4th Street SW and 12th Street SW will be shut down for road construction.

The section is currently limited to eastbound closures only.

According to the city, the intention is to reopen the road by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 2.

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and follow all signage in the area.