Manitoba premier says Winnipeg property to be expropriated, turned into park

The Manitoba government is planning to expropriate a private property in south Winnipeg that has seen clashes between its owner and area residents.

Premier Wab Kinew says the government will take over the area known as Lemay Forest and turn it into a provincial park.

The owner of the 18-hectare property started cutting down trees in the winter and planned to develop an assisted living facility.

Area residents and conservationists opposed the move, citing the pristine forest and the area's history, which included an orphanage and a cemetery.

Manitoba freezes some electricity exports to U.S., plans to turn northward

The Manitoba government says it is repatriating energy by not renewing two hydroelectric export contracts to Minnesota.

Premier Wab Kinew says the contracts are set to expire at the end of this month and amount to 500 megawatts of power that will now be available for Canada.

Kinew says 50 megawatts of power will be set aside to go toward the potential development of a transmission line that would connect parts of Nunavut to Manitoba's grid.

School tax increases raise questions about Manitoba's property tax changes

Recent increases in school taxes have put a dent in the Manitoba government’s estimate of how many homeowners are better off under its new tax-credit system.

"We have seen some unexpectedly high increases from school divisions," Finance Minister Adrien Sala said in an interview.

Manitoba government adopts, fixes torn Canadian flag from football team

The large Canadian flag that was recently draped on the front of the Manitoba legislature is being repaired for a second time and is being adopted by the Manitoba government.

The nine-by-18-metre flag was property of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football team and was brought out onto the field for the national anthem before each home game.

The provincial government borrowed it in early March and had it hung above the legislature's main entrance as a symbol of the resistance to tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Manitoba offers $13 million with more to come for planned grain centre

The Manitoba government is putting up $13 million for a centre aimed at helping grain producers find new international trading partners.

Cereals Canada, a national industry group, announced plans last year for a new $100-million facility in downtown Winnipeg called the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange.

Premier Wab Kinew says the centre will help showcase Manitoba’s grains and drive up global demand for Canadian products.

Larger RCMP emergency team will help fight crime, Manitoba justice minister says

The Manitoba government says adding officers to a police emergency team will help address crime.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe says $3.3 million is being directed to double the RCMP emergency response team's current roster of nine full-time positions.

The money is part of a $5.3-million plan announced in last month's budget to boost policing in rural and northern areas.

The province has seen a series of high-profile crimes in recent months, including three break-ins west of Portage la Prairie last weekend that involved armed suspects stealing all-terrain vehicles.

Grant Jackson leaves Manitoba legislature, eyes House of Commons seat

A member of the Manitoba legislature has resigned his seat to run in the federal election. 

Progressive Conservative Grant Jackson is leaving his Spruce Woods seat in western Manitoba to run for the federal Conservatives in Brandon-Souris.

The federal seat has been held since 2013 by Conservative Larry Maguire, who announced Sunday he is not seeking re-election due to health concerns.

Jackson has represented Spruce Woods since 2023, and previously worked as an assistant to Maguire.

Manitoba government spending targets unrealistic, Opposition Tories say

The Manitoba government's plan to balance the budget in two years will require tighter spending restraint — something the Opposition Progressive Conservatives say is unrealistic.

The provincial budget released this week fleshes out the NDP government's promise to end a string of annual deficits that stretch back to 2009, with two exceptions, by the 2027-28 fiscal year.

Manitoba tables 'Trump-proof' budget with more capital spending, $794-million deficit ▶️

The Manitoba government is hiking capital spending and introducing new tax rules in a deficit budget aimed at safeguarding the province from tariffs imposed by United States President Donald Trump.

The NDP government said the threat of prolonged tariffs from the U.S. and China cannot be ignored, and new public spending and tax changes will protect jobs.

“We didn’t start this fight, but we are not backing down,” Finance Minister Adrien Sala told reporters Thursday.

“We’re Trump-proofing our economy.”

Taxes, crime and birth control among topics at Manitoba Tory leadership debate

The two men vying for the leadership of Manitoba's Progressive Conservative party squared off Wednesday night in a debate that touched on crime, health care, taxes and other issues.

Obby Khan, a former cabinet minister who now sits on the Opposition side of the legislature, again pitched himself as a big-tent conservative who could help the party regain support in Winnipeg.