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Canada’s top soldier is looking forward to a boost in military spending that includes a pay raise for military personnel at a time when uncertainty on the world stage is high.

NATO leaders — including Canada — have approved a plan to dramatically increase defence spending across the Western alliance to five per cent of gross domestic product over the next decade.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the move to five per cent of GDP — 3.5 per cent for core military spending and 1.5 per cent for defence-related infrastructure — will take place over the next 10 years.

A wildfire in northern Manitoba has destroyed seven homes in a day the chief and council of the local First Nation are calling "horrendous."

Officials of Tataskweyak Cree Nation say in a Facebook post that a fire that ignited northwest of the community on Friday was fanned by strong winds, and that approximately 175 residents have been evacuated east to Gillam, Man.

Tataskweyak was evacuated earlier in the fire season and had lifted the order in mid-June, but then had to push back the date when people could return due to problems with its water system.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes (24-26) snapped their three-game losing streak with a 4–1 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (26-26) Saturday afternoon at Newman Outdoor Field, evening the series at one game apiece.
 
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Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for much of southern and northern Manitoba as wildfire smoke continues to blanket the province.

The advisories cover a wide swath of communities, including Winnipeg, Selkirk, Steinbach, Portage la Prairie, Morden, Gimli, The Pas, Thompson and Flin Flon.

According to the federal weather agency, wildfire smoke is causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility. The agency warns that air quality and visibility can shift quickly depending on wind and fire conditions.

Winnipeggers may need to find a new route on Sunday as a section of the Provencher Bridge will be closed.

From 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. the bridge will be closed to all eastbound traffic.

The closure will allow crews to complete emergency work required on the lighting structures.

Winnipeg Transit will be rerouted due to the closure. 

A new diversified towing model for the City of Winnipeg was announced on Monday.

The City said it will "Improve customer experience while fostering growth and fair competition for Manitoba's towing industry."

Previously, the centralized towing model that MPI used had only one vendor for claim-related towing services. MPI has now selected five towing providers in Winnipeg: Champion Towing, Bison Towing, Sprinter Towing, Hi-Way Towing, and Dr Hook Towing through a competitive procurement process. 

Jonathan Toews is officially back.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion, who last played an NHL game more than two years ago, was introduced Friday as the newest member of his hometown Winnipeg Jets, donning a jersey with his signature No. 19 at a team press conference.

The Jets announced their intention to acquire the 37-year-old centre last month, but it only became official this week with Toews signing a one-year deal worth US$2 million, plus performance bonuses tied to games played and playoff success.

The Winnipeg Police Service is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing 57-year-old, Joseph Colomb.

Colomb was last seen in the area of Fort Street and St. Mary Avenue at approximately 10:15 a.m. on Friday, July 4.

Colomb is described as 5’11” in height, heavy build, with straight black hair and brown eyes, wearing black framed glasses. Colomb was last seen wearing a blue sweater, a plaid shirt, a red t-shirt, grey sweatpants, a black baseball cap and using a two-wheeled blue and red walker.

A new discovery space is now open at The Forks for visitors and locals to explore Indigenous tourism.

Explore Indigenous, launched by Indigenous Tourism Manitoba (ITM) and The Forks North Portage Partnership, officially opened today as the new home for Turtle Tours and ITM’s Discovery Centre.

A motorcyclist was airlifted to the hospital following a serious collision on the Perimeter Highway on Thursday evening.

At approximately 7:54 p.m., the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service notified police that a young man in his early 20s, was being airlifted to hospital in critical condition by STARS Air Ambulance after a single-vehicle collision near the westbound Perimeter Highway and Pembina Highway.

There were no passengers on the motorcycle at the time of the collision. 

The male remains in the hospital in unstable condition with serious injuries.