Westman

RCMP have charged a 33 year old man from Long Plain First Nation in connection with a serious assault which occurred Friday night outside a home in Somerset.

Pembina Valley RCMP officers responded to the incident, and found a 40-year-old male, from Portage la Prairie, with life-threatening injuries. He was transported to hospital via STARS Air Ambulance, and as of yesterday remained in hospital.

Austin Kequahtooway has been charged with Aggravated Assault, and was remanded into custody for a Winnipeg court appearance scheduled for yesterday.

Mainly cloudy with 30 percent chance of light snow early this morning. Clearing this morning. Risk of freezing rain early this morning. Wind becoming west 20 km/h early this afternoon. High plus 4. UV index 4 or moderate.

For more weather updates, visit Discover Westman weather HERE!

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.

The federal Liberals are pushing further ahead of the Conservatives in voter support, and almost one in two Canadians surveyed said they think the Liberals will win the election, a new poll suggests.

The survey, conducted by Leger for The Canadian Press, reports that 44 per cent of decided voters surveyed would vote Liberal in the upcoming election, ahead of the Conservatives at 38 per cent.

The poll surveyed 1,599 Canadians between March 21 and March 23, which includes the first day of the election, and the two days leading into it.

As tensions rise in ongoing trade disputes, China's latest move is adding to concerns for Canadian producers. The country recently announced a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and meal exported from Canada, compounding the uncertainty already present due to U.S. tariffs.  

Farmers caught in the middle  

The new tariff has many farmers wondering how to best proceed and that includes Curtis Sims, owner of Emeline Farms near MacGregor, Manitoba. Sims grows canola and is worried about the impact of these trade measures.  

When it comes to last week's announcement on Manitoba's 2025 provincial budget put forward by the NDP government, MLA for Turtle Mountain, Doyle Piwniuk says it raises a number of concerns.

"You know, this is the second budget that they came out with and at the same time we're facing tariffs south of the border especially Turtle Mountain. We actually straddle across 2/3 of Manitoba and it's going to be a big impact for us, but it just seems like nothing was ever mentioned in the budget for the Westman," shares Piwniuk.

The Legacy Gala Dinner hosted by the Assiniboine College Foundation was another resounding success, where Assiniboine students in the Culinary Arts, Baking Foundations and Hospitality students treated their guests once again to an exclusive multi-course menu. The event is held annually in the historic Great Grey Owl Dining Room at the Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts, at Assiniboine College's North Hill Campus.

Manitoba's Opposition Progressive Conservatives are calling for an investigation after Premier Wab Kinew accepted private travel with Winnipeg's professional football team to go to two Grey Cup games.

The Tory caucus has asked the ethics commissioner to investigate the trips, saying accepting flights through a private charter goes against the province's Conflict of Interest Act.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers invited Kinew on a private charter to the 2023 game in Hamilton and the 2024 game in Vancouver.

Federal party leaders are spending their first full day on the campaign trail talking about taxes, transfers and the trades.

Poilievre talks tax cuts

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising a middle-class tax cut, following a Liberal pledge that involves a smaller reduction to the same tax rate.

City Congratulates Brandon University Bobcats on Their Gold Medal Win for The 2025 U Sports Men's Volleyball Championship 

Mayor Jeff Fawcett and Brandon City Council wholeheartedly send their warmest congratulations to Brandon University Bobcats on their extraordinary triumph in winning the U Sports Men’s Volleyball National Championship!