Portage

Federal party leaders spent their first full day on the election campaign trail talking about taxes, transfers, tariffs and the trades.

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.

After Liberal Leader Mark Carney promised on Sunday a one percentage point cut to the lowest income tax bracket, Poilievre said Monday he would drop the lowest income tax bracket by 2.25 percentage points.

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.  

Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) students showcased their businesses at the recent Entrepreneur Challenge, with Grade 12 student Sia Miglani claiming first prize for her mocktail venture, Zesté, while the trio behind Window Wizards—Kingston Daniels, Facu Koroma, and Manpreet Sandhu—secured second place with their window-cleaning service. The competition helped foster the entrepreneurial spirit in these Portage youth and awarded the winners the means to help take their businesses to the next level.

Canada has long been a welcoming oasis for newcomers who’ve left behind dangerous conditions or difficult lives overseas in search of something better. Portage la Prairie, in particular, has been home to many Ukrainians for decades, and the ongoing war caused by Russia’s invasion has brought even more to the area. 

The Portage la Prairie School Division (PLPSD) has announced changes to its regular board meeting schedule. During a recent meeting, Superintendent Pamela Garnham shared that the school division will now hold their public conferences once a month, instead of the previous bi-monthly schedule. 

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) has completed its investigation into the death of an adult male following an officer-involved shooting in Portage la Prairie almost two years ago.

The incident occurred on May 24, 2023, when the RCMP responded to a call for service regarding a domestic situation around 1 a.m. When they arrived on the scene, officers encountered a man acting erratically. During the confrontation, an officer discharged his service firearm, striking the man. Despite emergency first aid efforts, the man succumbed to his injuries.

In 2024 Squeal on Pigs Manitoba had a successful year in trapping wild pigs with pig removal numbers being significantly higher totaling over 200 animals.

Doctor Wayne Lees, Coordinator for Squeal on Pigs Manitoba, says this is quite a jump from the year before, and with that they've been able to capture more field data and better understand the characteristics and habits of these wild pigs.

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.

It was a record-setting year for the People Helping People Radiothon in support of Central Plains Cancer Services, powered by Simplot this past Friday. Donations were coming in on both Thursday and Friday, and Executive Director Sharilyn Knox was thrilled to share the results.

"We're excited because we had people who wanted to give over the weekend and lots of great comments. So, as of right now, our total is $119,498," says Knox.