Portage

The RM of St. Laurent has lifted its burn ban as of June 16, following rainfall in the area and improvements to the provincial wildfire situation.

Fire Chief Chad Malfait says the region didn’t see a major downpour, but every bit helped.

“Last week, the RM received anywhere from half an inch to an inch of rain, we needed it drastically,” he notes.

Malfait says the combination of local and northern rain made the difference, allowing the municipality to safely lift the restriction.

Wildfire evacuees continued to make their way home in some Manitoba communities Tuesday, but there were hurdles.

Tataskweyak Cree Nation lifted its evacuation order Monday evening, then told the community's 2,400 residents Tuesday morning the return was being delayed due to problems with the water system.

"Water tests came back (with) high aluminum. The pipes and reservoir will need to be cleaned and samples taken after the cleaning," said a message posted on the chief and council's Facebook page.

The group that represents physicians across Manitoba is stepping up its campaign to restrict the use of sick notes.

Doctors Manitoba says physicians field requests for more than 600,000 sick notes every year from employees who take time off work, and that takes time away from treating patients.

The group is asking the Manitoba government to follow most other provinces and set limits on how employers can demand sick notes.

Saskatchewan's Agriculture Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) projects, and Strategic Field Program (SFP) benefit from Federal-Provincial Sustainable CAP funding.

Farmers benefit from the practical, short-term research projects conducted through the ADOPT, which they can then use on their own operation.

For the 2024-25 fiscal year, more than $1.4 million was invested in six SFP and 32 ADOPT projects.

Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined $4.3 billion in new support for Ukraine's defence as he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister's Office said that sum includes $2 billion for weapons like drones, ammunition and armoured vehicles — funding that Canada will count toward its NATO defence spending target.

Canada is also lending Ukraine $2.3 billion to help the embattled country rebuild its infrastructure.

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care is warning the public about a new measles exposure in Portage la Prairie.

The province confirms an individual with a measles infection visited the emergency room at Portage District General Hospital on Wednesday, June 12 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Anyone who was there during that time is being asked to monitor themselves for symptoms until July 4.

A stretch of 18th Street NW in Portage la Prairie will be temporarily closed on Wednesday, June 18 due to railway crossing construction.

The closure will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the rail tracks just north of Park Drive. Crews will be working throughout the day with the aim of reopening the road by day’s end.

The future of the system used in Canadian dairy, egg and poultry production will once again be the focus of political debate

The Bloc Quebecois wasted no time returning a sometimes contentious topic to the parliamentary agenda, introducing a bill to protect supply management just days after the first session of the new government began.

If you were driving around Crescent Road over the weekend and saw the crowds of people walking around the East half of the road, you may have wondered what all those folks might have been doing.

Well, wonder no more. 

Over the weekend, a crowd of around 500 people gathered for the annual conference put on the Fifth Avenue and River Road Gospel Halls.

Meetings were held at the MNP Building on Saturday and Sunday, with meals served at the River Road Gospel Hall for lunch and supper.

The Fort la Reine Museum welcomed families for its first-ever Father’s Day event on Saturday, turning its usual tranquil grounds into a lively hub of activity. In a partnership with United Way West Central Manitoba, everything from games to gift-giving was available and there was something for everyone to enjoy. Cindy McDonald, the museum’s community outreach coordinator, calls the event a strong success.