Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press

A First Nations-led project to redevelop the former Hudson's Bay Co. building in downtown Winnipeg to advance reconciliation has doubled in cost. 

The Southern Chiefs' Organization says the price tag is currently at $310 million, more than double the original estimate of $130 million.

Grand Chief Jerry Daniels says the rise in cost is related to supply chain pressures, inflation and U.S. tariff threats on construction materials.

A second set of remains found in a Winnipeg-area landfill have been identified as Marcedes Myran, who died at the hands of a serial killer in 2022, RCMP said Monday.

The news comes after one set of remains found during a search of the Prairie Green landfill was confirmed earlier this month to belong to another victim, Morgan Harris.

A health-care group that represents physicians in Manitoba is renewing calls to eliminate sick notes for short-term absences from work as the process puts a burden on a health-care system already burdened by a shortage of family doctors. 

Doctors Manitoba says physicians write roughly 600,000 sick notes per year and by eliminating them it can free up more than 300,000 visits for patients. 

The organization released survey data suggesting well over 90 per cent of Manitobans, including the public and employers, support eliminating or limiting sick notes. 

The interim leader of Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives apologized Wednesday to the families of two slain First Nations women after refusing to search a landfill for their remains.

Wayne Ewasko made the apology in the house to the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, following last week's discovery of potential human remains at the Winnipeg-area landfill.

"We lost our way in regards to empathy and also lost our way in regards to closure being brought forward to the families of the victims," he said.

Talks with employers have stalled days before thousands of health-care workers are set to strike in Manitoba, says their union.

The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, which represents 7,000 allied health professionals working in public health care, met with employers Sunday.

"We still have not enough movement for us to be able to consider making a deal at this time," union president Jason Linklater said Monday.

Relatives of two murdered Indigenous women expressed shock, hope and anger Thursday, after receiving news that potential human remains have been found at a landfill where their loved ones were believed to have been taken.

"I think the shock of everything has finally hit me," Melissa Robinson, a cousin of Morgan Harris, said at a press conference sitting beside other relatives

"To every one of you that said no (to a search), to every one of you that didn't believe in us, do better," said Harris's daughter Elle Harris.

Potential human remains were discovered Wednesday at a landfill north of Winnipeg where search teams have been working to find two slain First Nations women.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said he spent time with the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran at the Prairie Green landfill when the discovery was made. He later struggled to find words to describe the news.

"I don't think any of us are ever going to forget today," Kinew told reporters. 

A western Manitoba school division's plan to reintroduce the playing of "God Save the King" during morning announcements is back on despite being met with controversy. 

At a board meeting on Monday evening, Mountain View School Division Chairperson Jason Gryba confirmed the plan will go ahead while the division consults with lawyers on the legal repercussions. 

Manitoba legislation includes a regulation that says the royal anthem should be played at the end of the school day in all public schools. 

Jurors are to decide whether a Manitoba man ran down and executed a neighbour he had caught stealing from his property or if his murder charge was based on a sloppy and biased police investigation. 

Eric Wildman has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Clifford Joseph, who was reported missing on June 7, 2021. 

Joseph's remains were found the following month in a rural area northeast of Winnipeg. 

An expert in collision reconstruction told a murder trial Wednesday there is little evidence to suggest a car belonging to the accused was used to run down a neighbour trying to rob him.

The expert was testifying Wednesday at the trial of Eric Wildman, who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Clifford Joseph.

Joseph was reported missing on June 7, 2021, and his remains were found the following month in a rural area northeast of Winnipeg.