logo
Manitoba plays the waiting game to get wildfire evacuees into hotels: Premier Wab Kinew

Manitoba plays the waiting game to get wildfire evacuees into hotels: Premier Wab Kinew

Edmonton Journal15 hours ago

Article content
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says the province is playing the waiting game as it looks to get thousands of wildfire evacuees into hotels.
Kinew told reporters at the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce today that more than 18-thousand people are already in hotels or are staying with family, but many remain in congregate shelters.
Article content
He says getting those evacuees into private accommodations is a balancing act because many hotel rooms are being reserved for people with 'intense' medical issues.
Article content
Latest National Stories

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BC NDP take more heat from opposition over contracts for consultants, advisers
BC NDP take more heat from opposition over contracts for consultants, advisers

Global News

time10 hours ago

  • Global News

BC NDP take more heat from opposition over contracts for consultants, advisers

British Columbia's NDP government is taking more fire from the opposition BC Conservatives over contracts it has awarded to top advisers. The opposition is raising new questions after the province hired Dr. Tim Stainton's consultancy to review Community Living B.C. Stainton was one of the people who helped create the Crown corporation tasked with caring for some of B.C.'s most vulnerable people. CLBC's board is also chaired by former NDP cabinet minister Shane Simpson. 3:42 BC Conservatives question top mental health advisor's salary 'It seems that the NDP continues to go to the well with former ministers, former electeds. It makes you wonder how little confidence they have in their own current cabinet members when they have to do this,' BC Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar said. Story continues below advertisement 'And the bigger problem is the lack of transparency. Never a disclosure of how much they are getting paid, what the deliverable is expected.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The BC Conservatives are also flagging the appointment of former NDP environment minister George Heyman as a special advisor on public sector bargaining. Milobar noted that the province didn't announce the appointment — rather, it emerged when Heyman changed his LinkedIn profile. 'The former head of the (B.C. General Employees Union) BCGEU is now advising the government on how best to negotiate with the BCGEU, that's certainly going to work out well for the taxpayer, I am sure,' he said. The questions come as the province faces scrutiny over two other contracts. Premier David Eby terminated a contract with Michael Bryant halfway through its six-month term, saying media coverage had become a distraction from the work Bryant was meant to do advising on the future of the Downtown Eastside. 2:32 Decision to hire Downtown Eastside consultant under fire And on Thursday, the opposition raised concerns about a $1 million open-ended contract with Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.'s chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders. Story continues below advertisement Vigo has been instrumental in spearheading the NDP government's efforts at implementing involuntary treatment for people with severe mental health, addiction and brain injury issues. Health Minister Josie Osborne said Friday she believed Vigo's work is 'worth every penny.' 'Having an expert like Dr. Vigo come and provide advice to government and undertake a very methodical and studious examination of the data that is out there, looking with legal experts at the Mental Health Act … this is not something that can be replicated inside government,' she said. 'It is really important at this point in time that we have this expert advice. And the recommendations that Dr. Vigo and his team have put forward to government are actions we are already seeing underway.' As a part of Vigo's work, the province has now opened 28 beds in two involuntary care facilities, one at the South Fraser Pretrial Centre and one at the Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge, for people who are not in contact with the criminal justice system.

Manitoba premier eyes northern development that could include a pipeline
Manitoba premier eyes northern development that could include a pipeline

Winnipeg Free Press

time11 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Manitoba premier eyes northern development that could include a pipeline

WINNIPEG – Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew promoted his province Friday as the route for a future trade corridor, which could include a pipeline, in order to get goods from Western Canada to overseas markets. 'The politics are (that) something needs to get built in Western Canada. I think everybody understands that,' Kinew told a breakfast meeting of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. 'And if you've been following the news, B. C.? Ontario? Maybe. We'll see. But Manitoba's open for business, and I think in time Manitoba will show itself as a path to getting natural resources to tidewater across Canada.' The Alberta government has been pushing for a pipeline across northern British Columbia, but the idea is not supported by the B.C. government. Kinew said Manitoba is looking at boosting shipments through Hudson Bay, currently served by the Port of Churchill, which is ice-free for only a brief period every year. There have been calls for a second port on the bay, further south at Port Nelson, combined with more rail service and a pipeline, in order to boost exports to Europe and other destinations. Kinew said he's open to different options, but the private sector has to put forward ideas. A trade corridor could ship Manitoba's low-carbon hydroelectricity westward to the other Prairie provinces, he said. And a pipeline heading the other direction is a possibility. 'What is the product that makes sense? Are we going to be looking at liquefaction and then maybe it's a (liquefied natural gas) thing?' Kinew told reporters after his speech. 'Are we looking at oil and gas projects? Are we looking at something novel like green hydrogen or maybe a potash slurry? These are the things that we can signal to the private sector we're open to having a discussion about.' Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. Pipeline development in the north could face opposition from environmentalists and others. Much of the area near the coast of Hudson Bay is protected, including Wapusk National Park. Kinew also told the business crowd Friday his NDP government is finalizing a memorandum with British Columbia to cut trade barriers between the two provinces. Similar to a recent deal with Ontario, it's aimed at allowing more goods and services to flow freely. Kinew said it will give Manitobans access to another big Canadian market. Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to break down internal trade barriers by Canada Day, and Ontario, Nova Scotia and other provinces have been working on reciprocal agreements. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025

Canadian, European space agencies reaffirm relations amid political, economic anxiety
Canadian, European space agencies reaffirm relations amid political, economic anxiety

Global News

time12 hours ago

  • Global News

Canadian, European space agencies reaffirm relations amid political, economic anxiety

Economic and geopolitical turmoil is forcing the Canadian and European space agencies to work together more closely, the organizations' leaders said Friday as they signed a joint statement reaffirming their long-standing collaboration. At the Canadian Space Agency's headquarters south of Montreal, Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, said economic uncertainty and global conflict are pushing Europe's space sector to establish its autonomy — and reassert links with allies. 'If we are aiming to be more … independent, this does not mean that we want to isolate ourselves,' Aschbacher said. 'We want to be strong and autonomous in order to have partnerships with other agencies.' Canada is the European agency's only non-European co-operating state, and as such Canadian companies are granted privileged access to Europe's space market. Lisa Campbell, president of the Canadian Space Agency, said every dollar awarded to Canadian firms generates three dollars in return. Story continues below advertisement Leaders at both organizations signed a joint statement Friday reaffirming the agencies' close ties; Canada has had a deal with the European Space Agency since 1979. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Aschbacher's two-day visit to Canada is the first in a quarter century by a European space chief and included discussions with government and industry leaders. Defence spending is rising across the globe, and the United States is pressuring NATO members to increase their spending on defence, he said. 'We should not forget that defence is tightly linked with space because you do need communication, Earth observation capabilities and many other space technologies in order to work hand in hand.' As well, Aschbacher added that the United States' space agency — NASA — could be facing deep budget cuts. 'You have all seen the budget proposals that have been released as a very first proposal of the White House,' Aschbacher said. 'I can only say this is a work in progress: the budget negotiations are ongoing, but be assured that Europe and the European Space Agency will get out of this stronger, more autonomous, more independent.' Campbell said that in uncertain times it's important to reaffirm relationships with like-minded allies. Canada is a spacefaring nation, she added, from rovers to instruments to robotics that will be in demand around the world in low Earth orbit and in deep space. Canada is already a partner with NASA and ESA in the James Webb Telescope, the world's most powerful telescope. Story continues below advertisement 'We're resilient because we're quite confident that there's going to be a growing need for what we do in low Earth orbit and in deep space,' Campbell said. With a need for independent access to space, nascent launch capability involving commercial firms on the East Coast could come into play, she said. 'It's just a matter of time before Canada is a launching nation as well.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store