AgriStability enrolment extended 3 months
AgriStability enrolment has been extended for three months in response to tariffs and market disruptions. The program provides funding to farmers who take large revenue hits. The enrolment deadline, originally slated for April 30, will now come July 31.
'With stress and uncertainties beyond their control, extending this deadline will provide producers additional time to protect their margins,' Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said in a news release Friday.
AgriStability funding comes through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5 billion pool by Ottawa and provincial and territorial governments.
— Free Press staff
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Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indigenous-owned Dugald café all about bannock, brew and belonging
DUGALD — The Grey Wolf Café in Dugald is holding its grand opening this weekend and if early reviews are any indication, traffic along neighbouring Highway 15 will be busier than normal. 'You can feel a wonderful spirit as you walk through the door,' wrote one person on the coffee shop's social media page, days after the First Nations-owned enterprise hosted a soft opening in mid-May. 'The bannock was fluffy and tasty… and don't even get me started on the coffee,' commented another. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Tanya Clarke named Grey Wolf Cafe in Dugald, which opens this weekend after her father, who was bestowed the traditional name Grey Wolf Man after his death. 'Great prices, friendly staff… 6/5 in our books,' came one more. 'We've only been open for (three) weeks but we already have our fair share of regulars, including a group of 10 or 12 ladies who'll join a few tables together and stay for a couple of hours, plus students who pop in for caramel lattés and macchiatos,' says owner Tanya Clarke, seated in the tastefully decorated spot situated directly across the street from the Springfield Curling Club. Clarke, a mother of four and grandmother of one, laughs as she recalls a piece of wisdom she received from the manager of Lift Coffee & Tea in nearby Oakbank, when the Grey Wolf Café was still in the formative stage. 'They told me opening a café is like having a child — you can forget about sleeping for the first six months or so,' she says, noting she has invited various dignitaries, including Chief Larry Barker from her home community of Hollow Water First Nation, to this weekend's festivities. 'What I've since discovered is that's the perfect metaphor. There are definitely days when I've felt like I was floating on my feet, not so much from staying up all night fretting over numbers, but more from wondering what else we can do to make coming here a positive experience for everyone.' 'They told me opening a café is like having a child – you can forget about sleeping for the first six months or so'–Tanya Clarke Clarke, a mediator, leadership coach and professional development trainer based out of Yellowquill University College, split her time growing up between Transcona and Interlake districts such as Lundar and Komarno. Her father, who was Anishinaabe, was a residential school survivor. It wasn't until 2016 — five years before he died at 79 — that he began openly discussing that period of his life with his four children. 'My cousins grew up in community but we didn't, and there were definitely occasions of me feeling like I didn't belong,' says Clarke, who was seven when her mother, who was of German descent, died following a prolonged illness. 'When I did find out more about my dad, whose name was George but went by Buddy, things started to make sense for me. I was able to process a lot of what I'd been dealing with — or lacking — when I was younger.' Clarke and her partner Kevin moved to Dugald three years ago. Last June, she was out for a walk with their dog Blue when she noticed there was a vacant space in Dugald Station, a multi-tenant strip mall. The self-described coffee aficionado had always dreamed of running a café of her own, and because her youngest was about to graduate high school, she figured she might actually have the necessary free time to do so. Not to mention that nothing comparable existed in the town of about 800 — a number she understood would continue to grow over the coming years. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Grey Wolf Cafe came to be with the support of First Peoples Economic Growth Fund, an organization that assists First Nations entrepreneurs. After discussing the notion with her family, she set up a meeting with the First Peoples Economic Growth Fund, an organization that encourages and supports First Nations people in Manitoba who are delving into entrepreneurship. She next put together a multi-detailed, 63-page business plan, listing everything from desired menu items to job descriptions for prospective staff to projected sales. The venture required a tag, of course. Clarke says it was an easy decision to go with Grey Wolf for Grey Wolf Man, the traditional name her father received at a ceremony that was held following his death. 'When I was thinking about what to call it, Grey Wolf Café just made sense,' she says, crediting her 29-year-old daughter Sierra for coming up with the howling-wolf logo that adorns one of the café's bay windows. 'And because I do a lot of cultural-awareness training, I felt like it was a good, positive way to celebrate culture not just by honouring my dad, but also anybody else who attended a residential school.' She received the keys to the site on Dec. 1, at which point she promised herself she'd be serving her first cuppa joe by the beginning of February — a timeline she quickly realized wasn't viable, given the amount of updating that was required. New flooring, new wainscoting, a fresh coat of paint, a brick-encased gas fireplace built from scratch, she says, listing some of the renovations she undertook with the assistance of Kevin, her kids and her new landlord. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS A Red Seal chef from York Factory First Nation helped with menu items like the bannock breakfast sandwich. When Clarke wasn't busy making things over, she was spending hours taste-testing as many as 20 coffee blends, prepared with beans roasted in the province. She also recruited Dana Constant, a Red Seal chef from York Factory First Nation she knew from volunteering at Folklorama's First Nations pavilion, to lend a hand on the food side of things. 'We definitely wanted bannock for the breakfast sandwiches and Dana, who is 28 and brilliant, came in and worked with my son Vincenzo. Between the two of them, they arrived at three different (breakfast) sandwiches, as well as a lunch menu that, for now, includes a turkey-BLT and a ham-and-Swiss, both served on ciabatta.' (There is also a selection of pastries and for the younger set, soft-serve ice cream.) Oh those, Clarke smiles, when a visitor asks about a set of handsome wooden armchairs positioned around a live-edge table. Her father gave them to her years ago, and as soon as she decided to open a café she enlisted the services of Anishinaabe textile and interior designer Destiny Seymour to recover them with one of her Indigenous-inspired patterns. Fabian Sanderson (no relation to writer) is the chief executive officer of the First Peoples Economic Growth Fund. While the organization has in the past aided businesses such as gas bars and convenience stores, Sanderson says what they are particularly interested in is working with places where 'restoration… perhaps some reconciliation' is part of the agenda. 'Obviously there are a lot of advancements that have been made — which is fantastic — but there are still prejudices that are alive and well today,' Sanderson says. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Vincenzo Marinelli prepares lunch sandwiches. 'So when you have a company that comes up like this, sometimes it's throwing a dart and hoping it lands because you might have a community that supports it or you might have one that totally rejects it, because of lack of understanding or ignorance. That's why for us, it's super exciting to say, 'Hey, this is what an Indigenous business looks like.'' Sanderson says he and his colleagues feel like 'proud parents' whenever a venture they're involved with begins to get its feet under it and attain its goals. Weekday Evenings Today's must-read stories and a roundup of the day's headlines, delivered every evening. 'To have somebody like Tanya who has kids and who wants to create a business to help support her family is fantastic,' he continues. 'Unfortunately, you still don't see a lot of inter-generational prosperity within the Indigenous community — you see it all over in other areas of the world — so when we witness something that has the potential to be carried on by the next generation, we do whatever we can to help them achieve that success.' Besides running the café, Clarke, who currently has seven employees, all from the general area, intends to market bagged coffee under the Grey Wolf banner at the retail level. That includes one type, Buddy's Blend, named for her dad. She'll also be designating space inside the 23-seat locale — occupancy can be expanded to 37 for anticipated book readings and corporate get-togethers — where Indigenous artisans such as Caroline Cheekie of Cheeky Beader can sell their wares on a consignment basis. 'And my long-term goal would be to have more Grey Wolf Cafés, right?' she says, adding whenever she's unsure of next steps, she seeks guidance from more knowing sorts. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Grey Wolf Cafe will sell bagged coffee, along with wares from Indigenous artisans on a consignment basis. 'I have my dad's photo on the fireplace mantle and if I'm ever stuck, I'll smudge and we'll talk. Mom, too.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Lexi Taylor feeds a sweet treat to a canine customer. David Sanderson Dave Sanderson was born in Regina but please, don't hold that against him. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba, B.C. reach deal to boost interprovincial trade, Kinew says
Manitoba and British Columbia have agreed to break down interprovincial trade barriers, Premier Wab Kinew announced Friday. Kinew plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the province, he said at a Manitoba Chambers of Commerce breakfast. It's the latest commitment by Manitoba in the leadup to Canada Day — Prime Minister Mark Carney's deadline for free trade across the country. 'Some of the biggest markets in Canada (are) open for business, and Manitoba is going to be able to cash in and do our part to build up Team Canada,' Kinew told a crowd of roughly 500 people. The provincial government recently passed Bill 47, which removes trade barriers for goods and services between Manitoba and reciprocating jurisdictions in Canada that have similar mutual recognition rules. The move will help manufacturers and food producers, among others, Business Minister Jamie Moses said earlier this week. For example, red tape on differing food package label requirements will be smoothed over. All paperwork on Bill 47 regulations will be completed by July 1, Kinew said. Trucking regulation harmonization across the country is ongoing, he said, adding Manitoba is working with Ottawa and other provinces. Nova Scotia has circled Manitoba as a mutually recognized province, Moses said Tuesday. Ontario, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick have introduced or passed similar legislation to Bill 47. Manitoba signed a memorandum of understanding with Ontario last month. The deal, meant to reduce interprovincial trade barriers, includes a focus on direct-to-consumer alcohol sales and improved labour mobility. Ontario is Canada's biggest market, Kinew noted Friday, adding he's 'bullish' on the opportunities Manitoba businesses will have. Gabrielle PichéReporter Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle. Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba ‘particularly vulnerable' to tariff-fuelled core building materials price hikes: CMHC
Due to a reliance on imports, tariffs on core building materials could hit Manitoba harder than other provinces. A Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. report in February flagged Manitoba and Saskatchewan as facing the highest potential cost increases because of a 'heavy' reliance on imported U.S. steel, aluminum and concrete. The market insights report was assembled as Canadians braced for sweeping 25 per cent tariffs. It was shared with the Free Press recently via a freedom of information request. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES A Winnipeg Construction Association memo notes a 10.7 per cent drop in permit numbers during the first three months of 2025. At the time, the CMHC projected Manitoba could see a 3.7 per cent price increase on core building materials: steel, aluminum, concrete and softwood. 'Regions like Manitoba and Saskatchewan are particularly vulnerable due to limited local production capacity,' the report reads. Four months later, blanket 25 per cent tariffs haven't appeared. However, a levy applies to all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S.; Canada reciprocated with a swath of 25 per cent tariffs on inbound steel and aluminum. U.S. President Donald Trump doubled his tariff on the two core building materials Wednesday. 'This report certainly shows that the construction industry in Manitoba has exposure to the evolving tariff situation,' said Darryl Harrison, Winnipeg Construction Association director of stakeholder engagement. Industry members have been altering their supply chains to minimize costs. It includes sourcing more Canadian steel and ensuring contracts don't specify American products, Harrison said. Manitoba imported $32.9 million worth of U.S. iron and steel more than it exported in 2023, per Statistics Canada data. It saw a similar deficit — but $51.9 million — for aluminum. Despite the economic uncertainty, Manitoba contractors have more bidding opportunities now than a year ago, Harrison said. The Winnipeg Construction Association has an online tender platform. The projects awarded during the first three months of 2025, however, was a noticeable drop from the same period in 2024. 'The tariffs certainly would have an impact,' Harrison said. U.S. levies — and Canada's reciprocal fees — came online in March, after months of threats and uncertainty. A Winnipeg Construction Association memo notes a 10.7 per cent drop in permit numbers during the first three months of 2025. Then, $988 million worth of permits were awarded; the number was $1.1 billion a year earlier. Institutional permit numbers plunged 53 per cent; industrial followed with a 36 per cent decline. Commercial and residential permits bucked the trend with year-over-year increases. 'My feeling is that people are more comfortable (now) in trying to find ways to manage the uncertainty of tariffs,' Harrison said. But the recent doubling of American steel and aluminum import tariffs — and possible reactive tariffs from Canada — could have an impact, he added. Supply-Build Canada hasn't clocked big differentials in tariff exposure across the country, said president Liz Kovach. Some U.S. suppliers have eaten tariff costs. 'I don't know how long they're going to be able to do that,' Kovach said. '(And) now that the tariffs have doubled, it's going to take a little while to see what that impact will be on the industry.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Canadian construction firms also face a headwind from an ongoing softwood lumber dispute with the U.S., Kovach added. She's bracing for a doubling of duties on such exports this year. Manitoba exported more softwood to the U.S. than it imported in 2023, at a net export of $244 million. Freight costs — and the distance required to get material — seems to be a large factor in price fluctuations, Kovach said. The CMHC hasn't analyzed whether core building material prices have increased since February, but stakeholders say rising prices are affecting construction, spokesman Leonard Catling wrote in a statement. 'We continue to closely monitor housing market activity.' Gabrielle PichéReporter Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle. Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
