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MPI restricts loan program to winter tires

2 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Public Insurance is getting strict about its winter tire program after years in which customers used it to buy other types of tires.

As of Oct. 1, only tires that are “designed and marketed solely for winter driving conditions, including snow and ice,” will be eligible for financing through the public insurer.

Currently, all-weather, all-season, four-season and year-round tires are included in the program, which allows MPI clients to pay the cost in monthly instalments. The program, established in 2014, offers financing for up to $2,000, plus interest.

In an email to retailers, MPI says the program is being changed so it “helps ensure customers receive the full winter-driving safety benefits associated with dedicated winter tires.”

Local

Province expanding rent control threshold

2 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — The province is expanding the number of residential units that are subject to rent control.

Starting next year, units with monthly rent as high as $2,000 will be regulated under the Residential Tenancies Act. Currently, the threshold is $1,670 per month.

“This is a good thing,” Right to Housing Coalition spokesperson Yutaka Dirks said Thursday. “For those people who weren’t covered but will now be covered, that’s certainly a positive. It’s something that we called for,” the advocate said.

The coalition wanted the provincial government to go further and remove the threshold so rent control would apply to all residential tenants.

Local

Crown attorneys union scores win ahead of grievance hearing

By Dean Pritchard 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — The union for Manitoba Crown attorneys is applauding an arbitrator’s decision to approve the admission of an expert report on workload issues at an upcoming grievance hearing with the province.

The ruling, by arbitrator Michael Werier, involves a report commissioned by the Manitoba Association of Crown attorneys that expands on a 2023 survey of union members about workload and health issues.

“The decision to admit the survey of our membership allows us to properly make our case about the conditions our members face,” association president Michael Desautels said in a news release.

“As the decision makes clear, the use of this kind of expert opinion is well established in Canadian labour law. It was unfortunate that the government felt the need to litigate this issue in the first place.”

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Turkish cargo ship sinks after collision

3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

ISTANBUL — A Turkish cargo ship with 10 crew aboard sank Wednesday after a collision with a tanker off Istanbul, with no immediate signs of survivors, Turkish authorities said.

A lifeboat and other debris belonging to the Tugberk Imamoglu have been found, but there is no sign of the crew, the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs said in a statement.

“There are 10 seafarers on board, including the captain,” Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said. “They are all Turkish. We can say that the sinking occurred rapidly in 11 minutes. No one has been found alive.”

The ship collided with the Turkish-flagged tanker Alsu in the Marmara Sea at 3 a.m., the statement said. An emergency signal was received from the Tugberk Imamoglu and the first rescue craft reached the site 4:10 a.m.

Local

Dynacare strike set to begin next Tuesday

By Carol Sanders 5 minute read Preview

Dynacare strike set to begin next Tuesday

By Carol Sanders 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

WINNIPEG — Hundreds of Dynacare lab employees are expected to hit the picket line next Tuesday, hours before a labour board hearing to determine whether they are essential workers.

Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino said she asked the board to get involved over concerns that a strike by 350 employees at the private company, which provides nearly all outpatient lab tests in the province, could put the health of Manitobans at risk.

Labour board registrar Raymond MacIsaac said Wednesday that a hearing into the minister’s request for “interim relief” is set for 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 8.

Her application says that the public health-care system doesn’t have the capacity to fill the testing void that would be created by a Dynacare strike.

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Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Local

Mobile eye clinic

1 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 2, 2026

The Manitoba Association of Optometrists is bringing a mobile clinic to Brandon today and offering walk-in eye appointments for children and families.

The clinic will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the WestVic Common parking lot outside FYidoctors for parents who want their children to get an eye exam before school starts, the association said in a news release Monday.

In addition to eye examinations, residents are invited to attend a community barbecue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with face painting and additional child eye-care resources.

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Budd’s career impacted by Brandon

By Perry Bergson 6 minute read Preview

Budd’s career impacted by Brandon

By Perry Bergson 6 minute read Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

The city of Brandon has had an outsized impact on the hockey career of goalie Ryley Budd.

A year ago, Brandonite Ethan McCallum outduelled the Calgary product for the backup spot with the Saskatoon Blades and Budd ended up back in Junior A.

A year later, his Western Hockey League career has landed him in the Wheat City with the Brandon Wheat Kings after a summer trade.

“It’s true,” Budd said with a laugh. “There are a lot more connections here than I thought there would be. Assistant coach Ryan White, I watched his games growing up. My uncle (Michael Stone married his father’s cousin) played on the Hitmen so I was there a bunch. There were a bunch of connections when I got traded here so it’s definitely cool.”

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Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

Local

Kapanen family business brings him to Wheaties

By Perry Bergson 6 minute read Preview

Kapanen family business brings him to Wheaties

By Perry Bergson 6 minute read Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

Kuopio, Finland is a 19-hour flight from the Wheat City, but Ilari Kapanen still knew all about the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The 19-year-old defenceman, who was nabbed by the Western Hockey League team with the scheduled 106th pick of the Canadian Hockey League’s import draft in July, was a fan of a Brandon superstar a decade ago.

“I knew a little bit about the Wheat Kings before,” Kapanen said. “I watched a lot of Nolan Patrick when he played here in like 2015. I knew a little bit about the club but I didn’t know anything about the city. I knew it was a small town and went to check and saw 48,000 people here. “It’s a small town but I like it here. It’s peaceful.”

Kapanen was actually monitoring the draft on his phone when he saw his name pop up.

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Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

Local

Brandon soccer player thriving in Winnipeg

By Rowan McCarthy 6 minute read Preview

Brandon soccer player thriving in Winnipeg

By Rowan McCarthy 6 minute read Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

Brandon native Leaf Klassen and his team FC Northwest hope they can make Manitoba proud at the under-17 national championships from Oct. 6 to 12 in St. John’s N.L.

The team qualified for nationals by winning the Manitoba Soccer Association Cup — otherwise known as the MSA Cup — at the end of July.

“It feels amazing, you know? It was a dream of mine for the last few years,” said Klassen about winning the MSA Cup. “It was (my) first time playing in a tournament that we won, so it was very exciting.”

FC Northwest dominated the tournament, winning all three of its round-robin games while averaging a thunderous five goals per game thanks in large part to a 9-0 win over Winnipeg Phoenix FC.

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Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

Local

Sports Looking Back: Aug. 28, 2026

2 minute read Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

ON TELEVISION

• MLB — Los Angeles Dodgers at Detroit, 5:30 p.m. (SNW); Chicago White Sox at Minnesota, 7 p.m. (SN1)

• CFL — Montreal at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m. (TSN)

• NFL — In pre-season action, Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. (TSN2)

Local

Cricket enjoys new home

By Rowan McCarthy 6 minute read Preview

Cricket enjoys new home

By Rowan McCarthy 6 minute read Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026

The Westman Cricket Association is approaching the end of its first season playing at Canadian Packers Sports Complex and Vice-President Kushang Patel is thrilled with the more permanent situation, though it does come with some challenges.

“Overall, the tournaments went well. We are about to finish the season. People enjoyed it. It’s nice,” said Patel.

Patel, 37, has lived in Brandon since 2012 and has played cricket in the town since 2018.

When the group started playing cricket in Brandon, they used multiple workarounds to avoid the issue of a missing dedicated field for cricket. At first, they played at local schools that allowed them to make use of their fields on the weekends.

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Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026

Local

Brandon’s forwards at camp

4 minute read Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026

VETERANS

2006-BORN (20-year-old season)

• Brett Wilson, L.

18gp, 3g, 5a, 8p, 4pim, -1 +/-

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