Opinion

Defence spending pledge is timely and significant

6 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 10, 2025

There was a time when Canada was a genuine military power.

Toward the end of the Second World War, Canada’s Armed Forces numbered more than one million men and women, and this nation’s navy and air force were among the largest in the world. As columnist Louis Delvoie stated in an op-ed for The Kingston Whig Standard back in 2015, “Canada’s war effort had been massive for a country of only 11 million people.”

Here we are, 80 years later, a nation of 44 million — and yet the Canadian Armed Forces are but a shadow of their former strength by comparison.

Last March, the CBC reported that only 58 per cent of the Canadian Armed Forces would be able to respond to a crisis if called upon by NATO allies, as nearly half of the military’s equipment is considered “unavailable and unserviceable.”

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UN committee rightly calls out Canada’s devaluing of disability

By David Shannon 4 minute read Preview

UN committee rightly calls out Canada’s devaluing of disability

By David Shannon 4 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 10, 2025

Earlier this year, an expert United Nations committee rebuked Canada for its medical assistance in dying (MAID) regime.

In doing so, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities confirmed a key criticism voiced by Canadians with disabilities in recent years: that the massive expansion of MAID in Canada puts a target on the back of the disability community.

The committee expressed concern that Canada’s approach to MAID emphasizes individual autonomy without offering sufficient safeguards to protect vulnerable populations, especially persons with disability.

The experts called on Canada to reject the “Track 2” designation that makes MAID available to persons whose deaths are not reasonably foreseeable.

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Tuesday, Jun. 10, 2025

Take responsibility for poor tax rebate rollout

5 minute read Preview

Take responsibility for poor tax rebate rollout

5 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025

“We know that some municipalities were more effective at communicating with residents than others, and in some instances, we are seeing individuals who did not register their residence as their principal residence.”

— Manitoba Finance Minister Adrien Sala in May 2025

The Wab Kinew government seems unable to publicly admit that it made a mistake in its rollout of the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit.

If you read yesterday’s Brandon Sun, you may have noticed that the deadline to register for the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit for 2025 has been extended to Nov. 15.

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Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Finance minister Adrien Sala reads the budget speech in the legislative chamber at the Manitoba Legislative Building on Thursday, March 20, 2025. For budget stories. Winnipeg Free Press 2025

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS 	 Finance minister Adrien Sala reads the budget speech in the legislative chamber at the Manitoba Legislative Building on Thursday, March 20, 2025. For budget stories. Winnipeg Free Press 2025

The age of American leadership has been completely swept away

Robert McGarvey 5 minute read Preview

The age of American leadership has been completely swept away

Robert McGarvey 5 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025

The miracle that was Pax Americana is past; the century of American stewardship of the free world is collapsing. The question is, what, if anything, will replace it?

Throughout the 20th century, the United States became the model of what a modern society should be. Its prosperous middle class, commitment to free trade, solid democracy and financial leadership both inspired the world and provided the institutional support for the greatest period of improvement the world had ever seen. America’s post-war leadership helped rebuild nations, liberalize economies and institutionalize global co-operation through multilateral organizations and rules-based systems.

That foundation is now crumbling. After a host of demeaning threats to former allies and the imposition of illegal tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, the voice of reason has vacated the highest levels of American leadership. The betrayal is profound; the loss of trust, complete. Where the U.S. was once viewed as a stabilizing force, it is increasingly seen as unpredictable, even hostile to the very order it helped build.

America’s moral authority rested on three pillars: a resolute adherence to the rule of law, belief in the sanctity of contract (with Americans voluntarily, rather than legally, meeting obligations), and, most importantly, ethical leadership that modelled liberal values through social reforms and systems of justice. These principles earned the respect of the global community and allowed America to lead not just by strength, but by example. All of this has been swept away in the blink of an eye.

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Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025

The U.S. Capitol dome is viewed through a reflection of the American flag on Capitol Hill. (Melina Mara/Washington Post files)

The U.S. Capitol dome is viewed through a reflection of the American flag on Capitol Hill. (Melina Mara/Washington Post files)

Trump’s pharma pricing order could have big effect in Canada

Rosalie Wynoch 4 minute read Preview

Trump’s pharma pricing order could have big effect in Canada

Rosalie Wynoch 4 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 3, 2025

President Donald Trump’s May 12 executive order that U.S. drug prices must not exceed the lowest price in other nations doesn’t mention Canada explicitly, but could cause significant damage to our public health-care system and ripple around the globe.

The move could massively increase prices in Canada (and other reference nations) and create a significant incentive for pharmaceutical companies to delay launching new medicines in lower-priced markets.

U.S. market size means that policy changes south of the border to regulate prices directly through the use of reference pricing, or indirectly benchmarking prices to Canada through importation, could have significant effects on the availability and price of pharmaceuticals in Canada. To preserve high prices in the United States, pharmaceutical companies might also choose to delay launching new medicines in Canada and other markets.

Research modelling the effect of U.S. prices for patented medicines if they are equal to or less than Canada’s shows prices in Canada increasing by an average of 216 percent and in some cases, more than 10-fold. By contrast, the United States would receive a discount of about 7.54 percent.

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Tuesday, Jun. 3, 2025

President Donald Trump’s executive order on pharmaceutical pricing could massively increase prices in Canada and create a significant incentive for pharmaceutical companies to delay launching new medicines in lower-priced markets, Rosalie Wyonch warns. (The Canadian Press files)

President Donald Trump’s executive order on pharmaceutical pricing could massively increase prices in Canada and create a significant incentive for pharmaceutical companies to delay launching new medicines in lower-priced markets, Rosalie Wyonch warns. (The Canadian Press files)

During the first ministers meeting in Saskatoon on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney told the premiers around the table that the threat posed by U.S. tariffs means that Canadians must rally behind “nation-building projects” to boost the Canadian economy.

And in the same breath, according to a report by The Toronto Star, he praised the provincial leaders for working together to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers.

“I can’t keep up with the flurry of announcements of free trade agreements between provinces and across the country,” the prime minister said, in reference to to Ontario’s recent deals with Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Certainly the Carney government is making many of the correct political noises around that table when it comes to breaking down interprovincial barriers — part of an election promise to counter the financial disaster those tariffs pose to the Canadian economy.

Cuts affect choices for international students

By Georgia Feng 6 minute read Tuesday, May. 20, 2025

With Advanced Placement (AP) exams just finishing, high school students in Brandon and around the world are nearing the end of their university-level courses.

The AP program first started in the United States during the Cold War as an academic program for high-achieving, typically wealthy, white students who demonstrated readiness for university-level work. The U.S. feared that high schools were not adequately preparing their students for university or post-graduate studies. Over the years, the program has expanded to numerous countries and has become more inclusive with a focus on equity and diversity.

On March 20, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education. This has since been followed by further cuts to higher education and research. As students both local and international are preparing for the summer, beginning post-secondary plans or eagerly waiting for graduation, these developments south of the border are something to consider as impacting future plans.

The decision to dismantle the Department of Education will greatly affect low-income students, students of colour, students with disabilities and students from rural areas with less funding. Trump states on the White House website that taking out the Department of Education will drastically improve program implementation in higher education. By closing the Department of Education and returning authority to the states, he hopes to help “children and their families to escape a system that is failing them.” He says that the American education system through federal programs has failed their children, teachers, and families.

Vancouver SUV attack exposes crowd management falldowns

By Ali Asgary 5 minute read Preview

Vancouver SUV attack exposes crowd management falldowns

By Ali Asgary 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 28, 2025

A car attack at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver just two days before Canada’s federal election has killed at least 11 people and injured many more.

The carnage along a street lined with food trucks took place shortly after one of the men vying to become Canada’s prime minister — New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh — attended the event. A shell-shocked Singh observed a moment of silence in Penticton, B.C., during another campaign stop the next day.

A 30-year-old Vancouver resident has been arrested, but the motivation behind the attack is unknown.

Vancouver police say the suspect has mental health issues and was known to police prior to the attack. Police also told a news conference there was no indication there was a need for extra policing at the festival, deeming it to have a “low threat level.”

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Monday, Apr. 28, 2025

A woman sits and prays on Sunday near the site where a vehicle drove into a crowd at a street festival on Saturday in Vancouver, killing 11 people. (The Canadian Press)

A woman sits and prays on Sunday near the site where a vehicle drove into a crowd at a street festival on Saturday in Vancouver, killing 11 people. (The Canadian Press)

Bogus pretext for the Trump tariffs

By Deveryn Ross 4 minute read Preview

Bogus pretext for the Trump tariffs

By Deveryn Ross 4 minute read Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025

At first, the alleged flow of fentanyl across the Canada-U.S. border was the reason for the Trump administration’s decision to impose tough tariffs on Canadian goods and services. Now, Canada’s treatment of U.S. dairy products are the latest bogus justification for America’s trade war with Canada.

Over the past several days, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Canada is imposing tariffs of more than 200 per cent on dairy products entering Canada from the U.S. Last week, his press secretary claimed the tariffs are “almost” 300 per cent.

As was the case with fentanyl, Trump and his minions are stretching the truth beyond the breaking point. The dairy tariffs they are complaining about are set out in the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement that Trump himself signed in 2018.

Under that agreement, Canada agreed to not impose any tariffs on 14 different categories of U.S. dairy products unless the flow of those specific products exceeded a certain (very high) volume. The tariffs only kick in once imports exceed the quota, and the tariff percentages have not increased since the CUSMA deal was signed.

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Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025

A cow chews on some grass in a herd found grazing in a pasture west of Brandon. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files)

A cow chews on some grass in a herd found grazing in a pasture west of Brandon. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files)

4 minute read Monday, Mar. 3, 2025

Amid the torrent of bad news coming at Canadians from many directions — but especially south — it’s good to take time to appreciate a positive move when it happens.

On that note, Manitoba has the distinction of being the first province to jump aboard the federal government’s national pharmacare program, which will see diabetes medication and birth control covered by federal funding.

Manitoba’s deal with Ottawa — which will see the federal government spend $219 million on pharmacare for the province over four years — is hopefully one of many to be inked across the country. Manitoba’s coverage is expected to start in June.

These baby steps into a comprehensive national pharmacare are welcome — and overdue. As much as Canadians take pride in our national health care (despite its struggles), the system has long covered less than it could. Between pharmacare and federally supported dental care for Canadians, the country is heading toward a much more holistic way of covering its citizens’ needs.

Feds must explain Métis commitment

By Jerry Storie 7 minute read Preview

Feds must explain Métis commitment

By Jerry Storie 7 minute read Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024

Manitobans, in fact all Canadians, should be concerned that a “treaty” is being signed to support another “nation” within Canada without discussion.

The new treaty has come into existence without consultation with First Nations or with the public. Is the “new” treaty just the recognition of the Red River Métis, or is it a precursor to establishing other Métis nations in other provinces? It seems likely that the treaty being signed will be considered a precedent for other Métis groups seeking similar recognition. What are the grounds for a new treaty?

Should we not expect that whatever obligations the government is undertaking on our behalf should at least be explained to us before documents are signed? Should we have a say on matters that may obligate us to yet-unknown costs and future problems? If an agreement is built on the notion of a Métis nation, shouldn’t we understand its underpinnings and rationale more clearly than most people do at the moment?

Most Canadians have never seen or read the essential texts that established our relationship with Indigenous people. The first, the 1763 Royal Proclamation, was issued after the French ceded Canada to the British after the defeat of the French colonists in Canada. The second, the numbered treaties, were signed by Indigenous leaders across the Prairies beginning in 1871 with the signing of Treaty 1 and concluding with Treaty 11, which ceded most of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and what is now Nunavut.

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Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024

Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand (middle) holds up a copy of the Red River Métis self-government treaty during a signing ceremony in Winnipeg on Nov. 30. Also pictured are federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree (left) and Red River Métis lead negotiator Allan Benoit. (Brook Jones/Winnipeg Free Press)

Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand (middle) holds up a copy of the Red River Métis self-government treaty during a signing ceremony in Winnipeg on Nov. 30. Also pictured are federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree (left) and Red River Métis lead negotiator Allan Benoit. (Brook Jones/Winnipeg Free Press)

Vigilantism can’t achieve what activism can

By Shannon Sampert 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024

Luigi Mangione is in some circles being celebrated as a modern-day Robin Hood.

The 26-year-old stands accused in the slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York last week. Following news that Thompson had been gunned down moments before he was to attend a board meeting, social media erupted with postings of unbridled glee. Someone who was the face of an industry known for making despicable decisions that affect people’s lives had been taken out. Justice at long last.

Except, it’s not, of course. It’s not justice in any sense of the word.

There’s little doubt the health-care system in the United States creates unnecessary stress. The No. 1 reason for declaring bankruptcy in the U.S. is health-related debt. According to some studies, nearly one in five U.S. health-care claims is initially rejected by health-care companies.

Skip the alcohol this Christmas

4 minute read Preview

Skip the alcohol this Christmas

4 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024

Drinking alcohol can cause cancer.

The more you drink, the greater the risk to your health. This may come as a shock to many Manitobans, but the scientific evidence has been accumulating for years now.

As a result, CancerCare Manitoba is launching a provincewide campaign on Dec. 11 to raise awareness of the role alcohol has in developing cancer and to encourage alcohol-free drinking starting this holiday season. Our goal is to help prevent the shock and fear of a cancer diagnosis for Manitobans and their families in the years to come.

The evidence is undeniable. In a World Health Organization (WHO) publication last year, the authors cited a study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Its findings are sobering, “Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive and dependence producing substance and is a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the study.”

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Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024

Old choices explain today’s housing crisis

By Raphaël Fischler 5 minute read Friday, Nov. 1, 2024

Housing is an important political issue. Politicians and experts now talk about it as a major crisis that could threaten our economic and social well-being. But this is nothing new. Another housing crisis raged at the beginning of the 20th century.

Back then, it concerned working-class slums. Today, it’s much more widespread: many households are struggling to acquire property, while others are spending too much of their income on rent, and still others are living in substandard housing, or simply have nowhere to live.

As a specialist in the history of urban planning and a full professor at the Université de Montréal’s School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, I hear arguments today that are similar to those made 120 years ago, although there are new elements now.

The promise of decent housing

5 minute read Monday, Jul. 22, 2024

Interviewer on July 12: “We will 1,000 per cent, in your words, see you on the ballot this November?”

Joe Biden: “Unless I get hit by a train, yeah.”

Talk about a whistle stop.

The political battle for the White House south of the border was already promising to be a messy situation come the fall for the Democrats following the disastrous debate a few weeks ago by President Joe Biden in his one and only official meeting with former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump this year — one that made him look ineffectual and past his prime.

Mental health can’t be ignored during work injury recovery

By Steve Granger and Nick Turner 5 minute read Thursday, Jul. 18, 2024

Discussions about mental health in the workplace have surged lately, driven by growing awareness of its impact on employee and organizational success. As occupational health researchers, these discussions have helped us shed light on the precursors and consequences of mental health challenges.

One such critical but often overlooked aspect is the relationship between mental health challenges and work injuries — a relationship that goes in both directions: struggling with mental health can increase the risk of work injuries, and work injuries can give rise to, or worsen, mental health challenges.

We aimed to shed light on this crucial bidirectional relationship because it undermines the sustainability of an organization’s most crucial asset: its people.

Mental health and work injuries

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