University of Manitoba faces budget crisis

According to CBC News, the University of Manitoba is facing a bleak financial crisis. University president David Barnard told the staff and students at a town hall meeting last Thursday, Oct. 15 to prepare for future cuts due to a $36 million budget shortfall. Barnard did not say which services or programs would be affected, but told students that the university has halted the hiring of new staff. However, the university promised to give students a say in the cuts. Brad Mackenzie, president of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association, said that “reduction in efficiencies” could result in the decline of program quality or lack of services.

Free consumer protection information

Finance minister Rosanne Wowchuk announced on Oct. 14 that the 2010 Protect Yourself calendar is now available. The calendar contains consumer tips on fraud, gambling, security, tenant and landlord issues and other consumer interest issues.
“The Protect Yourself calendar is another tool to inform Manitobans about relevant consumer information. The calendar provides helpful information on how to protect themselves in the marketplace,” said Wowchuk in a release.

The calendar is available free of charge from consumers’ groups, seniors’ organizations and bilingual centres in the province.

New housing units for new Canadians

The Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg are teaming up under the Winnipeg Housing and Homeless Initiative (WHHI) to establish 25 affordable housing units for new Canadians. Construction of Centre Village Housing, located in downtown Winnipeg, is underway and will be ready for summer 2010.

“Through this investment, Centre Village will be able to offer refugees and new immigrants more rental housing options and an opportunity to start a new chapter in their lives,” Treasury Board president Vic Toews said in a release.

The partnership aims to provide funding for housing in order to eliminate homelessness and repair Winnipeg’s old neighbourhoods.

No more stop sign violation tickets for cyclists

City cyclists may soon be able to roll through stop signs at intersections where cars or pedestrians are not present, if the “Idaho stop law” is put in place. City councilors have formally asked the Winnipeg Police Service to look into the proposal. The council’s city protection and community services committee voted unanimously to allow the police 60 days to study whether the implementation of this law would be possible. The law would allow cyclists to slow down at a stop sign – but not stop completely – without getting a ticket. Cyclist activists have been working to have the Highway Traffic Act ammended.

MAWA goes Bollywood

Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art (MAWA) will be having a Bollywood-inspired fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. The event, dubbed “Thank You, Come Again,” will take place at the East India Company, Winnipeg’s oldest Indian restaurant. It will feature classically trained Indian dancers and percussionists, an Indian bazaar with a chai station, palm reader, fire dancers, raffle baskets, tasty Indian appetizers and more. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go into MAWA’s endowment fund that will contribute in planning a sustainable future.

Tickets are $30 and are available at MAWA, 611 Main St.

Published in Volume 64, Number 8 of The Uniter (October 22, 2009)