Classes cancelled to honour Queen

The University of Winnipeg campus will be closed and classes cancelled on Monday, Sept. 19. The U of W joins many other post-secondary institutions in cancelling classes to mark a national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth of Britain. In recent years, the unmarked graves of thousands of Indigenous children have been found on the grounds of residential schools, a genocidal colonial policy of the British Empire that operated in Canada for 120 years, 44 of them during Elizabeth’s reign.

Hospital in crisis

Medical personnel at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre are sounding the alarm about a lack of staff and resources that has left the hospital with severely ill patients spilling out into hallways due to lack of space. Manitoba’s healthcare system was already stretched thin after years of cuts to staff, facilities and funding by former premier Brian Pallister’s government when the COVID-19 pandemic began, pushing hospitals to the brink.

Webinar to protect the Public Utilities Board

Provincial Bill 36 is proposing radical changes to Manitoba Hydro. Critics of the bill say it will weaken the Public Utilities Board’s ability to set rates and provide oversight and may open the door for provincial governments to privatize Hydro. The Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition is holding a webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. for people interested in challenging the bill. For more information, visit mbenergyjusticecoalition.org.

Poilievre leads federal Tories

The Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership race came to an end on Sept. 10 when Pierre Poilievre won the party election with nearly 70 per cent of the vote. Poilievre has built a following through a brand of right-wing populism that includes his vocal support of the “Freedom Convoy” movement, which was founded by white supremacists. Celebrated by his followers as a challenger to political elites, critics have compared him to former US president Donald Trump and recently indicted neofascist Steve Bannon.

Social Planning Council to hold AGM

The Social Planning Council of Manitoba, a community development organization that “provides leadership that addresses inequity and improves social conditions through research, engagement and action” will hold its annual general meeting on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. at the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s Outdoor Workspace (next to Capital Grill & Bar at 275 Broadway). Register at bit.ly/3qzZ5sZ.

CUPE strike looming

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500, the union representing 4,900 City of Winnipeg employees, is engaged in collective bargaining with the municipal government and is preparing for a potential strike. The Winnipeg Free Press reported that a strike headquarters opened at 1500 Portage Ave. on Monday. A CUPE strike could impact “key city services at pools, libraries, 311, public works and water and waste,” according to the Free Press.

Published in Volume 77, Number 02 of The Uniter (September 15, 2022)