Counter-protest against anti-trans rally

More than 1,000 people attended the Rally for Trans Youth at the Manitoba Legislative Building on Sunday, Sept. 24 before marching down Broadway to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This was the second counter-protest in response to the “1 Million March 4 Children” protest in Winnipeg and across Canada against 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive sex-education policies.

Second year for tree-planting initiative

Not-for-profit organizations can apply to receive up to $20,000 to plant trees in their community as a part of the City of Winnipeg’s Home Grown Tree Planting Program. 2024 will be the second year of the program out of the city’s three-year fund of $7 million to build Winnipeg’s tree canopy. The City says community tree-planting projects will replenish dead trees lost to disease, age, extreme weather or other causes.

Manitoba divided on calls for landfill search

During the provincial election leaders’ debate on Sept. 21, Premier Heather Stefanson stood firm on her decision not to search the Prairie Green landfill for the bodies of two First Nations women police suspect were discarded there. A Free Press-CTV poll conducted by Probe Research found that 47 per cent of a 1,000 adult sampling of Manitoban residents supported searching the landfill, while 45 per cent opposed and eight per cent said they were unsure.

Wear an orange shirt

This week, the University of Winnipeg (U of W) hosted special events, activities and learning opportunities in honour of residential school survivors and Indigenous people. As a part of recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the U of W encourages students and staff to wear orange this Friday, Sept. 29. The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association and the Office of Indigenous Engagement will give away orange shirts, informational booklets and stickers in Wesley Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A table will be set up for smudging.

Casting a ballot in the provincial election

Advanced polling stations are open from Sept. 23 to 30 ahead of the 43rd provincial election on Oct. 3. Depending on the location, voters can go to any polling station from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eligible voters must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day and be a resident of Manitoba for at least six months before election day. Eligible voters must also bring one piece of government-issued photo ID that includes their address or two other pieces of identification. Election-day polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For a full list of polling locations, go to the Elections Manitoba website.

MPI sets final offer for MGEU strike

Approximately 1,700 Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) workers represented by the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) have been on strike since Aug. 28. The strike comes after members of the union were unable to reach an agreement on a new contract with improved wages with the public insurer. The two parties met with a conciliator who is urging MPI to make a final offer including its previous offer of a two per cent wage increase per year over four years and a lump sum signing payment of $1,800.

Published in Volume 78, Number 04 of The Uniter (September 28, 2023)