Upcoming Wesmen women’s soccer games

There are two University of Winnipeg Wesmen women’s soccer games this weekend. The women’s team will play against the University of Manitoba Bisons on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the U of M Turf Field at noon. The teams face off again on Sunday, Oct. 3 at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex at 3 p.m. Any U of W students can show their student cards to watch the games for free.

Thousands commemorate Orange Shirt Day

It is the third year the Wa-Say Healing Centre has organized a healing walk and powwow for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. More than 10,000 people wore an orange shirt to honour residential-school and Sixties Scoop survivors, starting with a pipe ceremony at Oodena Circle at The Forks, followed by a march down Main Street and Portage Avenue to the Canada Life Centre.

A boost in Manitoba’s minimum wage

The Province increased the minimum wage from $14.15 to $15.30 on Sunday. Oct. 1, becoming the third-highest-paying province behind B.C. and Ontario, according to the Retail Council of Canada. Workers in B.C. are paid a minimum of $16.75 per hour, while those in Ontario receive a minimum wage of $16.55 per hour. As the Province contends with inflation, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reported in 2022 that a living wage in Winnipeg would be $18.34.

Advocates standing up for social housing

More than 1,200 people in Winnipeg are experiencing homelessness and almost one in four renters are unable to find safe, affordable housing to accommodate the needs of their household, according to the Right to Housing Coalition. This organization advocates for social housing. They will host a protest on Thursday, Oct. 5 at MP Dan Vandal’s office at 213 St. Mary’s Rd. from noon to 12:30 p.m. to encourage the federal government to prioritize funding social housing.

A new Manitoba premier

New Democratic Party Leader Wab Kinew was elected as the first First Nations premier of Manitoba, and Manitoba became the first Canadian province to elect a First Nations premier. The NDP won the majority vote, winning a confirmed 30 seats at the Manitoba Legislature and leading in a further four yet to be called. After conceding defeat to the Manitoba NDP, former premier Heather Stefanson stepped down as the Progressive Conservative Party Leader with 22 seats. Manitoba Liberal Party Leader Dougald Lamont also stepped down, conceding defeat with one seat.

More research needed for landfill search

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the federal government will allocate $740,000 to further assess the feasibility of searching the Prairie Green landfill, according to the Canadian Press. The work is expected to be completed within the next 90 days to find out whether the search is possible after the first feasibility study found “there are considerable risks due to exposure to toxic chemicals and asbestos.” Anandasangaree said he will work with new Manitoba NDP Premier Wab Kinew on the Province’s next steps.

Published in Volume 78, Number 05 of The Uniter (October 5, 2023)