Local News Briefs

Winnipeg plans greenhouse emission cuts

The city is ready to take further steps to make Winnipeg a greener place to live. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, city council has recently approved a plan to cut greenhouse emissions in the city by a further 20 per cent before the year 2019.
Since 1998, the city has achieved a 20 per cent cut, but this is mostly due to the selling of Winnipeg Hydro and removing its emissions from the records.

Corporate cuts will be making vehicles and buildings more energy-efficient, and a community-based program will be launched in the next year.

Taxi drivers claim police crackdown

For the hundreds of taxi drivers lining up outside clubs on weekend nights, work is apparently getting tougher lately. All the major taxi companies have recently complained that Winnipeg police have been cracking down on taxis illegally parked outside clubs and hotels late at night, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.

Police deny acting any different towards those parked along the street in the early hours of morning. They still have every right to enforce laws such as double parking, seatbelt violations and other offenses.

Plans for garbage carts put on hold

The city’s plan to replace 42,500 Winnipeg garbage cans with newly paid-for garbage “carts” has hit a small snag in city hall. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the plan was defeated symbolically in city hall, but will most likely still be passed by Sam Katz and the city council. This part of the plan calls for only homes in the northwest corner of Winnipeg to receive the carts, but all residential homes without a common bin will receive them by 2013 if the plan goes ahead.

The replacement cost for these carts would be $50 and only garbage that fits in the cart would be taken by BFI collectors.

Seasonal vaccine decision still up in the air

Health officials are still deciding whether to go forward with seasonal flu vaccines in light of a recent study that showed people who received the annual flu shot were twice as likely to catch H1N1. The Winnipeg Free Press reported officials in Saskatchewan may not vaccinate anyone and Ontario will only deliver shots to the elderly late in the winter. To date, health minister Theresa Oswald and her staff have favoured the former approach, but are still evaluating the new study.

Provincial Hunting Day takes place at Whittier Park

The government recently declared the fourth Saturday in September to be Provincial Hunting Day and hunters across the city celebrated at Whittier Park. Conservation minister Stan Struthers made the announcement in a release.

“Hunting is the foundation of wildlife management and ensures sustainable populations of game for the benefit of future generations,” he said.

Provincial Hunting Day was organized by members from Manitoba Conservation, Ducks Unlimited and the Manitoba Metis Federation, among others.

Published in Volume 64, Number 5 of The Uniter (October 1, 2009)

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