Editorials

Opinion

Charilie Riedel / The Associated Press Democrat Adam Hamilton celebrates his senate win in Kansas.

Blue wave in U.S. gives Democrats a choice

Editorial 4 minute read 2:00 AM EST

The win might not have been completely unexpected, but the size of it certainly was.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Republican party was handily dismantled by the Democrats in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with the Democrats taking control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

States including Texas, South Carolina and Kansas elected Democrats, something that hasn’t happened in Kansas, for example, for 94 years. The Democrat who won a senate seat in Kansas, Adam Hamilton, notably campaigned on a moderate platform, promising to listen to all sides. There might be a lesson in that.

An unrepentant Trump said on social media that the loss was because he was not personally on the ballot, “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE.” He also said that he didn’t view the vote as a rejection of his policies: “We’ve had the greatest two years in the history of the presidency.”

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Opinion

Richard Tsong-Taatarii / Star Tribune files Keystone pipeline construction was shut down in 2021.

Trump’s pipeline claims likely pipe dream

4 minute read Preview

Trump’s pipeline claims likely pipe dream

4 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM EST

There seems to be something of a thaw in the trade deal stalemate between Canada and the U.S.

The two sides are talking again — but at the same time, the talk from one side is more than a little bizarre, with U.S. President Donald Trump claiming Canada is going to build an $8-billion pipeline (2021 prices) — and pay for it all as part of the deal.

Keystone XL has long been a favourite Trump issue.

Before trade talks went off the rails in August, Trump was already claiming it would be part of a new Canada-U.S. trade deal. “The great Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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Yesterday at 2:00 AM EST

Opinion

SUPPLIED The da Vinci Xi is Manitoba’s only surgical robot.

Tools, technology required to retain doctors

4 minute read Preview

Tools, technology required to retain doctors

4 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026

Manitoba has made some encouraging progress in addressing its doctor shortage. But attracting more physicians to the province will accomplish only so much if the health-care system can’t give them the tools, technology and working conditions they need to do their jobs.

A new report from Doctors Manitoba suggests the province is making progress in growing its physician workforce. But serious gaps remain.

The organization’s annual Physicians in Manitoba report contains some welcome news. The province now has a record number of physicians practising here, with 235 doctors per 100,000 residents. That’s getting closer to the national average of 245.

The overall physician shortage has also been cut nearly in half from its peak three years ago, when Manitoba needed 445 additional doctors to reach the national average. It now needs 229.

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Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026

Opinion

Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files Natalie Smith, councillor-elect for Mynarski is one of nine new city councillors elected Oct. 28.

The ‘Gang of Nine’ and business as usual at city hall

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

The ‘Gang of Nine’ and business as usual at city hall

Editorial 4 minute read Monday, Nov. 2, 2026

In the early 1990s, after the province reduced the number of municipal wards in Winnipeg to 15, critics spoke at length of how a theoretical “Gang of Eight” could control all decision making at city hall. In subsequent years, there were various incarnations of a Gang of Eight, although it was never conclusively shown that eight members of city council could consistently stay on the same page long enough to dominate civic affairs.

That is an apt tale to consider now, as Winnipeg city hall welcomes nine rookie councillors, the largest number of non-incumbents elected in more than 30 years.

Theoretically, this new group of councillors could band together and push through various reforms. It’s a highly intriguing scenario for anyone who has watched the city, on occasion, shun riskier strategies in favor of status quo politics.

However, as was the case in the early 1990s, the chances of that happening begin to fall apart once you consider the work of building and sustaining a coalition of rookie councillors who come from a broad array of backgrounds.

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Monday, Nov. 2, 2026

Opinion

The long and winding road

The long and winding road

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

The long and winding road

Editorial 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026

As theatre goes, it sent a strong message.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, standing in front of microphones and television cameras, holding up his Indigenous status card and saying that he didn’t feel Canada should have “a race-based form of identification in this country, but that is a reality,” adding that it was time to abolish the Indian Act.

“I think it’s time to abolish the Indian Act, get rid of the Indian Act, move past the Indian Act, and it needs to be done with First Nations people and First Nations governments, of course. I think it’s long overdue that we have a relationship with Indigenous Peoples in Canada that reflects who we are as Canadians today,” he said.

The Indian Act — the name alone suggests how out-dated and out of place the law has become. Originally dating from 1876, the law was put in place to “amend and consolidate the laws respecting Indians” and gave the Minister of the Interior the responsibility to “control and management of the reserves, lands, moneys and property of Indians in Canada.”

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Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026

Opinion

Free Press files Cpl. Andrew Hannus, an aviation systems technician, attended the Oct. 24 retirement ceremony for the CC-130H Hercules at 17 Wing Winnipeg.

A fond farewell to the Hercules

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

A fond farewell to the Hercules

Editorial 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 30, 2026

Fans at the NHL’s outdoor Heritage Classic game last weekend were no doubt thrilled by the sight and sound of two CF-18 Hornet fighter jets conducting a flyover at Princess Auto Stadium shortly before the puck was dropped for the much-anticipated Winnipeg Jets/Montreal Canadiens matchup.

Flyovers such as these always create a spectacular scene, as the speed and power of the jets are on full display for the brief moments they’re in view above the stadium bowl. But fans who maintained their skyward gaze for a few seconds after the Hornets’ blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance were treated to a much more poignant aeronautical exhibition, as a CC-130H Hercules aircraft passed over the stadium in the fighter jets’ wake.

Compared to the supersonic CF-18s, the massive, propeller-driven transport plane probably seemed to be doing more of a “crawl-over”; what most folks at the outdoor game probably didn’t realize, however, was that this was almost certainly the last time they’ll see one of these ubiquitous Canadian Forces aircraft in the sky.

The CC-130H is being retired after more than half a century as the RCAF’s combat, rescue and transport workhorse. The “Herc” will be replaced by more modern aircraft, including the smaller and more nimble CC-295 Kingfisher, which will be used for search-and-rescue missions out of 17 Wing Winnipeg, beginning next month.

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Friday, Oct. 30, 2026

Opinion

Free Press files Dr. José François resigned last week as Shared Health’s provincial chief medical officer.

Shared Health, heal thyself

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Shared Health, heal thyself

Editorial 4 minute read Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026

Doctors are trained to seek out the causes of illness, not just to treat the symptoms.

That is, perhaps, a style of examination that the government of Premier Wab Kinew should be following with the health-care system as a whole.

Because the symptoms are looking a little dire.

Last week, provincial chief medical officer Dr. José François announced he would be leaving his position in January 2027. That means he will be leaving a position he has only held since April 2024 — less than three years.

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Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026

Opinion

Free Press files Street construction regularly disrupts small businesses in Winnipeg.

Construction disruption frustrates

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Construction disruption frustrates

Editorial 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

It’s an all too familiar story.

Small businesses that are already facing all the trials and travails they must regularly face — the hard slog of attracting customers in an internet-shopping world; the high costs for bricks-and-mortar locations, such as rent and insurance; a weak economy; and the difficulties of attracting and keeping staff — suddenly have to deal with a new problem.

The City of Winnipeg and its deathly slow road-construction schedule.

For most of us, it’s a time-wasting irritant. But for businesses facing lengthy street-construction projects, it’s a business strangler.

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Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

Opinion

Free Press files New rules regarding contact between teachers and students establish clear limits and safeguards.

Setting appropriate boundaries

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Setting appropriate boundaries

Editorial 4 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026

Most Manitoba teachers are responsible, caring professionals who work hard to support their students and would never dream of abusing their positions of trust by sending inappropriate private messages to students.

They understand the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and putting students’ safety first.

But there are some who have crossed that line, with troubling consequences. That is why the provincial government’s decision last week to prohibit teachers and other school staff from texting or using social media to contact students is an important and necessary step to protect children.

The new rules, announced Friday by Education Minister Tracy Schmidt, prohibit school employees from initiating remote communications with students or responding to messages through unauthorized platforms. That includes texting, personal social media accounts and private messaging applications, regardless of whether a teacher is contacting a student during school hours or while coaching a sports team or supervising extracurricular activities.

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Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026

Opinion

Adobe Stock photo Day programs provide vital services to seniors and their families.

Seniors’ program closures serve no one

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Seniors’ program closures serve no one

Editorial 4 minute read Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

It sounds like just the kind of respite struggling families dealing with seniors and their often complicated needs would cling to like a life preserver.

“Our adult day program consists of planned activities designed to promote well-being through social, mental and recreational services. The day program will focus on enriching the participants’ lives and building their skills, knowledge, and unique abilities and strengths, all in a fun, enjoyable way!”

That’s the web description of the Lions Adult Day Program, one piece of which includes the Charleswood Adult Day Program on Roblin Boulevard.

Or, at least, it used to be the web description of the program in Charleswood.

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Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

Opinion

The Canadian Press files It’s your city and your money, so you should vote in the Oct. 28 civic election.

Get out and exercise your franchise

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Get out and exercise your franchise

Editorial 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Are there any compelling arguments left that will convince Manitobans to vote in this province’s municipal elections on Wednesday, Oct. 28?

For years — nay, decades — this newspaper has urged people to exercise their right to vote. Our arguments have grown increasingly adamant, yet voter turnout has continued to decline.

This has created a meaningful threat to democracy itself.

Without engagement from voters, we leave ourselves open to being led by those who are, at best, ill-suited, or at worse, are emboldened to grab the levers of government power and then abuse democratic institutions.

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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Opinion

The Canadian Press Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks to the media on Wednesday, two days after the province’s referendum.

Alberta sees its way through the fog

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Alberta sees its way through the fog

Editorial 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 23, 2026

“The owls are not what they seem.”

It was a confusing line in a confusing television show, back when television watchers had to wait a week, or sometimes more, for a new episode of a show.

What the owls were — or weren’t — was one small element of the astounding panoply of events in Twin Peaks.

In case this is all flying right over your head, Twin Peaks was a surrealist television show, a mystery/horror/something that premiered in 1990. It had an amazing ability to leave viewers both entertained and, well, hanging.

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Friday, Oct. 23, 2026

Opinion

The Associated Press files Vaccine skepticism is mostly to blame for the recent resurgence of measles in Manitoba. The highly communicable disease had been eradicated.

Outbreak should never have happened

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Outbreak should never have happened

Editorial 4 minute read Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

The headline offered a vague sense that something had been accomplished, but it most certainly did not describe anything worth celebrating:

“Manitoba declares measles outbreak over.”

The news item in the Oct. 17 Free Press noted provincial public health officials had confirmed Manitoba’s last laboratory-confirmed case of measles was identified in August, and that the absence of any new cases since had allowed for the aforementioned declaration.

The end of the outbreak — which began in February 2025 and included a significant stretch this year during which Manitoba experienced more measles cases than any other province — is certainly worth noting. But it bears reminding that the real story here is that this province, and others across Canada, experienced a resurgence of this highly communicable but successfully eradicated disease in the first place.

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Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

Opinion

Free Press files Satvir Jatana is president and CEO of Manitoba Public Insurance, which has asked for a 2.38 per cent rate increase for 2027-28.

MPI gambles with low rate request

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

MPI gambles with low rate request

Editorial 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026

It sounds a bit like a gamble from a player in an industry that is almost pathologically averse to gambling.

Manitoba Public Insurance is currently going through the Public Utilities Board process to set car insurance rates for 2027-28, and it’s asking the PUB to approve a 2.38 rate hike.

As a provincially-run insurance business, MPI is already a bit of an outlier, because, through its government masters, it’s answerable to the Manitoba public in a way that private insurers aren’t.

Private insurers spend a fortune calculating risk, offsetting that risk with reinsurance to spread it out across the insurance spectrum, and always finding a way to ensure there’s a profit margin built in.

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Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026

Opinion

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel speaks to media at a meeting of Canadian health ministers in Winnipeg on Oct. 16.

Feds hold back on stable health funding

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Feds hold back on stable health funding

Editorial 4 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

The federal government wants provinces to improve health care, expand treatment services and find better ways to deliver care. But it’s refusing to provide provincial governments with the one thing they need most to plan for the future: stable, predictable funding.

That’s not a serious way to manage public health care.

Provincial and territorial health ministers gathered in Winnipeg last week hoping to secure long-term federal funding commitments to help manage mounting pressures on their health-care systems. They left with little more than a promise to keep talking.

Ottawa agreed to extend a $1.2-billion annual funding agreement for mental-health and substance-use treatment, home care and community care by one year. That’s welcome, but it hardly provides the certainty provinces need to maintain existing programs, never mind expand services to meet growing demand.

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Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

Opinion

The Canadian Press Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel recently announced funding for Manitoba to hire more doctors.

Community-based care a move in the right direction

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Community-based care a move in the right direction

Editorial 4 minute read Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

It’s not a case of reinventing the wheel. It’s a case of recognizing how the wheel actually works and realizing that a symptom can be far away from the whole illness.

And it is a pragmatic, practical, numbers-based solution for a growing problem.

Earlier this month, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced that the province would be funding 103 community-based care spaces in Winnipeg. The spaces will be for patients who need shelter or specialized supports — and can’t be discharged from much-needed hospital beds without it.

“We’re talking about, in some cases, some Manitobans, some patients who have been waiting in (hospital) beds for the right place to go in communities for hundreds, if not thousands of days,” Asagwara said. “Some folks with very complex needs are now going to get the care they need in community.”

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Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

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