NDP pledges more money to prevent disastrous effects of climate change

Ribbon cutting marks new roads, buildings start in Water Tower District

Work is underway transforming land previously home to the massive Canada Packers building into St. Boniface’s latest development.

Alberta-based Olexa Developments and Winnipeg’s Shindico Realty Inc. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday to unveil the names of two completed streets running through the new Water Tower District and mark the start of building construction.

Crews broke ground last month on the first multifamily residential building, which is expected to have 500 units. The developers have City of Winnipeg approval for 2,800 units across the 165-acre community, up from the previous 2,000-unit limit.

Dan Cristall, founder and CEO of Olexa, said the project has high potential because it can utilize existing infrastructure by being an inner-city development.

Osborne Village violence sends two people to hospital, one in critical condition; two people arrested

Two people are in hospital and another two are in police custody after a serious assault in Osborne Village early Monday morning.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Pat Saydak said officers were called to the assault scene on Osborne Street near River Avenue just after midnight.

Two people were rushed to hospital, one in critical condition and the other in stable condition.

Two individuals, both adults, were arrested by police. There’s no word yet on charges.

NDP pledges more money for disaster fund

GATINEAU, Que. - The New Democrats promised Sunday to more than double the amount of federal money earmarked to prevent damage from natural disasters such as floods.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh pledged to add $2.5 billion to the federal government's disaster mitigation fund, saying he wants to help people and businesses prevent problems.

"What we've seen for too long is that there's a crisis that happens and then afterwards there's a response," he said after meeting with property owners affected by recent floods in Quebec.

"A flood happens and the water damages a business, means it can't be opened (and) has to shut down or it damages homes, and instead of responding after the case what we're proposing is we give investments to municipalities right now so they can put in place the infrastructure to avoid this from happening."

Norway's Ruud wins Olympic gold year after father's death

The decorated alpine athlete was disqualified from her first two races in Beijing, but still has plenty of events to come.

Tokyo Olympic aftermath still being untangled a year later

TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo Olympics survived the COVID-19 postponement, soaring expenses and some public opposition. A year later, the costs and benefits remain as difficult to untangle as the Games were to pull off.

In his speech at the closing ceremony, IOC President Thomas Bach said a major accomplishment of the Games was simply reaching the end.

“We did it,” Bach said. “We did it together," he repeated, crediting the athletes, Japanese government officials, and deep-pocketed broadcasters for refashioning the Games despite no fans, disappointed sponsors, and no buzz around the city.

Organizers said the Games would drive tourism, showcase Japan's technological prowess, and create memories similar to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The pandemic erased that.

All-Japan committee meets to promote Sapporo Olympic bid

TOKYO (AP) — Yasuhiro Yamashita, the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee, acknowledged the biggest stumbling block to holding the Olympics is the billions in costs.

However, in another breath on Tuesday at a so-called “All Japan” meeting to promote Sapporo's bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics, he said that if the northern Japanese city lands the Games, little new construction will be needed — a major expense for every Olympics.

“From both inside and outside our country, there are many views about hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Yamashista said, among politicians and business leaders online — and in Sapporo — talking up the bid. “I realize there are also concerns about the huge costs involved.”

The official cost for last year's delayed Tokyo Olympics was $13.6 billion, although government audits suggest it may have been much more. At least 60% was public money.