Today’s horoscope

Sun sets on Hellebuyck era

Now that the Connor Hellebuyck era of the Jets has finally concluded, what impact will the departure have on the netminder’s legacy?

Well, it’s a complex answer and one that could change with the benefit of time and a side order of sober second thought.

Given how raw things are right now and how things quickly went sideways — with the franchise goalie essentially forcing his way out of town with his trade request back in April — many members of the Winnipeg Jets fan base quickly found themselves at the “good riddance” stage of the grieving process.

This wasn’t how this story was supposed to end and there’s no doubt some feelings have been hurt along the way.

NHL shuffling toward resumption of play

Did you hear the one about the hockey players who walked into a bar?

Unfortunately, this isn't the beginning of a corny joke, but rather a real-life reminder that COVID-19 is no laughing matter despite far too many treating it as such. And the best-laid plans of the NHL and NHLPA to return to play this summer — spelled out in an tentative agreement following weeks of around-the-clock negotiations — could quickly come undone if the participants can't help themselves and get out of their own way.

Take the Stanley Cup-champion St. Louis Blues, who had to shutter their voluntary team skates last weekend after a trip to a local watering hole was linked to four unnamed players and a coach testing positive for the virus.

Nice going, guys. Was that swill you call beer really worth it? They join a growing list of players to become infected that now stands at 35 (23 who are participating in Phase 2 skates in their home markets and 12 who have been working out independently). According to the league's own numbers, that's an infection rate of about 5.5 per cent, which is significant. (Manitoba's is 0.2 per cent, while the national rate is 0.8)

‘Hypothetical’ wage-freeze law faces real-life court test

The question of whether the Pallister government has the legal right to impose a wage freeze on public servants should be a straightforward one for the courts to decide.

What will be more complicated to explain is how a court can adjudicate the constitutionality of a bill that hasn’t been proclaimed into law.

Monday was the first day of what’s expected to be a lengthy trial into the legality of Bill 28, the Manitoba government’s controversial Public Sector Sustainability Act. The bill imposes a two-year wage freeze on all public-sector workers, followed by modest increases in the third and fourth year of a contract.

All other aspects of collective agreements are open to negotiation.

Federal carbon tax unconstitutional: Alberta court

EDMONTON - The Alberta Court of Appeal gave opponents of the federal carbon tax their first win on Monday when it ruled that the levy is unconstitutional.

In a 4-1 decision, the Appeal Court said the legislation that brought in the tax erodes provincial jurisdiction.

"The act is a constitutional Trojan Horse," said a portion of the decision written by three of the four majority justices.

"Almost every aspect of the provinces' development and management of their natural resources ... would be subject to federal regulation."

Most incumbents regain their seats… but not all

When it comes to civic elections, voters like incumbents — but that doesn’t mean they are always invincible.

Canada gets first rowing medal of Tokyo Olympics

TOKYO - Victoria's Caileigh Filmer says it was a combination of physical effort and heart that earned Canada its first rowing medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Filmer and her partner Hillary Janssens of Surrey, B.C., took bronze Thursday in the women's pair after a gutsy performance that won Canada its first medal in the event since Marnie McBean and Kathleen Heddle won gold at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

Janssens said the medal was all the more meaningful because Heddle died of cancer at age 55 in January, while McBean is serving as the country's chef de mission in Tokyo.

"That's so special," she said. "I'm so glad to be able to do that. Especially in memory of Kathleen ... thinking about her family, and obviously Marnie's here and I hope Marnie watched that and is proud.