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Canada-U.S. trade relationship is broken, but the damage can — and will — be repaired

Canada needs to get serious about diversifying its trade beyond the United States. But at the same time, Canadians should expect relations with the U.S. to normalize after Donald Trump is no longer in the White House.

For generations, Canada-U.S. trade was considered almost a fact of geography. The two countries share the world’s longest undefended border, deeply integrated supply chains and a century of commercial relationships.

Canadian manufacturers depend on American customers. American manufacturers depend on Canadian suppliers. Energy, agriculture, automotive production and countless other industries operate across the border as though it barely exists.

That isn’t going to change dramatically, even in the midst of a bitter trade war unleashed by the U.S. president.

Manitobans largely heeding calls to stay home, but some continue to flout rules, data shows

The data is clear: Manitobans, for the most part, have got the message and are staying at home.

But there are outliers ignoring public-health directives, increasing the risk of community spread of COVID-19, which has eclipsed 100,000 deaths worldwide.

Data from Toronto-based Environics Analytics shows Manitoba has done well when it comes to sheltering at home as the pandemic deepens.

Environics Analytics senior vice-president Rupen Seoni said the company used cellphone location data from apps to track weekend movements throughout the country from Feb. 1 to April 5.

Some relief for tired Manitoba flood fighters

In a sign the tide is changing, floodwater from the swollen Morris and Red rivers has dropped enough to expose the railings of the bridge on Highway 75 into the town of Morris.

Ralph Groening, reeve of the RM of Morris, said water levels are beginning to subside following the crest of the Red a few days ago.

“It’s dropping a couple of inches a day,” Groening said on Friday. “The bridge railings are just starting to show.”

As many as 170 residents remain evacuated from their homes and municipality workers have started cleaning up.

Emotional Valieva takes lead in Olympic figure skating

The class-action was spearheaded by a Vancouver resident who alleged the company had hidden service fees that were only charged upon payment. Here’s how to make a claim

EPC votes to award $115-M sewage plant upgrade development contract to Canadian arm of U.S.-based company

The Canadian branch of a U.S. company is one vote away from winning a $115-million North End sewage treatment plant upgrade contract Winnipeg’s mayor expects will produce many local jobs.

Council’s executive policy committee voted to award the development phase agreement for the third and final portion of the $3.1-billion upgrade project to Kiewit Construction Services, pending final city council approval.

The company is a branch of Kiewit Canada Group, whose parent company is located in Omaha, Neb., according to its website.

While there has been a renewed push for governments to buy local in and beyond Winnipeg, Mayor Scott Gillingham said this contract should prove very beneficial to the city’s economy.

Sweeney’s sexist U.S. gambling-site ad isn’t the real problem

Until very recently, there was no reason to connect actress and model Sydney Sweeney with online sports betting. But the degrees separating these two culture trends evaporated in short order this week.

Sweeney, a pop culture icon who is a source of endless speculation in political circles, made a big splash with a provocative advertising campaign for Novig, a new-generation sports gambling site in the United States. In a promotional video, Sweeney appears largely nude, with strategically placed sports equipment and her long, blonde hair providing just enough cover to keep from being classified as pornography.

“Think you know sports?” Sweeney says seductively in the opening of the video, with two footballs hiding her breasts. “Prove it.”

Novig is a “peer-to-peer” gambling app that allows people south of the border to bet against each other on the outcomes of professional sports, as opposed to betting against “the house,” as is the case with traditional sports books. And it just so happens that Sweeney, either from a direct investment or as payment for her participation in the ad campaign, is now an equity partner in Novig.