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Eagle feathers ‘an implement of justice in Manitoba’

An Indigenous symbol of truth is now an official way to testify in Manitoba's courts, as the justice system continues to grapple with its role in reconciliation.

Manitobans can testify by holding an eagle feather, rather than swearing on the Bible or simply stating their promise to tell the truth in court. The eagle feather has already been accepted in some court trials for several months, but with the Supreme Court of Canada's visit casting a national spotlight on Manitoba courts this week, a joint session between the provincial court and the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench was called Thursday to officially recognize it.

Forty-five eagle feathers were blessed and gifted to Manitoba courts during a sunrise smudging ceremony at The Forks Thursday morning, and a courthouse presentation Thursday afternoon brought together all nine visiting Supreme Court justices and every sitting judge in Winnipeg. Indigenous drummers were welcomed for a first-of-its-kind courtroom ceremony in which chief judges promised their work isn't done when it comes to working with Indigenous people and making room for culturally appropriate practices.

Barry French, a longtime Indigenous advocate and one of the individuals who gifted eagle feathers to the court, emphasized the progress the move represents in Manitoba's court process.

Canada’s lowest-paid health-care support workers approve ‘life-changing’ four-year deal

Manitoba’s health-care support workers have accepted a new four-year contract carrying an average wage increase of 27 per cent to lift their pay out of Canada’s basement.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees and Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, which represent more than 25,000 support workers, are hoping new recruitment and retention measures help to ease chronic staff shortages.

“We know there is a lot of work left to do, but with the government committed to filling vacancies, and now wages that are competitive, we have a shot at taking real steps toward really fixing the health-care staffing crisis,” said Margaret Schroeder, president of CUPE Local 204, after an electronic voting period closed at noon Friday.

Local 204 represents about 16,000 support workers employed by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Shared Health.

‘Freedom Convoy’ leader shared symbol of far-right hate group on TikTok

Dave Steenburg has called for calm and respect from protesters in other posts.

‘They’ve got confidence, but they do have their flaws’

The shoe has been on the other foot during the Winnipeg Blue Bombers golden years, so it’s tough to find anyone on the current roster ready to adopt the underdog mentality.

Going into Friday’s game with the league-leading Montreal Alouettes, though, the Bombers recognize they’re running into a buzzsaw.

At 9-1, the Alouettes are the cream of the crop in the CFL and it’s tough to identify any weaknesses in the team that bounced the Bombers from the playoffs last November.

“I love it,” said running back Brady Oliveira. “You want to play against the best every single week. I always talk about going up against the best defensive players every single week. That excites me.

World Cup ski racing back in Lake Louise

World Cup alpine ski racing returns to Canada after a pandemic hiatus with something extra.

A third race joins the men's downhill and super-G in Lake Louise, Alta., that traditionally open the international speed season.

The first of two downhills is Friday in the Banff National Park ski resort west of Calgary, followed by a second Saturday and Sunday's super-G.

Both men's and women's World Cups in Alberta were cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their absence was hard on the local economy and a bummer for Canada's alpine team because Lake Louise is its one home race of the year.

Spread the message, not COVID: Stay home when sick

Staying home when sick may be the single most important thing people can do to slow the spread of COVID-19. But in a culture where biting the bullet and going to work or school with a sore throat, a runny nose or a cough – if not a full-blown fever – has been programmed into us since elementary school, it’s not a natural directive to follow.

“I’ve done it,” Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial health officer, confessed Thursday, explaining how many of us have ventured out in public when sick prior to the pandemic — and how that needs to change.

It’s not clear how many of the 3,098 cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba were the result of someone spreading the virus in the community while symptomatic. But to illustrate how damaging it can be, Roussin shared the example of someone with symptoms who attended a social gathering Sept. 11, which led to 40 infections in just under two weeks. That represented 2.3 per cent of the 1,711 total infections in Manitoba at the time.

Roussin said contact tracing has revealed multiple examples of people going to work or attending social gatherings while symptomatic. While it’s not easy for some to stay home from work while ill (including those without financial supports, such as paid sick leave), there's no excuse for those attending social gatherings. It’s reckless.