The Exchange Sessions featuring The Nadeau Ensemble

Surgery backlog, St. Boniface ER big-ticket items in health budget

The provincial government will spend more than $200 million this year to tackle the massive backlog of surgeries and expand emergency room capacity, while slashing its COVID-19 response budget.

Finance Minister Cameron Friesen said his government will spend a combined $7.2 billion to deliver health care, mental health and addictions services, a new seniors strategy and deliver promised improvements to long term care in 2022-23, representing a 2.5 per cent spending increase over last year.

The provincial budget, unveiled Tuesday, includes $9 million to fund 28 new critical care beds provincewide; $100 million for the redevelopment of the St. Boniface Hospital emergency department; and $110 million to expedite an estimated 167,000 surgical and diagnostic cases that were delayed due to the pandemic.

“Our government is very serious about driving down these times that were elongated as a consequence of a global pandemic,” Friesen said. “That’s why we’re putting a very significant effort into combating that.”

Physician watchdog under fire for ‘outrageous’ policy

The Manitoba physician watchdog’s policy of deferring its own investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct while a police probe is ongoing is “outrageous” and is further evidence an independent review is needed into the regulatory body, critics say.

Bombers bandwagon welcomes all

Don't let a lack of football savvy prevent you from pulling for Winnipeg on Sunday! Three fans provide advice on How To Hop on the Bombers Bandwagon… and Still Seem Legit.

New virus could disrupt global economy

MONTREAL - A deadly new virus that emerged in China is raising concerns beyond the public health sphere as experts warn about the potential economic cost of a global outbreak that is already drawing comparisons to the SARS epidemic 17 years ago.

Stock markets around the world fell Thursday as health authorities rushed to monitor and contain the outbreak, and keep it from spreading globally.

Asian markets bore the brunt of the effects, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index down 1.52 per cent, the Shanghai Stock Exchange plunging 2.75 per cent and the Tokyo Stock Exchange down 0.78 per cent.

North American markets fell initially before ending the day on a flat note, with the S&P/TSX composite index up 0.12 per cent, the Dow Jones industrial average down 0.09 per cent, S&P 500 index up 0.11 per cent and the Nasdaq composite up 0.20 per cent.

South Korea protests penalties assessed in short track

Quebec City MP Joël Lightbound said Tuesday that governments shouldn’t dismiss the concerns of people who want health measures to be lifted.

Today’s horoscope

MOON ALERT: Caution! Avoid shopping or major decisions after noon today. The solar eclipse (new moon) in Leo peaks at 12:37 p.m.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

This is the perfect time to hatch some new ideas and plans, perhaps related to vacations, your kids or an artistic project that appeals. Even though it’s a sudden decision, it might lead to more stability in the future.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)