US plans to require COVID-19 shots for foreign travelers

Who will win? Most voters haven’t decided yet

Just over a month before Winnipeg voters choose their next mayor, the most striking number in the latest polling isn’t Scott Gillingham’s lead.

It’s the 51 per cent of voters who still haven’t decided who they’re going to vote for.

That is an enormous chunk of the electorate to have sitting on the sidelines this late in a municipal campaign. And while it may make the current standings look more uncertain than they otherwise would, it shouldn’t come as a complete surprise.

Winnipeg municipal elections have not been models of voter engagement in recent years. Turnout has been falling — from 50 per cent in 2014 to 42 per cent in 2018 and just 37.5 per cent in 2022.

Disturbing rise of the cult of hard-line anti-vaxxers

The serious long-term threat from this anti-vax cult is its ability to spread disinformation to their followers via social media and other outlets.

Hellebuyck determined to turn numbers around

HELSINKI — Connor Hellebuyck is enjoying a visit to the Finnish capital city and has wandered some of the twisting cobblestone paths in search of its many sights — a well-timed distraction from the outcomes of his most recent NHL starts and the mediocre stats that accompany them.

By his own admission, the Winnipeg netminder — who emerged last season as one of the top goaltenders in the NHL — hasn't had a banner beginning to the 2018-19 campaign. In nine opportunities to guard the Jets net, Hellebuyck has posted a 4-4-1 record, a 3.00 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.

Those aren't numbers that warrant a 911 response, but they're not what Jets fans were accustomed to seeing from the 25 year old during a breakout 2017-18 season.

Most importantly, they don't resemble the body of work the Michigan-born goaltender, who dropped his last two starts, demands of himself.

Bisons look to bounce back against Dinos at Murray Field

Nathan Udoh has been around long enough to know how quickly things can change in the Canada West conference.

The fifth-year Manitoba Bisons receiver is one of the oldest players in a youthful locker room that is experiencing the ebbs and flows of a U Sports season for the first time, and to say his experience if being leaned on would be an understatement.

“I try to lean on that and help guys who haven’t been in these situations just to keep their heads and how hard you have to play,” Udoh said Wednesday. “I think that’s the biggest thing that there is no snap that you take off, and playing with that intensity is really where it starts.”

The Bisons have already endured a roller-coaster two games into the season. After shocking the country by steamrolling the reigning conference champion Saskatchewan Huskies 40-22 in their season-opener, the Bisons fell back to earth in a 22-8 road loss to the Regina Rams last weekend.

US plans to require COVID-19 shots for foreign travelers

For all the talk about school ventilation systems, the Ford government has missed the biggest thing that would keep students safe — requiring COVID vaccinations.

Changing Transit Plus drivers’ status a ‘ridiculous anti-worker provision,’ councillor says

Some fear a change of status for Winnipeg Transit Plus drivers could allow them to be paid less and receive fewer benefits.

However, council’s public works chairwoman said pay protections are now embedded in contracts and the change is needed to attract enough workers.

Three years ago, city council passed a motion that required Winnipeg Transit Plus drivers to be employees of companies the city hires to provide accessible transit service.

Coun. Brian Mayes said that clause prevents “sub-minimum wages” from being permitted for subcontracted drivers and ensures drivers can access multiple benefits.