House search allays fears of stolen fentanyl hitting streets of Manitoba town

Netherlands Canada's top source for illicit meth shipments in 2018

OTTAWA — While Winnipeg was in the midst of its ongoing meth crisis in 2018, quantities of the drug were coming from an unexpected country, and through Canadians' most common mode of delivery.

According to documents obtained by the Free Press, there was an increase in "inbound seizures destined to Winnipeg addresses," of postal mail containing meth in 2018 from a year prior. "However, such shipments are likely for personal consumption,” as they were under 35 grams.

And though Canadian officials have called out meth smugglers in China and Mexico, the mailed drugs came from Europe.

"The Netherlands is the top transit country by number of seizures (of meth), while Mexico is the main transit country by quantity,” reads an internal Canada Border Services Agency report from mid-2018.

Track records keep falling in fast Tokyo Games

Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom grabbed the first-round lead with a five-under-par round of 66, the conversation mostly revolved around the 42 C conditions in Tokyo.

Tools, technology required to retain doctors

Manitoba has made some encouraging progress in addressing its doctor shortage. But attracting more physicians to the province will accomplish only so much if the health-care system can’t give them the tools, technology and working conditions they need to do their jobs.

A new report from Doctors Manitoba suggests the province is making progress in growing its physician workforce. But serious gaps remain.

The organization’s annual Physicians in Manitoba report contains some welcome news. The province now has a record number of physicians practising here, with 235 doctors per 100,000 residents. That’s getting closer to the national average of 245.

The overall physician shortage has also been cut nearly in half from its peak three years ago, when Manitoba needed 445 additional doctors to reach the national average. It now needs 229.

Manitoba film and music ambassador calling it quits

After more than three decades as a leader and champion in this province’s film and music industries, Manitoba Film & Music CEO and film commissioner Carole Vivier is retiring, effective June 2019.

Since joining MFM in 1985 — and serving at its helm for the past 26 years — Vivier has supported some of Manitoba’s biggest cultural exports, including Guy Maddin, the Weakerthans, Doc Walker, the Crash Test Dummies, Norma Bailey and Tanya Tagaq, since the beginning of their careers. She has built a local, national and international reputation for being a passionate and committed ambassador for Manitoba filmmakers, musicians, producers, creators and crew.

Vivier was not available on Tuesday to comment on the announcement, but had this to say in the press release:

“I am grateful to have been a part of this industry for the past three decades and to witness the growth and success of our amazing artists and professionals. I am immensely proud of the talent in this province. Although I will miss MFM, I am tremendously encouraged that a strong foundation is in place, from which new talent can reach even greater heights. The future of film and music in Manitoba is very bright.”