Ontario announces rebate for some businesses’ property tax and energy bills

iPhone started fire, Winnipegger says

The iPhone has long been a hot item, but for one Winnipeg family, it got too hot.

Wally Hill says earlier this month, he, along with his wife and daughter, were watching television, with his daughter's iPhone 6 sitting unplugged on the cushion between them, when the smartphone set the couch on fire.

"It was frightening," Hill said. "It didn't explode... it fizzled and popped open at the back, and then smoke and flames came out the back. It then ignited the cushion."

Hill said he quickly picked up the entire couch cushion, with the burning phone still on it, to move the device to a tile floor in his residence.

Finance minister has impossible choice as federal budget looms

It’s federal budget week, and that means every newspaper columnist, self-proclaimed think tank subject matter expert and opposition critic has suggestions for what Ottawa “must” do.

In no particular order: Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne “must” provide tax cuts for small business to survive, provide tax cuts for big business to become bigger and wealthier, massively increase transfer payments to the provinces, make life more affordable for average people and undertake enormous, strategic investments in the economy to make Canada less reliant on the United States.

If you’re wondering how any finance minster can do all of that, all at once, the answer is they can’t. But that’s the nature of pre-budget submissions: do what we want, even if it makes it impossible for you to do the things that other people think must be done.

That is not to say all budget submissions are worthless. It’s just that you can’t cut government taxes and levies on businesses while also providing more robust investment in industries, infrastructure and people — and still have any hope of containing the debt.

Deluxe apartment tower taking shape in Tuxedo

The owners of a shopping strip in the city’s wealthiest neighbourhood have identified the site of a longtime gas station on Corydon Avenue as an untapped residential resource.

Enjoy your own estate

Back in 1999, a young couple had a vision.

They wanted a safe, beautiful place where they could raise a family, and they searched long and hard to find a suitable place to put down roots.

Eventually, they found a 6.12-acre plot of land in St. Anne, Man.

It had pretty much all the attributes they were looking for — it was peaceful and private, yet only 20 minutes from Winnipeg and a short commute to other centres, like Steinbach.

Local women’s workwear brand founder snags entrepreneur award

A Winnipeg entrepreneur is $10,000 closer to helping people look like a million bucks.

Aderonke Akinloye has been awarded an RBC Rock My Business Youth Entrepreneur Award. The 29-year-old will use the $10,000 grant that comes with the award to kick-start Corporate Enclothè, a women’s workwear brand she’s been working on for the last five years.

Akinloye was one of eight Canadians — and the only Manitoban — to receive the award this year. She said she feels honoured RBC believes in her vision.

“It felt very great and humbling, to be honest, just to see my work and all the efforts I’ve put in recognized,” Akinloye said.

Performance (ice-cream) art

As 2020 resolutions counter temptation, Teri-Lynn Friesen and Élise Page will be waiting to console those who slip — and they’ll have ice-cream scoops at the ready.

Late last year, the creative duo opened Fête — Winnipeg’s newest coffee and ice-cream parlour, offering an ever-changing menu of 16 made-in-house ice-cream flavours, affogato and, if it’s Sunday morning, pancakes.

There’s also no pressure to pick a flavour at first sight; the shop offers unlimited samples.

“If you gave up coffee, we’re here for you when you need to come back. If you gave up sweets, we’re also here for you,” said Friesen, co-owner of the shop at 300 Assiniboine Ave.