A living wage lifts workers and the economy

By Kirsten Bernas and Lynne Fernandez As of October 1st, minimum wage earners in Manitoba will earn $10.70 per hour – just over $20,800 annually. This leaves a family of four, with both parents working, with an income …

18 Prominent Manitobans Fail the Canada Challenge

The ancestors of 18 prominent Manitobans would all be turned away if they applied today to immigrate to Canada.  That was the finding of the first Manitobans to take The Canada Challenge, a quiz that all Canadians were …

Province introduces online calculator for low-income renters

By Josh Brandon If you are a renter in Manitoba paying more than 25 percent of your income in rent, you may be eligible for a benefit of between $20 and $270 per month, thanks to recent changes …

The Bigger Picture on Food Safety Regulations

By Colin Anderson We all want healthy food for our neighbors, we all want to promote as many farms as possible growing that food and we want to inspire as many young people as possible and, how can …

Fast Facts: Graduate Studies and Continuing Fees

Graduate enrolment is steadily increasing in Manitoba, with more students electing to pursue post-graduate programs at both the Master’s and PhD level. The growth in graduate student population contributes much to the diversity and breadth of research done …

Rooming Houses to Rooming Homes

By Molly McCracken   [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4n-Hv3_QXk?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360] In Winnipeg’s inner city, and especially in West Broadway and Spence neighbourhoods, older homes converted to rooming houses are an important type of housing for many people living on low incomes. However, …

Provincial Record on Housing a Welcome Achievement

By Josh Brandon The Provincial government has released an impressive record of its commitment to build affordable housing across Manitoba. Housing and Community Development Minister Peter Bjornson announced the fulfillment of the Manitoba NDP’s 2009 promise to complete …

Lawn pesticide ban needed for cancer prevention

By Gideon Forman There’s a simple measure Manitobans can take to reduce their risk of cancer: urge the province to ban lawn and garden pesticides this spring. Research shows that many cancers are preventable. CancerCare has just launched …

Grain shipping is for the bears: oil by rail to Churchill not worth the risk

By Eric Reder For visitors from around the world, the opportunity to see polar bears and beluga whales in the subarctic splendor of Churchill is a major attraction. This window to the tundra world is a source of …

Trends in Residential Investment in Winnipeg

By Josh Brandon Manitoba cities inched towards higher density with more apartments and fewer single families homes built in 2013.  Growth in multi-unit residential construction should provide some relief on the critically low vacancy rates Manitoba cities have …