- When a party's leader stays out of the spotlight during an election campaign, it just might be a sign that said leader is seen as a liability by the party's backroom folks. When said leader is a suburban Winnipegger who desperately needs the votes of other suburban Winnipeggers, it adds further to that impression.
- India has long been friendly with Russia, but that may be changing. And as they demonstrated by landing a probe on the Moon when Russia failed, they don't have as much need for Russian technology as in the past. American overtures may be a factor in changing relations as well.
- Local elections are being held in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Not surprisingly, Ukraine is not amused.
- A large hurricane has formed in the Atlantic, with winds of 260 km/h (140 kt, 160 mph). Fortunately it's not currently expected to make landfall, but not a good time to go sailing.
- Winnipeg's mayor, Scott Gillingham, seems to be on board with the Houston model of addressing homelessness. This is noteworthy; it's no surprise that Wab Kinew and the NDP favour this, but when a small-c conservative also approves, it greatly improves the chance of it actually happening. It's also remarkable that Houston, of all places, has done a better job than virtually any other North American city of managing the problem of homelessness, and the secret is... provide housing.
- The business world continues to push for return to the office. Even NPR doesn't want to talk about the role of commercial real estate, though; the phrase "real estate" does not appear in the article.
- Winnipeg Transit's plan to expand service is being delayed by a shortage of drivers, but also by the lack of suitable streets in some suburban neighbourhoods.
- The federal Liberals are definitely in trouble, if you believe the polls. Andrew Coyne quotes an anonymous pollster as saying “When people have decided to get rid of a government, it doesn’t matter who the other guys are.” This is a big problem for those who don't want the Conservatives in power.
- To the surprise of few, much more action is needed to achieve the climate goals set in Paris.
- The Sunshine Coast Regional District in BC has imposed heavy restrictions on water use due to persistent drought.
- The BC government seems reluctant to impose a province-wide building code to incorporate more fire resistant designs, instead leaving it up to the municipalities. Doesn't seem like a good idea to me.
- Apparently comparing Pride to a Nazi rally is too much even for a Catholic school board in Alberta. Seems as well they have the power to actually expel a trustee for misconduct. This is more than can be said for school boards in Manitoba; the strongest sanction they can give a trustee for comparable misconduct is a three month suspension.
- The suspect in the stabbing attack at the University of Waterloo now faces terrorism charges on top of the numerous counts he already faces. Seems appropriate; at first blush it definitely seems to have been ideologically motivated.
- It's a great shame that the Ontario greenbelt scandal didn't break before the last provincial election. As it stands, there isn't going to be another election until 2026.
- In Texas they've busted a ring of people capturing and selling songbirds, mostly grosbeaks, finches, and buntings.
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