News roundup, 25 June 2026

- Oil prices have dropped back to the prewar baseline following the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran that has led to a resumption in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Wholesale prices of fertilizer are coming down as well, though many farmers say they have yet to see any real relief at the retail level.

- At least 164 people were killed and 971 injured after two earthquakes struck within a minute of each other in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

- The Red River Co-op has plans for a badly needed downtown grocery store at Portage Place. The 22,500 ft² facility is expected to open in 2029.

- Winnipeg city councillor Janice Lukes, who represents the suburban Waverley West ward, has announced that she is not running again in this fall's election. Folks on the r/Winnipeg subreddit are mostly rejoicing, though some warn that you should be careful what you wish for. As one person says, "I wasn't a fan, but progressives/urbanists may need to face up to the fact that she was possibly the best we were going to get out of Waverley West." River Heights-Fort Garry councillor John Orlikow isn't running again either; to date Transcona councillor Russ Wyatt has not ruled out running again despite facing sexual assault charges.

- Calgary's chamber of commerce has released a report concluding that secession could cost Alberta's economy $62 billion a year. They also surveyed their members; as this was a self-selecting survey it isn't definitive, but among those who responded more than 75% thought that the very discussion around separation was negatively affecting the province's economy.

- The heatwave in Europe continues, with temperatures hitting the low forties in parts of France yesterday. Even in the normally moderate UK, the town of Gosport recorded a temperature of 36.1°C, and it could get even hotter today.

- A mosque in Regina that got approval from the city to play their call to prayer from a speaker atop the building over the noon hour is getting threats from members of the public. I'd bet you donuts to dinars that the people doing this do not make similar threats to churches that ring bells.

Orlikow wins

Hey! I just got something right:

Former school trustee John Orlikow was voted in to Winnipeg city council in Tuesday's byelection in the ward of River Heights-Fort Garry.

With all 49 polls reporting Tuesday evening, an unofficial tally gave Orlikow 4,392 votes, compared with former broadcaster Geoff Currier's 3,299. The byelection was held to fill the seat left vacant by the death of deputy mayor Brenda Leipsic in December.

From the CBC.

Geoff Currier doesn't believe in anthropogenic climate change

So it seems, anyway; when the Winnipeg Trails Association and Bike To The Future met with him and John Orlikow to get their opinions on active transportation, Currier came out with this gem:

According to a summary distributed on Friday, Currier told representatives of both organizations, "I believe that if we were to take all the cars in North America off the road tomorrow, it wouldn't have any effect on climate change."

Currier declined to comment on Friday, except to say he had no idea the groups intended to make the content of the meeting public.

"They never indicated to me this kind of report would be forthcoming," he said.

From the Winnipeg Free Press. Well duh... why the hell would you think these organizations would be asking candidates' opinions unless they planned to publicize them?

My tentative prediction for River Heights-Fort Garry

I think Orlikow will win.

Having been phoning a fair bit on the campaign, a good many people seem pretty noncommittal, but there's more support for Orlikow than Currier in just about every poll I've called. Interestingly, one fellow, after speaking in a critical way about the way school taxes have gone up, said that he was leaning toward Orlikow nevertheless because Currier, well, failed to impress him with his intellect. Of course, River Heights is one place where being intelligent can actually count for something, and where being a CJOB broadcaster might actually be a stroke against you. I haven't done much calling into Fort Garry or Linden Woods, so I'm not sure how well the pattern holds in those areas.

So yeah, I think Orlikow can pull this off.

More dirt from the by-election campaign

The Ikea proposal is, of course, one of the big issues in the campaign. John Orlikow, and many residents of the area, are not opposed to the store in principle but are concerned with the way this is being rushed through. And then there's Mr. Currier's comments:

Geoff Currier said the Ikea development is a great opportunity for the city. He said Winnipeg will suffer serious damage and reduce its chances of attracting other large companies if it blows the deal.

"If Manitoba and Winnipeg chase a $400-million project out of town, not only will we never get a development from these people again, nobody will come to Winnipeg," he said.

From this CBC story. And on the radio this morning, he was implying that any delay (like, say, to take a close look at the pros and cons of the proposal) will result in the project being "chased out of town". In other words, he seems to be saying "Accept this proposal, no questions asked, or nothing good will happen here ever again." Gotta love reasoned debate, eh?

Geoff Currier shows where his priorities lie

The first of several debates for the River Heights-Fort Garry by-election took place today. It seems that the subject of affordable housing was a bit contentious:

Two candidates vying to be the next city councillor for River Heights-Fort Garry squared off today over whether to mix luxury and affordable housing in future residential developments.

In a ward that is part of Winnipeg’s expanding south side, the difference between former school trustee John Orlikow and broadcaster Geoff Currier was particularly resonant.

City hall should mandate that all future residential projects include affordable housing, Orlikow said.

“Some portions of (suburban residential developments) should be available to people on a low income,” Orlikow said, noting he meant even higher-income suburbs such as Waverley West.

But Currier suggested communities of mixed housing would make selling expensive homes difficult.

“You cannot attract high-end home customers to an area that has low-end housing beside it,” he said.

From the Winnipeg Free Press. Blah blah blah, the usual right wing bullshit. If you don't want to live next to people who might be (gasp) different from you, kindly move to Niverville and leave the rest of us alone.