Columns – Brandon Sun

It has long been easier to get bourbon from Kentucky than a craft whisky from Alberta. (Mike Deal/Winnipeg Free Press files)

Patchwork of half-measures not real interprovincial trade reform

By Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026

It’s hard to find a more stark example of shooting oneself in the foot than Canada’s interprovincial trade barriers.

For decades, we’ve made it easier to buy a bottle of wine from California than from British Columbia, easier to ship bourbon from Kentucky than a craft whisky from Alberta. And now, even with governments finally agreeing in principle to fix the problem, Canadians are still being told to wait.

Again.

The latest promise is that by May 2026, Canadians in 10 provinces and Yukon will be able to order beer, wine and spirits directly from producers in other parts of the country. That’s the goal, anyway.

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Carney’s majority should spark new calls for electoral reform

By Julie Simmons 5 minute read Preview

Carney’s majority should spark new calls for electoral reform

By Julie Simmons 5 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2026

Canadians have never before seen a minority government become a majority government through a combination of floor crossing and byelections.

A small increase in the number of Liberal caucus members has given the government sweeping power, all without voters having a say in a general election.

Current conversations about the appropriateness of floor crossings are an opportunity for a broader discussion about electoral reform. If Canada used some form of proportional representation where the percentage of votes for each party reflected their percentage of seats in the House of Commons, floor crossings would be unnecessary.

FORCING A BYELECTION

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Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Why measuring dignity matters in Canada’s long‑term care system

By Andrea D. Foebel 6 minute read Preview

Why measuring dignity matters in Canada’s long‑term care system

By Andrea D. Foebel 6 minute read Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

Residents who rarely leave their rooms, a family told “we don’t have the staff,” a person dying in hospital less than a day after leaving their long-term care (LTC) home: these are some of the bleak realities too many Canadians and their loved ones face as they age.

These heartbreaking realities were shared with the Canadian Institute for Health Information through unpublished surveys of families and LTC staff about aging with dignity.

Moments of lost dignity are not invisible to the health system. But historically, a lopsided focus on clinical indicators left data gaps in our ability to measure and understand lived experience, and ultimately dignity, alongside clinical risks. This is something health-system leaders, clinicians and families are actively striving to change.

What is aging with dignity?

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Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. A new report projects health-care costs will continue to increase significantly as people age, with seniors making up 22 per cent of the Canadian population by 2040. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

The Importance of Creativity and Innovation

By Georgia Feng 4 minute read Preview

The Importance of Creativity and Innovation

By Georgia Feng 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

World Creativity and Innovation Day (WCID) is a United Nations International Day of Observation that was created to empower people to use new ideas, take unique approaches, and make the world a better place. WCID is celebrated on the April 21 each year and helps raise awareness about the importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving with respect to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. While this day was recognized by the UN in 2017, it was founded in May of 2001 by Canadian Marci Segal and later expanded to World Creativity and Innovation Week (April 15-21) in 2006. WCID encourages the world to step outside the box and go beyond what is deemed “typical” to make positive lasting changes.

Creativity shows who we are and what we value. It fosters rich diversity, distinct culture, and supports social and economic growth. The creative economy is an evolving concept that builds on the relationship between human ideas, creativity, knowledge and technology. Creative industries are a highly transformative sector of the world economy in terms of employment generation, export earnings and income generation. Culture also plays an essential role in sustainable development as it becomes a source of identity for individuals and communities. Together, culture and creativity significantly contribute to social development through speech and understanding. According to the United Nations, culture and creativity account for 3.1 per cent of global GDP and 6.2 pewr cent of all employment. They have become crucial pieces of our economy by helping people come together, understand and celebrate each other. As people are able to imagine better futures, that vision slowly becomes reality.

However, now more than ever, creative industries are changing with the rise of AI use, specifically, AI “art.” This can include AI-generated pictures, music, videos (including animation) and literature. There are many downsides to this rise in AI use, such as artists losing jobs and AI stealing work without consent. According to an article by The Guardian, this isn’t simply the fact that AI lacks originality either, as that is also the case with most human-made art. The difference is with representation. What gives human-made art its unique value is not always the piece itselfm, but rather how it interprets human experience and showcases the process behind it. AI generated “art” attempts to conjure human creativity but fails because of the lack of connection between artists and consumers.

Another field that utilizes immense creativity is innovation. Here are some amazing Manitobans who invented products that have inspired and helped many people.

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Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

Jeremy Matuszewski of Winkler is widely recognized for his new concave, and is an example of the importance of creativity and innovation. (File)

Small towns and temporary foreign workers

By Kelly Higginson 4 minute read Preview

Small towns and temporary foreign workers

By Kelly Higginson 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

On any given day in a small town, restaurants should be busy. Orders coming in. People being served. The steady rhythm of a place that’s part of the community.

Instead, more and more locations are running below capacity; not because customers aren’t there, but because there aren’t enough staff.

This is the reality in many rural and tourism communities across Canada.

Recently, Ottawa took a small but important step to begin to address it.

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Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

The federal government announced a temporary increase in the cap on temporary foreign workers. Kelly Higginson writes that it’s now up to the province’s to request a temporary increase for industries struggling to hire staff, especially the restaurant industry. (The Canadian Press)

Landlords, tenants and the cost of renovations

By Brendan Devlin 5 minute read Preview

Landlords, tenants and the cost of renovations

By Brendan Devlin 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

Why are landlords calling on tenants to oppose stronger rent control?

When the provincial government introduced the “largest expansion of rent control in decades,” landlord pushback was predictable. While Manitoba’s Professional Property Managers Association typically keeps its policy advocacy fairly quiet, they have made their position known through local media and paid social media ads, urging tenants to oppose the expansion of rent control.

Real estate appraiser Carson Horsburgh, having knowledge of landlords’ consultations with the province, warned in the Free Press of “sweeping regulatory changes,” (Bad policy: the fallout from rent changes, Think Tank, March 24) but landlord pushback has primarily centred on a specific proposed amendment to the residential rent regulation. The proposal is to cut the portion of capital expenses landlords can claim toward rent increases by 50 per cent, which would essentially cut renovation-related rent increases in half.

Many tenants will surely welcome this relief, especially after a PPMA spokesperson publicly warned higher rent increases were coming after the province ended the education property tax rebate last year.

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Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

Manitoban landlords argue it’s in tentants’ interest to oppose rent control measures, but Brendan Devlin writes that the claims being made warrant a closer look. (File)

Energy security, not more gas tax cuts

By Laura Cameron 5 minute read Preview

Energy security, not more gas tax cuts

By Laura Cameron 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

In the wake of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, oil and gas prices have surged, triggering what’s widely expected to be the worst energy crisis on record. Amid ongoing affordability challenges, governments are reaching for policy tools to soften the blow for consumers.

Now, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has suggested that another gas tax cut may be under consideration to temper the effects of high gas prices. In the past few weeks, the controversy surrounding the province’s 2024 gas tax “holiday” has been revived after the premier provocatively declared the policy to be “the most important thing that a provincial government ever did” in Manitoba.

From an affordability perspective, a gas tax cut has major drawbacks.

It only benefits drivers, disproportionately those with multiple and/or large vehicles. The savings provided by a gas cut are dwarfed by the rising prices, which the policy does nothing to address.

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Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

A gas station north of Newcastle, Ont. displays it’s gasoline per litre prices as a customer finishes pumping gas on April 1. In Manitoba, Premier Wab Kinew has hinted at another gas tax break to deal with high prices at the pump. However, Laura Cameron argues that’s not the sustainable way to go. (The Canadian Press)

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New era of book clubs reshaping how we read

By Joanna Pozzulo 5 minute read Preview

New era of book clubs reshaping how we read

By Joanna Pozzulo 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

Reading is experiencing a resurgence among Gen Z and millennials, many of whom are actively seeking alternatives to “doomscrolling” and the mental fatigue associated with constant social media use.

In North America, an estimated 57 to 61 per cent of Gen Z and millennials identify as readers, averaging 3.5 to 4.5 books per year, with a preference for physical books. Younger readers are also more likely to purchase books in a bookstore and be active library users, which is notable in an era dominated by digital media.

Although reading is often viewed as a solitary activity, it can also foster meaningful connections with others. Participation in a reading community can reduce social isolation, alleviate loneliness and increase a sense of belonging and connectedness — something younger generations report struggling with.

Book clubs can serve as a natural extension for those seeking the benefits of reading and community. Among younger adults, interest in book clubs is growing: about 21 per cent of Gen Z and 29 per cent of millennials report belonging to one, but they’re putting their own spin on them.

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Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

A speech short on specifics

By Deveryn Ross 5 minute read Preview

A speech short on specifics

By Deveryn Ross 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

During the years I worked for the Manitoba government, I had a hand in writing several of the premier’s “state of the province” speeches. There would be a speech each December for a Winnipeg audience, followed by a different speech to be delivered in Brandon each spring.

In almost every case, the content and themes of the speeches would be different, in that they focused somewhat on issues relevant to the communities where the speech was being delivered. An additional factor that impacted the content of those speeches was the reality that the Winnipeg speech was delivered when the provincial budget process was just beginning, while the Brandon speech was usually given after the new provincial budget had been tabled.

Despite the uniqueness of each “SOTP speech,” they would each contain two key components: a summary of where the province currently stood on a range of important issues (the provincial economy in particular), along with a glimpse of the government’s plans for the future. In simple terms, the objective was to give each audience a clear sense of where we are and a positive, perhaps even hopeful, vision of where we are going.

Those two components can be seen in the “state of the city” speech delivered this week by Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett to a Brandon Chamber of Commerce audience. During his presentation, he claimed that Brandon has added more than 400 new housing units and recorded approximately $150 million in construction activity this year, including $80 million in residential development. He emphasized that the city’s housing efforts require a mix of solutions, but added that the strong demand for entry-level and workforce housing means that “We can’t go fast enough.”

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Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett delivers a keynote address during the Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City luncheon at the Keystone Centre’s UCT Pavilion on Thursday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Poilievre might want to take a political science course

By Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Preview

Poilievre might want to take a political science course

By Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

If you’re going to accuse a government of subverting democracy, it helps to understand how that democracy works.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and other critics are claiming the Liberals’ new majority (gained this week following wins in three byelections) is the result of “dirty backroom deals” — as though something improper or illegitimate has taken place.

It’s a compelling bit of political theatre. But it’s also wrong.

The core of the argument — that Canadians “didn’t vote for a majority government” in 2025 — is deeply flawed and reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of Canada’s parliamentary system.

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Friday, Apr. 17, 2026

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday. (The Canadian Press)

Canada urgently requires civilian defence strategy

By William Michael Carter 5 minute read Preview

Canada urgently requires civilian defence strategy

By William Michael Carter 5 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

On April 9, 1917, my great-grandfather, A. Harold Carter, was a 16-year-old underage Canadian Expeditionary Force soldier from the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, 8th Brigade, 3rd Division.

At 5:30 a.m., he went over the trench at Vimy Ridge. He was a scrawny, five-foot-four kid from London, Ont., who defied his mother and signed up two years earlier at age 14. He survived.

Almost 109 years after the war that was to end all wars, Canada must once again consider training its citizens, as it did my great-grandfather, for a potential global conflict.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first mandate letter in May 2025, a month after his election, clearly prioritized Canada’s industrial, military and civilian global sovereignty as a key pillar of his new government.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with members of the Canadian Rangers in Iqaluit, Nunavut, in 2025. There are roughly 5,000 Canadian Rangers, part of the Canadian Armed Forces, who provide a paramilitary presence in the North and in other remote areas. (The Canadian Press)

Tax break misses small businesses

By Tyler Slobogian 4 minute read Preview

Tax break misses small businesses

By Tyler Slobogian 4 minute read Yesterday at 9:48 PM CDT

Manitoba’s small businesses understand the importance of affordability because they are living it themselves.

They see it every day when customers make careful choices at the till, stretch dollars a little further or delay discretionary spending. But business owners are facing those same pressures behind the counter. Every supply chain disruption, every added cost from rent to fuel, insurance or utilities, forces difficult decisions, and absorbing higher costs is rarely an option. Helping Manitobans manage rising food costs is a worthwhile goal, but how government chooses to do that matters.

The province’s recent decision to exempt certain grocery items from the provincial sales tax sends a troubling message to small businesses. Not because of the intent, but because it completely misses an opportunity to support our local small firms.

Some grocery retailers will be able to offer the benefit of additional food items PST-free for Manitobans, but many small, independent retailers and restaurants will be forced to continue charging the PST.

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Yesterday at 9:48 PM CDT

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business would like the Manitoba government’s PST exemption to apply to all businesses that sell eligible food items. (File photo)

Iran war brings cascade of losses

By Kawser Ahmed 6 minute read Preview

Iran war brings cascade of losses

By Kawser Ahmed 6 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Every ceasefire is haunted by the same question: will it live up to the promise of peace? The United States and Iran could apparently only focus on their disagreements during peace talks in Islamabad, with negotiations led by U.S. Vice-President JD Vance failing to result in a deal.

Experts speculated that Iran’s 10-point peace proposals and the U.S. 15-point plan were too far apart to lead to consensus.

This is perhaps unsurprising. Between 1945 and 2009, a survey of peace treaties suggests that fewer than half of all countries that experienced armed conflict managed to avoid falling back into violence.

DIM PROSPECTS FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE

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Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Smoke rises behind palm trees and a McDonald's

Will Iran war make food prices worse?

By Michael von Massow and Alfons Weersink 6 minute read Preview

Will Iran war make food prices worse?

By Michael von Massow and Alfons Weersink 6 minute read Monday, Apr. 13, 2026

Food prices in Canada have been rising at a faster rate than overall inflation for the past several years. In fact, food prices are 30 per cent higher than they were a decade ago.

In the face of this pressure, consumers are increasingly worried about the impact of the war in Iran on food prices. While there is currently a ceasefire in place, it appears fragile, and oil and fertilizer prices will be slow to fall.

The conflict will undoubtedly have an impact on food prices, but in the short term it will likely be fairly small. If the disruption lasts longer, we could start to see more significant price increases.

Unlike previous shocks, Iran is not a major food exporter, and no Canadian food imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, any impact on food prices will come indirectly through rising petroleum prices driven by uncertainty around oil infrastructure in the Middle East and disruptions to the strait.

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Monday, Apr. 13, 2026

David Reid drives a seeding rig as he plants a canola crop on the family's farm near Cremona, Alta., Tuesday, May 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

The evolution of car safety

By Kitt Hughes 6 minute read Preview

The evolution of car safety

By Kitt Hughes 6 minute read Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

When the first gasoline-powered automobile sputtered to life in 1885, it sparked a transformation that would reshape the world. The birth of what we now know as the Mercedes-Benz opened people’s eyes to the possibilities of the future.

Throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, cars have undergone major advancements in technology, purpose, size and safety. Early vehicles were smaller than today’s sedans, fuel economy rose and fell over time, new innovations appeared every decade, and safety has steadily improved since the earliest days of the automobile.

In the early 20th century, gas cars were short, small, and as hard as a rock. They began with no roof and no doors, and different brands had different top speeds, achieving a top speed of 75 kilometers an hour. The fuel economy in the early-to-mid 20th century was around the same as what it is today, which makes sense considering vehicles like the Mercedes 35 and the Ford Model A are smaller than the Toyota Corolla we know today. Back then, vehicles were seen as transportation instead of luxury, but not a necessity for everyday things. Most people still travelled on foot or by horse and carriage. Early 20th century vehicles did not have key ignition or automatic transmission; rather they had hand cranks to start the engine and manual transmission.

During the Second World War, the automotive industry saw great advancements in technology. Gas cars began to be seen as a symbol of status. During the war, cars gained roofs and doors, though some kept the roofless aesthetic. In the early 40s, cars began to take up more space on the road in the 1941 Packard and the 1942 Hudson, but the technology hadn’t quite made it to mass-producing SUVs yet. Once the U.S. joined the war, domestic manufacturers were required to make vehicles like tanks, jeeps, and planes for the war effort.

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Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is displayed at the New York International Auto Show on April 2 in New York. Kitt Hughes describes how cars have evolved in favour of safety. (The Associated Press)

Poll highlights a difference between the U.S. and Canada

By David McConkey 4 minute read Preview

Poll highlights a difference between the U.S. and Canada

By David McConkey 4 minute read Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

A global public opinion poll reveals how troubled American society has become. But for us, news stories often bury the lead: the poll shows we Canadians are doing well. This poll is a great opportunity to reflect on the difference between the two countries, to be grateful for what we have in Canada, and to resolve to keep our society healthy.

Let’s look at this poll, which was conducted recently by the Pew Research Center. People in 25 countries were asked to rate the morality and ethics of their fellow citizens. The countries were in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The United States has the worst results. It is the only country in the world where a majority of people consider their fellow citizens to be morally bad. The specific numbers: in the U.S., 53 per cent view their fellow citizens as morally bad. This compares to other countries that are close, for example, Turkey (49 per cent), Brazil (48 per cent) and France (44 per cent). But other countries are much better, like the Netherlands (19 per cent), Mexico (17 per cent) and Indonesia (8 per cent).

These findings are fascinating and raise all sorts of questions. Hopefully, Pew will delve into this more and ask this question again in the future. This is the first time this query was posed by Pew.

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Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

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