CUP-W and Canada Post Still Talking
A plan by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to begin a rolling overtime ban today has been delayed in hopes of reaching a negotiated settlement with Canada Post.
A federally appointed mediator, who began working with the two sides last Friday, requested a 24-hour extension to the talks -- which both sides agreed to.
The union and the Crown corporation have been stuck for months on issues of pay scales for rural letter carriers and proposed pension changes.
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Trudeau Heading to China in Wake of Canola Dockage Issue
Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Robert Sopuck is calling on the government to stand up for the Canadian canola industry in the face of pressure from the Chinese government to lower dockage by more than half.
He says for the Chinese government to question Canada's canola exports is absolutely absurd.
Sopuck says he hopes Prime Minister Trudeau has a successful visit.
"We hope that the Prime Minister succeeds. We want him to be extremely aggressive. I was very pleased to see that a senior government official is linking the canola export issue to other Chinese bilateral issues."
Sopuck says China is playing politics and it's a matter of grave concern for his constituents.
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Ochre River Community Foundation Grants Awarded
Grant money from the Ochre River Community Foundation is going to an eclectic mix of initiatives.
Community foundation chairperson Kim Safronetz says $4,400 is being given out this year.
"The Ochre River Seniors Centre, they're collecting money to get new tables for the Hall. The cemetery is always for the upkeep... Ghostly Gatherings (is) a function that's held here in Ochre River for Halloween. Parent council, they're working on this beautiful playground... and the (money for the) Makinak Happy Club is for their seniors centre out there."
The Ochre River Community Foundation held its annual dinner and grants night on Saturday. Safronetz says 123 people attended the dinner.
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Pride in Portage
A mayor of a Manitoba city who marched in his community's first pride parade told the crowd he thinks mayors should be doing more than fixing potholes.
Irvine Ferris's participation in the event in Portage la Prairie on Saturday was a marked contrast from a pride event in Steinbach last month where the mayor skipped the event.
RCMP say between 800 and one thousand people attended the event in Portage la Prairie.
Premier Brian Pallister said Wednesday he was honoured to receive an invitation to the march, but couldn't attend and would be spending time with family.
