City Questions RM Over Water Plan
The City of Dauphin is wondering why it was left out of the RM's water plans.
The city has written a letter to the RM saying it's disappointed they were never approached to discuss providing water to RM residents and detailing why it thinks it's the better choice.
Mayor Eric Irwin says they and are ready and willing to provide water and the city and RM already have a water agreement.
Irwin also compares the plan as it is is like running two roads side by side, paid for by two different municipalities.
The RM of Dauphin had Manitoba Water Services out of Brandon conduct a study that determined the G3 Water Coop out of Gilbert Plains was the best source for their water, saying, among other things, it's a softened water supply.
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Fiscal Update Today
Manitobans are expected to find out today who will be paying more -- and who will be paying less -- in income taxes.
The NDP government is scheduled to deliver a fiscal update, or mini-budget, this afternoon.
Premier Greg Selinger says the document will detail his plan to enact a new tax bracket on high-income earners while cutting taxes for middle and low-income families.
Selinger has said he's been looking at recent changes in Alberta, Ontario and elsewhere.
The Alberta government recently added higher income tax rates for people earning more than $125,000 a year, while Ontario's higher tax rates start at $150,000.
The fiscal update will lay the groundwork for an election campaign that could start as early as next Tuesday for a vote on April 19.
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H1N1 Circulating, but Vaccine Effective
Manitoba Health has reported a recent spike in flu activity across the province and says the dominant strain is H1N1.
In a letter written to health care providers last week, the Public Health and Primary Health Care Division wrote that the current wave of influenza activity is expected to last several weeks.
Manitoba Health said health care providers can continue to offer flu vaccine to all Manitobans at no charge.
Influenza surveillance data indicates that during the week of February 21-27, there were 21 people hospitalized due to the flu, seven required intensive care and two died.
The province has not indicated where in Manitoba they lived or whether either of them had H1N1.
Prairie Mountain Health says this year's vaccine is a good match against the circulating influenza.
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Sask Election Campaign Kicking Off
The campaign-style announcements and door-knocking have long been underway, but today marks the official start of the Saskatchewan election.
Premier Brad Wall will ask the lieutenant-governor to dissolve the legislature, which starts the campaign for the April 4th vote.
Wall says the choice facing voters is still about the economy.
NDP Leader Cam Broten says health care and government spending will be very important issues in the election.
Saskatchewan voters last went to the polls in November 2011, when Wall and his Saskatchewan Party won a second term in office.
