Right in the centre - Some housing and immigration questions
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- Published on Thursday, January 16, 2025
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
Population growth and immigration numbers are in the news again. In 2023, 2,656 people left Manitoba, 25,591 people moved into Manitoba, 11,994 people died and 17,146 babies were born. The Province of Manitoba wants to bring in another 12,000 foreign worker immigrants in 2025. Companies are begging for more workers to fill waiting jobs in many sectors. Universities and Colleges are protesting cuts in foreign student numbers imposed by the federal government. Educational institutions have been charging much higher fees for foreign students than Canadians. There’s a lot of forces at play here.
Read more: Right in the centre - Some housing and immigration questions
Right in the centre - Thankfully, many changes are ahead
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- Published on Thursday, January 9, 2025
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
The New Year always sets the stage for reflection on the past year(s) and it’s always a good to time to plan ahead.
Let’s start with the known things. No matter how upsetting world events have become, the sun will rise tomorrow. If it doesn’t, we won’t have anything to worry about anyway but I am nearly sure the sun will rise. The sun has a good track record.
Read more: Right in the centre - Thankfully, many changes are ahead
Right in the centre - A year of turmoil and blessing
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- Published on Thursday, December 19, 2024
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
Towards the end of my Christmas column last year I wrote, “I also believe in prayer and have prayed for dozens, if not hundreds of people. I plan to continue to do so but as some of you know, my wife and I, but especially my wife would appreciate your prayers. We are grateful for all our medical people, but they can only do so much. Prayer is needed for sure.”
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Right in the centre - Triumph over trials
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- Published on Friday, December 13, 2024
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
I don’t think I can remember a busier December. The Christmas month is always busy for peoples’ personal lives and for us that is no exception. Christmas parties, family gatherings and staff parties are all part of the expected activities for any given family in any given December.
This year has all of that but it seems that from a business point of view, times are busier this year. In part it’s due to the absolutely stupid Canada Postal strike.
Right in the centre - I think I'm done with Canada Post
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- Published on Thursday, December 5, 2024
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
On Sunday in a press release, Canada Post said they presented the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) with a new proposal. CUPW covers very few postal workers in rural western Manitoba. Most local post offices are covered by Postmasters who are members of Canadian Association of Postmasters. They are not on strike, but either CUPW or Canada Post have basically shut the post offices down. Even non-striking post offices are not allowed to receive local mail. Even if you want to send someone a cheque to pay a bill, Canada Post is forbidding it.
Read more: Right in the centre - I think I'm done with Canada Post
