Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 14, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba A2 ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025 VOL 154 NO 54 Winnipeg Free Press est 1872 / Winnipeg Tribune est 1890 2025 Winnipeg Free Press, a division of FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership. Published six days a week in print and always online at 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2X 3B6, PH: 204-697-7000 CEO / MIKE POWER Editor / PAUL SAMYN Associate Editor Enterprise / SCOTT GIBBONS Associate Editor News / STACEY THIDRICKSON Associate Editor Digital News / WENDY SAWATZKY Director Photo and Multimedia / MIKE APORIUS NEWSMEDIA COUNCIL The Winnipeg Free Press is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to determine acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please send them to: editorialconcerns@freepress.mb.ca. 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INSIDE Arts and Life C1 Business B5 Classifieds D7 Comics C5 Diversions C6-7 Horoscope C4 Miss Lonelyhearts C4 Obituaries D6 Opinion A6-7 Sports D1 Television C4 Weather B8 COLUMNISTS: Dan Lett A4 Peter McKenna A7 READER SERVICE ● GENERAL INQUIRIES 204-697-7000 CIRCULATION INQUIRIES MISSING OR INCOMPLETE PAPER? Call or email before 10 a.m. weekdays or 11 a.m. Saturday City: 204-697-7001 Outside Winnipeg: 1-800-542-8900 press 1 6:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.; 7 a.m. - noon Saturday; Closed Sunday TO SUBSCRIBE: 204-697-7001 Out of Winnipeg: 1-800-542-8900 The Free Press receives support from the Local Journalism Initiative funded by the Government of Canada “You want to make sure you have high-quality learning and teaching that goes on, and that depends hugely on the educa- tors,” said Vinh Huynh, a veteran public school principal and father of three children, including two high schoolers, in Winnipeg. “We have to ensure teachers are, first and foremost, competent, committed and compas- sionate in doing that work.” Huynh — a professional teacher certificate holder in good standing — was endorsed by the teachers’ union to be one of its three disciplinary panel representatives under the new system. There are 111 names on the Education De- partment’s list of individuals who have had their licence either suspended or cancelled during their career; there are few details, aside from name, date of decision and, if applicable, reinstatement. Huynh noted there is confusion regarding issues related to competence in the legisla- tion that laid the groundwork for the registry and public hearing processes. The school administrator said he is aligned with the teachers’ union in his belief that conduct and competency are different mat- ters that require separate processes. There are ongoing consultations between Manitoba’s Professional Certification Unit and stakeholders such as the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, superintendents and MTS, whose leaders have been critical of the registry over concerns about member privacy. Taillefer said the main worries that have been raised in recent weeks are a product of catastrophizing or, as she put it, “the human condition,” and do not have much merit. There are fears about a slew of historical complaints that will be difficult to substanti- ate and others that are simply difficult, she said. She acknowledged that any change in prac- tice over which someone has no control can be anxiety-inducing, so meetings continue to get everyone in the education sector familiar with the new processes. “There’s an important balance to strike here,” said Bruce Strang, a history professor at Brandon University who is on the roster of public representative panellists and has previously worked in various union leader- ship roles and as a post-secondary school administrator. Strang said students need to be protect- ed and, in some cases, the safety of other colleagues and school communities at large will likely come into question, but there also needs to be a structure for evidence to be rigorously examined. He added his training in labour relations and experience on the Municipal Board, a quasi-judicial administrative body that issues decisions on landowner and citizen challeng- es to local government policies and plans, will come in handy, should he be called to serve on a panel. Charles Cochrane called it a personal honour to be named a panellist, as well as a wider honour that “our First Nation people are being recognized more and more in the provincial context.” The executive director of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre recalled his colleagues who work for the centre and oversee its school board sharing the perspective that the registry was “very progressive” after it was first announced. “It will be a good tool to use to make sure we look at hiring people that are in good standing,” added Cochrane, one of four em- ployer representatives named to the list. The commissioner of teacher professional conduct can be reached via email: tcs@gov. mb.ca. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca “I’ve asked the federal government very directly and they’ve assured me that (restrictions) isn’t part of the con- versation, and I would say that (restric- tions) can’t be moving forward if we truly value Canadian unity.” Smith said Canada needs to be pre- pared for the tariffs to come into effect on Jan. 20, Trump’s first day in office. “I haven’t seen any indication in any of the president’s public commentary, or even in the comments that he had with me, that he’s inclined to change his approach,” she said. Singh argued that the fact Trump still intends to implement broad-based tariffs after he and members of his administration met with Joly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc shows he can’t be reasoned with. “Donald Trump is not rational. You can’t discuss a plan over a meal with him. He is a bully. And bullies under- stand one thing … that is strength. They also understand pain,” Singh said. Canada is a primary exporter to the U.S. for several critical minerals, including graphite, potash and zinc. The U.S. imports all of its graphite, which is used in manufacturing a wide range of products, from pencils to nucle- ar reactors. China, Mexico and Mada- gascar are the other major suppliers of graphite to the U.S. market. Over the weekend, Joly said Canadi- ans need to “be ready” for economic threats, adding all leaders need to put Canada first and show a united front. “We have to be very realistic, very pragmatic, and we have to be ready, because something we can’t do is not to take president-elect Trump at his word. Because when he says something, he usually does it,” Joly said Sunday on CBC’s Rosemary Barton Live. She said Ottawa is pursuing a strategy to engage the incoming U.S. adminis- tration through measures that include a new border plan, developing military alliances and co-operating on energy issues. “And at the same time, we’re working on a retaliation plan,” said Joly. “I can’t go into the details of that retaliation plan, because I think it would be a bad strategy. But what I can tell you is everything is on the table.” Smith visited Trump at his Florida home over the weekend as a guest of Canadian businessman and television personality Kevin O’Leary. O’Leary has suggested that it would benefit Canada to combine its economy with that of the U.S. and “erase the bor- der” separating the two countries. Smith will be attending Trump’s inauguration next week. She has been on a diplomatic offensive of late, meeting with American elected officials and appearing on news broadcasts south of the border. She has argued the tariffs would harm both Canadian and Amer- ican consumers, particularly through higher gas prices. Smith said Monday the incoming pres- ident’s biggest source of irritation is the trade imbalance with Canada. She said she expects Trump’s promised tariffs to remain in effect until the imbalance is resolved. “I think the solution is that we find ways to buy more American goods and that seems to me to be the very logical step that we should take. So I’ll put that on the table,” she said. She and other premiers are expected to meet with Trudeau to discuss the issue on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of rumours going around. But when we get there Wednes- day, we’ll expect a list and we need them to be 100 per cent ready,” Ford said of potential retaliatory tariffs. When asked if excluding energy from those retaliatory tariffs might undermine the negotiating position of other premiers, or of Canada as a whole, Smith said she feels talking about energy is the “way we make the case” to avoid tariffs on every Canadian product. If Alberta’s energy exports were taken out of the trade equation, the Americans would have a trade surplus with Canada, she said. Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King is on his own economic mission to the northeastern United States, includ- ing Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. King is leading a 22-person delegation meeting with industry leaders, business associations and stakeholders to pro- mote P.E.I.’s contributions to the potato and seafood sectors. — The Canadian Press Disciplinary hearing panelists At least one public representative, one teacher and one individual nominated by the Manitoba School Boards Association must be selected to preside over any given disciplinary hearing. PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES: Erin Bockstael, manager of family and community programs at the Women’s Health Clinic Bruce Strang, a professor in the department of history at Brandon University Gord Schumacher, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police Raven-Dominique Gobeil, senior in-house attorney for the First Nations Family Advocate Office EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVES: Morgan Whiteway, director of labour relations and human resour- ces services at the Manitoba School Boards Association Elizabeth Mitchell, senior labour relations consultant at the Manitoba School Boards Association Alison Bourrier, labour relations consultant at the Manitoba School Boards Association Charles Cochrane, executive director of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES: Vinh Huynh, a high school principal in Winnipeg Jesse Thomaschewski, a kindergarten-to-Grade 12 principal in Elm Creek Nicole Lavallee, an Indigenous education teacher in Winnipeg Kevin Sterner, a private school vice-principal in Winnipeg — Manitoba Education PANELLISTS ● FROM A1 SUPPLIED Bobbi Taillefer is Manitoba’s first independent educa- tion commissioner. DANIELLE SMITH / X From left: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and Kevin O’Leary at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on Sunday. TARIFF ● FROM A1 Severe weather did record damage in Canada in 2024 ROSA SABA T ORONTO — A new report says the cost of insured damage caused by severe weather last year hit a record high as it to- talled more than $8 billion. “This has been a historically devastating year for Canadians,” said Celyeste Power, president and CEO of the Insurance Bureau of Canada. According to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc., the cost of insured damage totalled $8.55 billion for 2024, easily top- ping the previous record of $6.2 billion from 2016 when wildfires tore through Fort McMurray, Alta. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the summer of 2024 stood out as the most destructive season in Canadian history for insured losses. “What we have to remember is this isn’t an anomaly. It’s not bad luck. This is now our new normal,” said Power. The season saw $3 billion in damages related to a storm in Cal- gary that saw hailstones as big as golf balls hammer the city’s air- port in August, damaging aircraft and forcing airlines to ground planes for repairs and inspections. August 2024 also saw the remnants of hurricane Debby do $2.7 billion in insured damage as half a million residents in Quebec had their power knocked out. The Jasper wildfire caused $1.1 billion in insured damage in July and August. Insurers are bracing for higher losses each year, said Matt Hands, vice-president of insurance for Ratehub.ca. “Everybody’s playing a game of catch-up,” he said. Insurance companies are looking at how to make up for higher losses not only through pricing but also through mitigation, he said. Over time, insurance prices have risen for Canadians, with se- vere weather one of the major drivers, Hands said. “The biggest thing that we as consumers see is just that we’re seeing the hit in our wallets.” IBC said in a news release that severe weather-related losses are escalating across Canada and are having a disproportionate impact on home insurance costs. “As insurers price for risk, this increased risk is now impacting insurance affordability and availability,” said Craig Stewart, IBC’s vice-president of climate change and federal issues, in the release. He called on governments to be more proactive by investing in flood-defensive infrastructure, ensuring homes aren’t built on flood plains and making other changes that would protect people and their homes from extreme weather events. Power said the 2024 numbers should serve as an alarm that with- out those kinds of investments, extreme weather will continue af- fecting hundreds of thousands of Canadians every year. “We need governments to take action to reduce the risk in these communities, to stop building in wildfire zones and on flood plains so that we can better protect Canadians moving forward, and, of course, make sure that insurance remains available and affordable right across our country,” she said. Hands agreed the government needs to be part of the solution in order to keep insurance affordable and available. “It can’t just be on the insurance companies to figure out how to provide more affordable insurance. This is a systemic issue beyond the price of insurance,” he said. “It’s where we choose to build homes, the type of materials we use, and all that are putting our properties at risk.” — The Canadian Press More than $8B in insured losses ;