Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 1, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025 A2 ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM NEWS VOL 154 NO 143 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 Jumble C6 Miss Lonelyhearts C4 Opinion A6, 7 Sports D1 Television C4 Weather B8 COLUMNISTS: Dan Lett A4 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 Trump ramped up his provocations by calling then-prime minister Justin Trudeau a “governor” and insisting Canada should become a U.S. state. During the election campaign, Car- ney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre both sought to present them- selves as the best person to navigate the tense relationship with Trump’s administration. Carney and Poilievre both condemned Trump’s tariffs and threats throughout the campaign. The president said Wednesday both Carney and Poilievre “hated Trump.” “And it was the one that hated Trump I think the least that won,” he said. “I ac- tually think the Conservative hated me much more than the so-called Liberal.” During the election, Carney called for a strong mandate from voters to allow the government to push back on Trump’s threats. The party fell short of a majority when the Conservatives picked up seats in Ontario. Trump said Canada’s “tight race” will make it “very complicated for the country.” The president described Carney as “a very nice gentleman” and said he expects to have a “great relationship” with Canada. Canadian officials cycled through Washington for weeks before the election to lobby against tariffs. Trump went ahead with the duties last month before partially walking them back a few days later. He also implemented tar- iffs on automobiles, steel and aluminum. Tariffs have upended the Cana- da-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade. The continental pact was negotiated during the first Trump administration and the president at the time called it “the best agreement we’ve ever made.” CUSMA was up for a mandatory re- view next year but Trump’s administra- tion has made it clear they won’t wait. Carney will have to be pragmatic as he takes the reins, said Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U.S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition. She said the prime minister needs to balance an uncertain trade relationship with the expecta- tions of angry Canadians at home. “I am worried about leading with the heart and not the head,” Dawson said. She said that as Carney’s people prepare for the White House meeting, they should read through Trump’s executive orders on economic policy and find areas where Canada can help the administration meet its goals on energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and pharmaceuticals. Dawson said Carney should enter the Oval Office with an intent to engage on the CUSMA review and show up with concrete defence spending commit- ments, she said. While the prime minister will feel the weight of Canadian anger and expec- tations, Dawson said feeling insulted is not a productive negotiating position. “Try to check our anger and hurt feelings at the door,” she said. — The Canadian Press “I went into it knowing the rules,” Daudrich said Wednesday, acknowl- edging Khan won. “I understand that I got more votes. I don’t have to say I like the rules. I was against the imple- mentation of them. But those are the rules and that’s playing it the sports- manlike way.” The hotelier said he was not inter- ested in splitting from the PC party, noting the Keystone party and People’s Party of Canada have stuck to their principles but haven’t had any electoral success. “If we’re three or four parts of a conservative movement, we won’t form government. But if we are one single unified force, we represent the people that are a part of that unified force, we represent them accurately,” Daudrich said. “I had announced I wanted to run in Spruce Woods and, if Obby wants me to run in Spruce Woods, then it’ll be up to Obby.” The southwestern Manitoba seat in the legislature was vacated in March by PC MLA Grant Jackson, who quit and successfully ran for the federal Conservatives in Brandon-Souris. “I do want to run and I’d like (Khan’s) good word to allow me to run and to stand as the candidate,” Dau- drich said. Spruce Woods PC party members supported Daudrich over Khan in the leadership race, awarding him 56.3 points to Khan’s 43.7. “I think we have good support there. And I know I would carry the name proudly, the PC brand.” Asked if Khan would approve Daudrich running for the PCs, in a byelection that must be called by Sept. 24, the new leader issued a statement: “Anyone interested in seeking the nom- ination in Spruce Woods should submit their application to the PC Party of Manitoba.” It would be “dangerous” for Khan not to back Daudrich in Spruce Woods, where a majority voted in favour of him to be leader, one political expert said. “I think Obby would absolutely have to respect those wishes because if he didn’t, he’d just be sending a huge flag to that wing of the party member- ship, the more conservative wing that supported Daudrich, that ‘You are not welcome here and your ideas are not welcome here,’ which is the opposite of trying to build a big tent party,” Bran- don University political science Prof. Kelly Saunders said. Khan has repeatedly said he wants a “big tent” party that welcomes a range of ideas and opinions, including those of Daudrich and his supporters. Daudrich said he wants to join Khan and help the PCs win an election. “As a honest broker and as a loyal PC party guy, I want to help him become the next premier.” At least one PC caucus member has denounced Daudrich for “outrageous and offensive comments,” including his suggestion that turning polar bears loose in downtown Winnipeg would solve its homelessness crisis and that the province providing free prescrip- tion contraceptives allows vulnerable women “to be more sexually active.” Daudrich also called for the PCs to drop “progressive” from the party name. During question period last month, PC health critic and Roblin MLA Kathleen Cook said of Daudrich: “He doesn’t stand for me.” Daudrich said family and friends fight all the time. “But you know, I believe in the grace of God — that he forgives and we can put things aside. Do we have to agree on everything? No. And there’s nobody in this world that would agree with me 100 per cent and vice versa. So we have to act together in the common good,” he said. “In order to form government and to get Manitoba out of the economic and moral malaise that we find ourselves in, we need to form government.” carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca “He died late (Tuesday) morning at home,” the 89-year-old told the Free Press Wednesday evening. “I still don’t really know what happened. All I was told is they feel it is necessary to carry out an autopsy (today).” Manitoba’s 16th premier and Can- ada’s 22nd governor general said he spoke to Jason early Tuesday. “He certainly didn’t seem downcast or disturbed … he was out late the evening before with some close friends and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and his wife. I think they even had their 16-year-old son in tow until close to 11 p.m. … then they went their respective ways. That was the last I know of it.” Schreyer said he and his wife had two sons and two daughters, but Jason was the only one who followed his dad into politics. “I never twisted his arm one little bit,” he said. “But on the other hand, I was careful not to dissuade him. He de- cided to make a run for it in the federal election in 1993 when he was only 26. He ran and he came a very respectable second in the riding of Selkirk-Inter- lake.” Council members were visibly shak- en as they gathered at 9:30 Wednesday morning for a scheduled meeting re- quired under the city’s charter. Many were seen hugging and speaking quiet- ly to each other. After an opening pray- er, the mayor — voice cracking with emotion — announced the meeting would be adjourned until Friday. Gillingham and other members of council then gathered inside the may- or’s office to share memories about their late colleague, he said. Schreyer was a close friend to many at city hall, including councillors Ross Eadie, Russ Wyatt, Devi Sharma and Matt Allard, Gillingham said. Schreyer won his first council man- date with 55 per cent of the votes in a race against Thomas Steen, a one-term councillor and former Winnipeg Jets player. He replicated that success dur- ing an election four years later, again capturing 55 per cent of the vote. During the most recent civic election, in 2022, he won his third term with 62 per cent support. “I’ve been raised and inspired to be- lieve in the ability of politics and gov- ernment to raise the human condition for the sake of human dignity, a sus- tainable environment and a balanced and sustainable economy,” Schreyer wrote in response to a questionnaire published on the city’s 2022 election website. He frequently mentioned construc- tion and infrastructure costs as among his priorities as a councillor. More re- cently, he was focused on bolstering food security for his constituents, Gillingham said. “He would talk regularly about the impact of construction inflation on city costs and it came to the point where we would joke with him,” the mayor said, smiling as he shared the memory with reporters. “We would laugh, but his greater point was the cost of city services and public services are going up and… he really wanted people to understand the reasons.” Schreyer sat on the city’s standing policy committee on property and de- velopment. He was also a member of the East Kildonan-Transcona commun- ity committee. He previously served on the finance and water and waste com- mittees. Before becoming a councillor, Schreyer worked as a ministerial assist- ant to NDP MLA Steve Ashton when he was responsible for infrastructure and transportation in the provincial cabinet. He also worked alongside Elm- wood NDP MLA Jim Maloway. Former Elmwood NDP MP Leila Dance, who was defeated in Monday’s federal election, said she saw Schreyer that night. She said he looked healthy as he joined her, Eadie and a crowd of sup- porters at Junction 59 Roadhouse to watch polling results come in, she said. “It just took my breath away when I heard this — I am shocked,” Dance said. “He was so supportive during my campaign. He polled for me during the day. At no point did I think he should sit down or did he look tired. “He gave me a hug at the end and he said, ‘Take a couple of days and call me, and we will see what the next steps are.’” She described Schreyer as an “all- round great guy” and an “amazing community-oriented person.” “There will be a big hole in the com- munity,” Dance said. Premier Wab Kinew extended his condolences to Schreyer’s family Wed- nesday. “He was a strong voice for North East Winnipeg. My heart goes out to his en- tire family, friends and colleagues dur- ing this very difficult time,” Kinew said in a statement posted to X. City council published a joint state- ment expressing admiration for Schrey- er and grief at his loss. Some members spoke separately, as well. “Our political leanings were differ- ent, but he was just such a gentle, kind person and thoughtful and respectful which was just a pleasure to work with,” Coun. Janice Lukes told the Free Press. In a statement on Facebook, Coun. Cindy Gilroy described Schreyer as a calm, thoughtful and committed polit- ician. Coun. Brian Mayes also posted on- line, calling Schreyer a friend. The last time a sitting city council- lor died was in 2010, when Charles- wood-Tuxedo Coun. Bill Clement succumbed to cancer. Former River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. Brenda Leip- sic died of lung cancer in 2008. Schreyer’s death will necessitate a byelection, but Gillingham said it is too early to confirm when that will occur. In the meantime, city hall will sup- port Schreyer’s executive assistant, Chris Hurley, as he manages the ward office and responsibilities in the com- ing weeks. The work includes respond- ing to calls and emails from constitu- ents and managing initiatives Schreyer was involved in, Gillingham said. Flags at all City of Winnipeg build- ings will be lowered to half-mast in his honour. — With files from Joyanne Pursaga, Nicole Buffie and Kevin Rollason. tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca CARNEY ● FROM A1 DAUDRICH ● FROM A1 SCHREYER ● FROM A1 Popular councillor passionate about people, performing C OUN. Jason Schreyer was a man of many songs, with a great desire to sing them. On Wednesday, political colleagues remembered the late Elmwood-East Kildonan councillor’s eagerness to grab a microphone and belt out a tune, sometimes in more than one language. “He was such a great dancer, great singer and such a great spirit. I was blown away at the talent he had,” said Coun. Vivian Santos. Santos fondly recalled performing in a karaoke trio with Schreyer and Coun. Ross Eadie at a Federation of Canadian Municipalities event, where the group took the stage as “Sister Santos and the Councillor Brothers.” Schreyer regularly impressed council members through such performances, sometimes even singing the opening prayer at city council meetings, the Point Douglas councillor noted. In a written statement, Coun. Russ Wyatt said he sang with Schreyer at a downtown nightclub about three weeks ago. “Jason always… made (Eadie) and I look like the amateur singers we are. But Jason would never let us think it,” said Wyatt (Transcona). Schreyer was a “very humble” per- son who repeatedly used his voice to raise concerns about the rising cost of construction and how it strained the city’s budget, refusing to be silenced when others suggested he might be off topic, said Wyatt. “I’m really going to miss him. He was a fantastic work colleague but more im- portantly he was my friend, a lifelong friend,” said Wyatt, who declined an interview request. Eadie (Mynarski) briefly described Schreyer as his “best friend” Wednes- day, telling reporters the loss “deeply hurts,” before his voice trailed off. He declined further comment. Coun. Janice Lukes said Schreyer once impressed her with his dancing ability at Folklorama’s Indian pavilion. “He was part of the show, and he was dancing Bhangra better than the women. It was crazy. And he sings and knew multiple languages. It was an in- credible experience working with him,” said Lukes (Waverley West). Mayor Scott Gillingham also high- lighted Schreyer’s ability to perform. “Outside of city hall, he was fun, a lot of fun, creative…. He was often the first one to grab a mic at karaoke and sing. And he could sing. He had a great voice,” said Gillingham, noting Schrey- er regularly sang at Folklorama and other events. Gillingham said the councillor was a passionate advocate for ensuring Winni- peggers could afford city services and had hoped to improve food distribution to people who couldn’t afford groceries. Steve Ashton, a former Thompson MLA and longtime NDP cabinet min- ister, said he knew Schreyer before hiring him as his ministerial assistant. He remembered an NDP convention in 1987 when he and Schreyer were final- ists in a “twist” dance competition. Schreyer had a love for music, life and people, Ashton said. “He always had that sense of politics and public service,” he said. “What was very noticeable that time in our work relationship is just how good he was in connecting with people. When he decid- ed to run for city council, I had a chance to volunteer with him, and our family did. It just struck me that this was, you know, Jason’s true calling…. He could be standing up in city council, during the day, being a strong voice for his area. Later on, you might catch him at a cultural event — the first one at the mic, connecting with people,” said Ashton. Several elected officials said they were shocked and saddened by the death. “Of course, we’re devastated…. He brought an excitement to council. He was very motivated just thinking of construction inflation, which he pretty well brought up every council meet- ing. It’s going to be missed,” said Coun. Shawn Dobson (St. James). St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes remem- bered Schreyer as a one-of-a-kind man, describing his death as a “nasty shock.” “He had brilliant thoughts on energy issues. I think (he) educated a lot of people around here,” said Mayes. Schreyer spoke multiple languages, was fluent in French and voted to help ensure access to city services is provid- ed in Canada’s other official language throughout Winnipeg, said Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface. “I think we’re all still in shock,” said Allard. “He seemed perfectly healthy and now he’s gone.” Schreyer was “really passionate” about the community, said Coun. Cindy Gilroy. “He was always very happy and very cheerful. He always wanted to under- stand the issues, ask a lot of really great questions,” said Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre). In a statement, Coun. Devi Sharma remembered Schreyer as a “kind and compassionate soul” who was dedicated to representing residents of his ward. “He knew how to bring joy to his interactions with colleagues and (the) public. He will be missed by all of us,” said Sharma (Old Kildonan). Coun. Markus Chambers agreed. “He was definitely a light that brought us all together as council,” said Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River). — With files from Carol Sanders and Nicole Buffie joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga JOYANNE PURSAGA IAN MCCAUSLAND PHOTO Councillors Jason Schreyer (left) and Ross Eadie ride a tandem bike together. STEVE LAMBERT / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Wally Daudrich said he was not interested in splitting from the PC party. ;