Manitoba

Former workers, clients and advocates question why a family reunification centre in Brandon, Man., charges residents almost $10,000 a month to live in a converted motel room, arguing the price exploits First Nations communities and government agencies that foot the bill.

One First Nations health group that toured the facility was so concerned, it told its members not to send anyone to the centre, saying it was not a proper facility for addictions treatment and it charged an "exorbitant amount."

The facility used to be home to the Redwood Motor Inn, a 62-room budget motel less than five kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Highway.

The former boss of Manitoba Hydro was paid nearly $900,000 in compensation in 2024, despite only working 1½ months before her dismissal from the Crown corporation.

The high pay earned by Jay Grewal, revealed to be $881,177.94 according to Hydro's annual compensation disclosures this week, suggests the utility bought out the remainder of her contract, according to a University of Manitoba business instructor who teaches a compensation course.

Grewal's pay in 2024 — more than doubling the compensation of any other Hydro employee — is a 61 per cent increase from the $546,698.12 she earned in 2023 for a full year as president and chief executive officer.

"My speculation is that she got every cent owed on the contract," Sean MacDonald said.

A Winnipeg towing company has launched a lawsuit against the city, claiming municipal officials improperly awarded contracts to a competitor, costing the company more than $4 million in annual revenue.

Bison Towing alleges in a statement of claim filed with the Manitoba Court of King's Bench on Friday that the company was treated "unfairly and unequally" when it was passed over for two municipal contracts — one for Winnipeg Parking Authority awarded in April and one for the Winnipeg Police Service awarded in July 2024.

Both contracts went to Tartan Towing, a decision that Bison claims showed the city was giving "preferential treatment" to Tartan.

Winnipeg's police chief and top bureaucrat remained among the city's highest paid civil servants in 2024, despite leaving their positions midway through the year.

The police chief received $498,841 in 2024, according to the city's annual compensation disclosure published Friday.

The figure — which may include any combination of salary and other forms of compensation — would be almost $200,000 higher than what the city paid for the same position a year previous.