A heated debate over language, identity, and political priorities took centre stage on the latest episode of Inside Politics , as Kevin Klein and his panel tackled a controversy that has gripped national headlines—while asking whether Canadians are missing the bigger picture. Joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Lawrence Pinsky, and political science professor Royce Koop, Klein opened with a blunt question: why did outrage over Air Canada’s CEO not speak

Equality built this country. Not slogans or government programs, but a shared understanding that everyone would be treated the same and judged on what they contribute. For generations, that principle made Canada a destination for people around the world who wanted a fair shot at building a better life. That understanding is now being tested. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs were introduced with the stated goal of fairness, and on the surface, few would disagree with

Winnipeg councillors Jeff Browaty and Evan Duncan are now taking aim at rising school board taxes, but the criticism rings hollow. After consistently voting for higher taxes at City Hall, their sudden outrage is not leadership. It is hypocrisy, plain and simple. Their argument is straightforward. School divisions, they say, have increased property taxes by more than 40 percent over four years. That is more than double the City of Winnipeg’s increase of 17.5 percent over the s

A letter arrived in my inbox recently from a Winnipeg physician. Dr. Lynn Stevens has practiced medicine in our city for 33 years. Her message was not political. It was personal. And it should concern every Manitoban. Dr. Stevens wrote to the provincial government about what happened when she needed medical care herself. Years ago, she developed pain in both hips during an exercise program. She needed an MRI. The wait time in Manitoba was two years. Instead, she flew to Calga

Winnipeg residents who take the time to stand before city council deserve one thing above all else: respect. They are not lobbyists. They are not paid consultants. They are citizens who care enough about their city to show up at City Hall, often during work hours, to speak about decisions that affect their neighbourhoods, their taxes, and their future. Yet more and more, those residents are being treated as an inconvenience. Last week’s Executive Policy Committee meeting prov

What kind of country fines its citizens for expressing an opinion about biology? What kind of government inserts itself into everyday language and declares certain words mandatory? Canada is moving closer to that line. This month alone, two human rights tribunal decisions made national news. In Quebec, a Montreal salon was ordered to pay damages after its online booking system offered “men’s” and “women’s” haircut categories. In British Columbia, a former school trustee was o

In the private sector, there is a simple rule. If you do not return your customer’s call, someone else will. In public office, that rule should be even stricter. Taxpayers are not customers by choice. They fund the operation whether they like it or not. The least they deserve is a response. A Winnipeg resident recently wrote to Mayor Scott Gillingham and every member of council with a series of direct questions about zoning authority and municipal oversight. The questions wer

Recently, we asked readers a simple question: What is holding Winnipeg back? The responses were consistent. Business owners, professionals, tradespeople, seniors on fixed incomes and young families all pointed to the same five concerns. Crime and public safety. High taxes and rising fees. Social disorder and visible addiction. A weak economic vision. Political division and short-term thinking at City Hall. These are not abstract complaints. They affect daily life, investment

Kevin Klein has an adult conversation with Pete Hoekstra, Ambassador of the USA to Canada.

Every December, newsrooms do what they always do. We debate the biggest story of the year. The arguments come fast. The Grey Cup was a success. The Manitoba PC leadership race produced a winner who actually had fewer votes than the other guy. City hall approved historic property tax increases. Protest permits kept flowing no matter how extreme the cause. An NDP MLA mocked a controversial speaker assignment instead of engaging it. All of those mattered. None of them stood abov

“Early election? No way,” Premier Wab Kinew told reporters recently. Fair enough. Politicians say that all the time. But when words and actions do not line up, people are right to ask questions. And right now, the Manitoba NDP’s actions tell a very different story. Consider a fundraising email now circulating among party supporters. It is blunt, urgent, and revealing. The writer admits to being “worried.” They explain they must soon report directly to Wab Kinew and provide a

Winnipeg is going to court. Anyone paying attention knew this was coming. Mayor Scott Gillingham and a majority of council chose to ignore a clear recommendation from the Manitoba Municipal Board on the Granite Curling Club land. They overruled provincial oversight, dismissed a condition designed to protect a long-standing community institution, and pushed through a zoning by-law anyway. The predictable result is now in front of the courts, with taxpayers once again footing t

Canada faces a troubling moment when the federal government claims to be fighting hate, yet directs its energy toward policing faith instead of confronting the violence already happening on our streets. Bill C-9 was supposed to deal with genuine threats. It was meant to ban public displays of swastikas and terrorist insignia, and create stronger penalties for intimidation. Most of that is already covered by existing law, which tells you this bill is more political show than r

There is a moment, every so often, when a government makes a choice that tells you exactly how it sees itself. Winnipeg just had one of those moments. The city’s leadership is signalling that it believes it can effectively overrule the provincial government, ignore the authority of a provincial board, and do so on the advice of its own public service rather than independent legal counsel. That raises a question residents and businesses deserve to ask out loud. Who does the ci

Inside the Manitoba Legislature, every MLA can be addressed as the Honourable Member for their constituency. It is a long-standing parliamentary courtesy meant to signify integrity, seriousness, and respect for their role. Only cabinet ministers, the Premier, and sometimes the Speaker carry the title The Honourable for life, but all members are expected to uphold the standard that title implies when they take their seats. Yet what Manitobans saw again this week looked nothing

This is the third column in my series examining the City of Winnipeg’s 2026 budget. Today, we need to talk honestly about fire protection—because the numbers, the experiences, and the consequences can no longer be brushed aside with political spin. In a recent conversation with United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg President Nick Kasper, a troubling picture emerged. It’s one the city’s own audits have been warning about for nearly two decades. The city knows the solutions. They’ve