Universities should be places where all ideas are welcomed and explored. In many Canadian university classrooms, however, only the “correct” viewpoint is heard.

According to a new survey of 1,200 Canadian university students and recent graduates conducted by Leger and published by the Fraser Institute, politically left-of-centre students were far more likely than their right-of-centre classmates to report that their views were welcomed and encouraged in class.

For example, 83 percent of right-leaning students believe that professors advocate a left-of-centre view — and 45 percent of left-leaning students agree with them. Forty-two percent of right-leaning students say they experienced a classroom environment that limited questions and discussion on controversial topics to only one side of the argument. Only 29 percent of left-leaning students felt the same way.

To make matters worse, 50 percent of right-leaning students said they sometimes felt uncomfortable expressing their opinions due to the views of the professors leading the class. Only 36 percent of left-leaning students reported the same experience. When asked whether there was a “safe” point of view on controversial topics in university classes, a majority from both groups answered “yes” — with little difference between right-leaning students (58 percent) and left-leaning students (51 percent).

For anyone who has lived through even a single Manitoba winter, it is understood that our summers are too short. And while September and even October sometimes offers us some brief reminders of the warm weather we enjoyed in the summer months, it’s already clear that a change of seasons is upon us. And with that change comes a change of routine for many families.

September means back to school for those in elementary, middle school and high school as well as those taking post-secondary studies. For many younger students this is a time of excitement while for others it can evoke anxiety if they are going into an unfamiliar school. We are fortunate that our schools have excellent teachers and support staff to help not only educate students but help as they settle into a new school year. For students who are lucky enough to be the first students at the new Parkhill School, this is an especially exciting time as they occupy the first new elementary school opened in Steinbach in many years.

I was honoured during my time as Education Minister to approve the new school and to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. Like many others, I have eagerly watched the progress of the school’s construction, and it will be a welcomed addition to the Hanover School Division. Regardless of where students are attending this year, I hope that all students, teachers and support staff have a rewarding academic year.

This time of year also means that many young people re-enter sports programs. Over the years, the opportunity for recreational sport has grown in our region and new facilities have opened, There has also been the growth of popularity locally of sports such as soccer and basketball. The new Southeast Event Centre will not only be an opportunity to watch local teams like the Steinbach Pistons and special sporting events, but also offer the chance to use the new gymnasium facility and indoor walking track. The first winter with the event centre open is being anticipated by many and will help bring some excitement to those cold winter months.

Dear Money Lady: My husband started day trading this year and it turned into a disaster. He is retired and took a course on investing – but that didn’t seem to matter, we have lost over $200,000. I am so upset! Marissa P.

Oh dear, Marissa. I feel your pain. Many retirees have done the same thing. The economic market right now is shaky – we all know that. Our neighbours to the south have forever changed the landscape of how we view the United States. But with this backdrop, I must caution those that are entering retirement or already in it, about managing their investments and ultimately impacting their long-term plans.

Please remember, you cannot predict the market and you do not know how long you will live. This has always been the constant elephant in the room situation that many retirees tend to forget. You should never base your financial decisions on stock market performance or your own lifespan, yet I get many emails like this one, that do just that.

Longevity is real. Canadians are living longer. Currently we have 1.5 million Canadians over 85 today, and it is projected that in the next 25 years we will have 4.3 million. So, believing that you are unlikely to live past 80 with a plan to take larger withdrawals from your savings, obviously is not a good idea. The reality is many retirees plan to invest on their own, since they have the time to learn how to do it efficiently and they no longer want to pay an advisor for what they think they can do themselves. While I agree in theory, I also must caution those retirees that plan to do this. The gravity of managing investments during retirement can become overwhelming. There is no runway for mistakes in this new arena and errors will have long lasting repercussions since a loss can not be replaced with working income.

Tenants in Manitoba should face a rent increase of no more than 1.8 percent effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Manitoba Public Service Delivery announced the rent guideline in an Aug. 29 news release.

That guideline is set annually through a set formula based on the consumer price index for Manitoba. It applies to most residential rental properties including apartments, single rooms, houses and duplexes.

However, in Manitoba there are many properties the guidelines do not apply to.

This summer, I felt truly honoured to connect with so many of you—whether in Emerson, Buffalo Point, Falcon Lake, Whitemouth, or the many communities in between. From community festivals and parades to one-on-one conversations, I had the privilege of hearing directly from you about the issues that matter most to your families and to our community.

I understand your frustration with youth unemployment and how it is discouraging our next generation. I see food inflation and how many of the basics keep rising as you try to balance your budgets. I empathize with farmers fighting hidden Liberal fuel taxes that drive up the price of food. What you are asking for are reasonable and fair requests.

I often have said that Canada has the resources and capacity to be one of the richest countries in the world—yet here we are, with many families struggling to put food on their table and cover basic necessities. I fully appreciate your desire to set your children up for success. I long with you for better government policies that pave the way for opportunities and promise.

Keeping the minority Liberal government accountable is a relentless job. We are witnessing farmers and businesses being hindered and penalized by the 75 percent tariffs on Canadian canola seed, the 100 percent tariffs on Canadian peas, canola meal and oil, and the 25 percent tariffs on pork and seafood. We are expressing our concerns about how immigration is spinning out of control. We do not feel that Canadians should be living in fear of growing crime because of bad Liberal laws. We understand that 17.5 percent of students are returning to school this fall, having failed to secure a summer job. Additionally, we defend Canadian steelworkers and shipbuilders for their demonstrated skills and capacity—who shouldn’t need defending to this Liberal government.