The Wrap: Phoenix Sinclair legacy, landfill search, provincial finances, Kate’s cancer, Junos and ex-Jet Roslovic

Phoenix Sinclair was five when she died at the hands of her stepfather on June 11, 2005, while her birth mother watched, her tiny body recovered months later from a trash dump on the Fisher River Cree Nation.

The pair were convicted of first-degree murder, and a $14-million inquiry spanning two years looked into the circumstances of the child’s death.

Retired Judge Ted Hughes’ 900-page report dissected the failures of front-line social workers — who didn’t intervene during the months Phoenix suffered abuse, including starvation and broken bones in almost every part of her body — and the system as a whole while issuing 62 recommendations.

Ten years and three provincial governments later, 19 of Hughes’ recommendations still haven’t been fully implemented.

Kevin Rollason takes a closer look.

Families of two slain First Nations women received word Friday that the federal and Manitoba governments are putting up $20 million each to help search a landfill for the women’s remains.

The government money is to go toward a search of the privately owned Prairie Green landfill north of Winnipeg, where the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are believed to have been taken almost two years ago.

In a dismal update on the province’s finances Friday — that included news of a forensic audit of one health region, the payout of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in legal settlements, and a forecast deficit that’s grown to nearly $2 billion — the finance minister said he expects Manitobans will be “very happy” with his NDP government’s first budget April 2

“It will close the chapter on the previous government’s budgetary track record and start a new chapter where we will deliver real results for Manitobans,” Adrien Sala said at a press conference Friday.

The third-quarter update released Friday puts the projected shortfall at $1.99 billion as of Dec. 31, 2023, up from the $1.6-billion deficit forecast at the end of September.

Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, revealed that she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. She made the announcement in a video message recorded Wednesday in Windsor and broadcast Friday.

The disclosure comes after weeks of speculation about her health and whereabouts on social media ever since news broke that she was hospitalized in January for unspecified abdominal surgery.

When it’s first presented to the winner, the Juno Award — the physical embodiment of Canada’s highest musical honour — is passed around, hoisted aloft and photographed incessantly.

But then what happens to it?

In anticipation of this weekend’s 2024 Juno Awards in Halifax, we asked seven past Manitoba winners where they keep their coveted prize.

With just minutes to go before the March 8 trade deadline, the New York Rangers acquired Jack Roslovic in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick.

No big deal, right? It sure was for Roslovic, who was immediately thrust into a starring role with the Broadway blueshirts.

He’s had a goal and three assists in his first eight games with the Rangers — a big improvement from the six goals and 17 helpers in 40 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe look at the ex-Jet’s new home and the race for the top spot in the NHL’s divisions.