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The Government of Manitoba is looking for public input regarding safety improvements at a Swan River intersection.

An online public engagement is being launched to get input for safety improvements at the intersection of Provincial Trunk Highway 83, and Provincial Trunk Highway 10.

Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says the government is committed to listening to concerns expressed by drivers and community members, and adds “by engaging with the public, we will ensure we consider the safest and most practical options to enhance road safety and traffic flow.”

There are two options for permanent safety infrastructure- a new roundabout, or protected left turn lanes.

To take part in the engagement, which closes on April 13^th, visit engagemb.ca.

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Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson

Published: Mar 23, 2021 - 9:49 am

COVID restrictions have been hard on many businesses across the province, including restaurants.

Now many restaurant owners are expressing concerns over the impact of a potential third wave, and ultimately another lockdown.

Lately, Canadian health officials have been discussing the possibility of a third wave brought on by more infectious variants of the virus. Manitoba’s chief public health officer Dr Brent Roussin says caution is needed, with case numbers slowly trending upwards and the variants of concern becoming more of an issue.

Despite growing concerns, one local restaurant owner, Corrina Abrey, owner of Corrina’s On Main in Dauphin isn’t overly worried about a third lockdown.

“I don’t let the numbers that they announce every day and that kind of thing really affect me,” said Abrey, adding “we just carry on with our days, whatever comes, comes whatever happens, happens. We’ll adapt as we have been for the last year.”

The local restaurant owner says she wants people to get back into their comfort zones of dining out “because [this virus] is probably going to be around for a while.”

The current public health orders in Manitoba for restaurants allow only those from the same household to eat together at a table indoors. A recent change to the public health orders allows Manitobans from different households to eat together at outdoor tables in groups of up to six.

The current set of public health orders is due for an update this Friday, and one possible change includes expanding indoor restaurant dining to allow people from different households to sit together if they are each other's designated household contacts.

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Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson

Published: Mar 22, 2021 - 3:14 pm

A weekend drug bust in Minnedosa has left two people facing charges, according to RCMP.

On Saturday, March 20th, police executed a search warrant on 5th Avenue NW in Minnedosa.

Police say a search led to the seizure of cocaine, meth, drug paraphernalia, and Canadian currency.

Two adults were arrested at the scene. A 27-year-old man is facing several charges and was released with a June 22 court date.

Facing charges for trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime is 32-year-old Lynsi Farough, who was remanded into custody.

RCMP continue to investigate.

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Contributed by 730 CKDM

Published: Mar 22, 2021 - 2:31 pm

On Monday Health officials announced 66 new cases, 1 death, along with some important updates to the vaccination campaign.

More pop-up vaccine clinics have been added to the schedule. Additional pop-up clinics will be coming to Prairie Mountain Health in Lundar on March 30th (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.), and Killarney on March 31st. Click here for more information on the schedule for pop-up clinics coming to rural Manitoba communities.

A pop-up will be in Swan River this week providing immunizations, but officials have indicated that those appointments have already filled up. Officials say additional pop-up clinics are also being planned for April and further details will be provided as soon as possible.

The eligibility criteria for vaccinations at pop-up clinics and supersites have been expanded to include individuals aged 65 or older and First Nation people aged 45 or older. Appointments for eligible Manitobans can be made by calling 1-844-MAN-VACC.

Today's Case Numbers

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 5.2% provincially and 3.7% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 33,418.

The one death announced today — a man in his 50s from the Winnipeg Health region — brings the total number of Manitobans to die with COVID-19 to 928.

One case of the B.1.1.7 COVID variant has been detected today, located in the Prairie Mountain Health region.

There have been 77 total variant cases detected in Manitoba (64 of the B.1.1.7 UK variant, 15 of the B.1.351 South Africa variant).

There are 1,205 active cases and 31,285 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

The province’s data also shows 62 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 76 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 138 hospitalizations.

There are 11 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 14 people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 25 ICU patients.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• zero cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 17 cases in the Northern health region
• zero cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• four cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 45 cases in the Winnipeg health region

According to the province’s data, there are active cases of COVID-19 in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (0), Duck Mountain (7), Porcupine Mountain (20), Asessippi (4), and Little Saskatchewan (1). Brandon has four active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has no active cases of COVID-19. Fisher/Peguis health district has five active cases.

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Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Mar 22, 2021 - 12:54 pm

The Peguis First Nation will continue its fight against COVID-19 on Monday when a mass vaccination effort begins.

There is currently just one active case of COVID-19 on the First Nation and by Thursday, it's expected that nearly half of the on-reserve population will receive a vaccine shot.

That means by Thursday, it's expected that just more than 2200 people will be either partially or fully vaccinated which adds up to about 46 percent of the on-reserve population.

Doses will be given at the Peguis Multiplex to people aged 18 and over with clinics being open from 10 a.m until 7 p.m. today, tomorrow, and Wednesday.

Chief Glenn Hudson said he believes Peguis is one of the first First Nations in the province to roll out a mass vaccination clinic.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 22, 2021 - 5:25 am

Health officials in Manitoba reported 90 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, and nine deaths.

Two of the deaths announced Sunday are from the Northern health region, and the rest are in the Winnipeg health region. The total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 in Manitoba is now 927.

Public health officials say the deaths reported today took place between November 2020 and March 2021 — are now being officially reported.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 5% provincially and 3.6% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 33,353. 

There are 1,185 active cases and 31,241 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 57 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 78 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 135 hospitalizations.

There are 10 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 12 people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 22 ICU patients.

The total number of confirmed variant of concern cases of B.1.1.7 is 63 and B.1.351 is 13, bringing the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases to 76.

Today’s new COVID-19 cases are from the following health regions:
• zero cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 32 cases in the Northern health region
• nine cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• eight cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 41 cases in the Winnipeg health region

According to the province’s data, there are active cases of COVID-19 in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (0), Duck Mountain (8), Porcupine Mountain (20), Asessippi (4), and Little Saskatchewan (2). Brandon has 6 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has no active cases of COVID-19. Fisher/Peguis health district has five active cases.

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Contributed by 730 CKDM

Published: Mar 21, 2021 - 1:13 pm

A number of travel restrictions remain in effect for Manitobans as health officials say the measures are important to help ensure there are no big setbacks.

For the next set of public health orders, the Manitoba government is considering removing the requirement to self-isolate for 14 days for interprovincial travellers who travel for business reasons and do not have symptoms.

Health officials continue to discourage any non-essential travel, and require anyone entering Manitoba from outside of the province to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.

There are some exemptions for health care providers, emergency services personnel, and elected officials — as long as they’re not showing symptoms. Exemptions from the 14-day isolation are also in effect for those who live by provincial borders and who regularly travel into Manitoba to work, or attend an educational institution.

All travellers are strongly advised get two COVID-19 tests - one on the day of arrival, and another on the seventh day after arriving in Manitoba regardless of if they are displaying symptoms, and whether they are visiting Manitoba or are returning from out of the country.

Concerns Over Situation In Neighbouring Jurisdictions

Manitoba’s top doctor says the travel restrictions have a lot to do with the COVID situation in neighbouring provinces.

“This is the one area of our public health restrictions that don’t necessarily rely heavily on our own epidemiology — it relies on the epidemiology of the places around us,” says Dr. Brent Roussin.

As of Thursday, March 18, Saskatchewan health officials reported a total of 433 presumptive cases of variants of concern — with 368 of those in Regina. By comparison, the entire province of Manitoba on that same day has seen 76 variant cases in total.

Dr. Brent Roussin says the risk of variants of concern remains relatively low in Manitoba, adding “we’re taking a lot of precautions right now so we don’t get set back.”

 “We continue to advise against non-essential travel, we still have the self-isolation requirements for those who travel for non-essential purposes.”

Travel in Manitoba north of the 53rd parallel is also still restricted — with some exemptions

“We’re taking a lot of precautions right now so we don’t get set back.”

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Mar 21, 2021 - 6:59 am

Mountain View School Division’s (MVSD) Board Chair is voicing some of his concerns with the drastic overhaul of Manitoba’s education system announced by the provincial government this past week.

On Monday, Manitoba's Education Minister Cliff Cullen provided the details of Bill 64 — a piece of legislation presenting some dramatic changes to education in the province.

Part of Bill 64 would remove the role of school trustees, eliminating elected school boards in 37 school divisions and replacing them with one centralized board of appointees.

MVSD Board Chair Floyd Martens says going from the elected board to an appointed board is a huge shift with big implications.

“The ramifications of that are not fully understood,” he says, adding he finds it hard to envision how schools within local communities will have a greater voice when the decision making is turned over to this one appointed board within the province.”

“When you have unelected representatives, they’re not accountable to those who elected them, they’re accountable to who appointed them — and that changes every dynamic within the system.”

Floyd Martens is Chairperson of the MVSD Board of Trustees | Photo courtesy of MVSD.ca

Martens discussed other problems he sees with Bill 64.

“The legislation has a host of issues with it that we’re just beginning to unravel. Obviously, it’s huge in its scope. It takes a number of Acts that have existed for decades and decades and rewrites them pretty much in their entirety. It creates lots of challenges for the system as we try and navigate what this means over the next several months.”

Martens says the first thing parents should know is the MVSD Board of Trustees is still in place making decisions and working with their communities "for as long as we are able to be."

A comprehensive review of Manitoba’s education system was launched in January 2019, with a Commission drawing 75 recommendations to improve education in Manitoba — a province that spends among the highest in the country on education but posts among the lowest student achievement results.

Martens says Bill 64 ignores some of the key recommendations from the K-12 review, for example, the recommendation there be somewhere between 6 and 8 school boards that would be elected and appointed. 

“That recommendation was not included in Bill 64.”

As for a timeline, Martens says the legislation, Bill 64, has school boards not existing as of July 1, 2022 — at which point there will be one school board for most of Manitoba, and one school board for Francophone schools in the province.

“This is a big issue. There will be lots more discussion with the community in the days and weeks to come. As a Board, we meet on Monday and will talk more about how we respond and move forward from this point, and how the community can be engaged and so on. So stay tuned for those messages.”

Martens says that parents and community members should know this is a piece of legislation, so there is an opportunity to speak to it, "whether it’s to write submissions. Whether it’s to write to those who are making decisions in the legislature — our MLAs. I encourage our communities to do that."

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Mar 21, 2021 - 5:47 am

The eligibility criteria for the COVID19 vaccine has been expanded to include Manitobansaged 69 years of age and older and First Nations people aged 49 years of age and older.

Today 93 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death were announced in Manitoba, a man in his 30s from the Northern Health Region.

No new cases of variants of concern have been identified today, but one case previously identified as a B.1.1.7. variant of concern case as a B.1.351 variant of concern case.

The total number of variant cases of concern in the province is 76.

Today’s new COVID-19 cases are in the following health regions:
• one case in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 29 cases in the Northern health region
• 14 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 10 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 39 cases in the Winnipeg health region

There have been a total number of 33,176 cases identified and 919 deaths in the province since the start of the pandemic.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 4.7 per cent provincially and 3.5 per cent in Winnipeg.

There are 1,127 active cases and 31,130 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 58 people in hospital with active COVID-19 and 78 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 136 hospitalizations.

There are 10 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 and 11 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 21 ICU patients.

According to the province’s data, there are active cases of COVID-19 in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (0), Duck Mountain (9), Porcupine Mountain (11), Asessippi (3), and Little Saskatchewan (3). Brandon has 7 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has zero active cases, and the Fisher/Peguis health district has five.

Details

Contributed by 730 CKDM

Published: Mar 19, 2021 - 12:55 pm

Police are looking for a suspect after the attempted armed robbery of a 71-year-old man in Ste. Rose this week.

On Thursday, March 18 around noon, Ste. Rose RCMP were informed a 71-year-old man was shopping at a business on Central Avenue in Ste. Rose du Lac, and returned to his vehicle when an unknown male opened his door.

The male suspect was holding a firearm, and threatened the victim telling him to get out of the vehicle.

The victim managed to push the suspect away, and the suspect then took off on foot.

The suspect is described as Indigenous, 22-25 years of age, approximately 5’4”, 150 lbs with brown eyes and short dark hair. He was wearing a black sweater, black pants and a black face mask.

If you witnessed this incident or have any information please call Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP at 204-447-2513 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at Manitoba Crime Stoppers.

Details

Contributed by 730 CKDM

Published: Mar 19, 2021 - 12:33 pm