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Conservation officers in Manitoba are continuing enforcement against illegal night hunting and illegal hunting in moose conservation closure areas.
On Wednesday, November 11, two men were charged in the Minto area in relation to illegally killing a bull moose.
An investigation determined the moose was shot off a municipal road on private land.
Both men were issued a restitution notice for $2,500 for the moose.
A rifle was seized, and the moose was dropped off at Killarney Meats who will process the moose meat-free of charge so it can be donated to local food banks.
Conservation Officers On Patrol
Since Oct. 10, conservation officers have conducted patrols to enforce Manitoba’s new Wildlife Amendment Act (Safe Hunting and Shared Management), resulting in:
• charges or appearance notices to 20 individuals for serious wildlife offences;
• warnings to 17 individuals for night hunting without a permit or for hunting in a moose conservation closure area;
• charges to six individuals for possessing illegally taken wildlife;
• seizures of six vehicles;
• seizures of seven firearms, and;
• restitution orders totalling $14,000.
Night hunting is now illegal in Manitoba on all private land.
In northern Manitoba, Indigenous hunters may hunt at night on Crown land and do not need to apply for a permit, though it is subject to a three-kilometre safety buffer around occupied sites and provincial roadways.
In southern Manitoba, night hunting is prohibited except with a permit that allows rights-based hunting on Crown land, subject to terms and conditions establishing where it can be done safely.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Manitoba is currently facing outbreaks at several hospitals and in many long-term care homes.
The situation is most dire in Winnipeg — as of November 12, Winnipeg’s Parkview Place has had 153 cases of COVID-19 and 23 deaths, while the Maples Personal Care Home has had 197 cases and 22 deaths.
On Friday afternoon, Manitoba's Health Minister Cameron Friesen announced an expert advisor will conduct a review of the situation at Maples Care Home.
Last weekend, Friesen declared the province would launch an investigation into Maples Care Home, following a concerning shocking situation in which eight residents died there in a 48 hour span, as paramedics had to be called in to assist care home staff.
In Friday's update on COVID-19, health officials announced an outbreak at the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home — elevating it to critical red on the Pandemic Response System — but provided few other details.
The province says an outbreak at the Swan Valley Health Centre and attached Swan Valley Personal Care home announced on October 25 has resulted in five staff infections and four “non-staff” infections.
The province’s latest figures provided on November 12 regarding the Grandview Personal Care Home outbreak shows one confirmed case of a staff member.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
There are now 2 active cases in the Dauphin health district, as public health officials announced 437 new cases and five more deaths due to COVID-19 Friday.
Health officials are also reporting an outbreak at the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home. The site has been moved to critical (red) on the Pandemic Response Level.
Today’s data shows:
- 33 cases in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority;
- 28 cases in the Northern health region;
- 20 cases in Prairie Mountain Health;
- 96 cases in Southern Health-Santé Sud; and
- 260 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
Of Manitoba’s 10,216 total cases, 6,307 are considered active and 3,772 are recovered. There are 231 people in hospital with 34 in intensive care.
The provinces most recent deaths due to COVID-19 include:
- a female in her 40s from the Northern health region;
- a female in her 60s from the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority;
- a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Maples Long Term Care Home; and
- a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region.
There have been a total of 137 deaths due to COVID-19 in Manitoba.
The following Parkland health districts have active cases: Dauphin (2), Riding Mountain (3), Swan River (11), Porcupine Mountain (4), Duck Mountain (1), Little Saskatchewan (9), Asessippi (8), Agassiz Mountain (2), and Whitemud (17). Brandon has 56 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 76 active cases. The Fisher/Peguis health district has 165 cases.
For more information about COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A new business offering a range of services has opened up in Dauphin.
Located at 17 3rd Ave. NE, Parkland Collaborative Legal Options (PCLO) has been open since early September.
Desiree Dorion, a partner at PCLO, says they offer mediation, arbitration, collaborative family practice, and parenting plans.
“We also do child protection defence and what would be called limited scope work, so that would be, like, if people need assistance drafting, we won’t go to court for them, but we will assist them with drafting if they need help drafting documents for contested litigation. So that’s in a nutshell, what we do.”
Mediation is an assisted negotiation by a neutral third party to help disputing parties voluntarily reach their own mutually acceptable settlements.
Arbitration is a process that allows each party to provide their own evidence and an arbitrator renders a decision after hearing the evidence. Under the Arbitration Act of Manitoba, arbitrators are empowered to make the decisions and they are legally binding.
A parenting plan is a required document in contested litigation. Dorion says people sometimes need help facilitating a parenting plan that works for their family. A parenting plan is a written document that outlines how both parents will raise their children after separation or divorce.
Dorion says they primarily focus on those going through separation or divorce.
“What we would do is we would have a meeting with that client and just find out more information from them and whether their case would be suited more to collaborative law, whether their case would be suited for mediation, maybe they just need a parenting plan, if there are no other issues that need to be resolved, that might be a case that would be suited to meet with our parenting plan facilitator. We assess it by a case-by-case basis and in consultation with our clients, would figure out what option is best suited for them.”
Dorion did arbitration training and her partner, Melanie Beaudry did the mediation training, both through the ADR Institution of Canada. Kate Roberts is the parenting plan facilitator.
The phone number for PCLO is (204) 701-7256, they also have a website, and Dorion says they’re on Facebook and Instagram as well.
“We’re just looking forward to serving the Parkland. We’ve had some good discussions with folks in the community and people who are curious about what we’re doing. Maybe you don’t want to proceed with anything at this time, but you might be interested in learning more, and so, if that’s the case, feel free to give us a call, we’re happy to talk to anybody about the services we’re providing.”
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
With the entire province moved to code red, Prairie Mountain Health officials are providing an update on their visitation guidelines at hospitals and personal care homes.
Hospitals
At hospitals, one designated visitor is permitted in the following areas after screening at the entrance:
- Maternity Ward/ Neonatal ICU;
- Pediatric Ward (one parent only);
- Patient stay exceeds 14 days;
- Emergency Department (where the safety of the patient relies on their accompanying person (i.e. medical history of communications); and
- Compassionate reasons or end of life will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Personal Care Homes
Only one designated visitor at a time can visit at personal care homes. PMH advises the public to contact their local personal care home for visiting hours.
No general visitation is permitted at this time, but exceptions for compassionate reasons or end of life will be made on a case-by-case basis.
PMH reminds the public to bring and wear a mask when entering their facilities, as staff will continue to adhere to vigilant screening at site entrances.
For more information on visitation restrictions and guidelines visit the PMH website here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
During his press conference on Thursday, Dr. Brent Roussin said the message from public health on social gatherings is clear: stay home and socialize only with members of your household.
While that message is not necessarily one of the measures that’s enforceable by a fine, Roussin says Manitobans don’t need a law to do what is right.
Again, #Stayhome to stop the transmission of #COVID19. That’s it. That’s the message. https://t.co/RDSXITO8jB
— Dr. Brent Roussin (@roussin_brent) November 12, 2020
“Right now we’re going to get back on track in all the regions in Manitoba. We’re going to stay home. We’re going to socialize only with our household members — and we’re going to see our numbers start to come back to more manageable rates.”
Manitobans can still legally gather in groups of five, as the cap on gatherings is unchanged in light of the province-wide red restrictions that went into effect Thursday.
“Gatherings of more than five people from outside a single household will be subject to fines,” Roussin said on Thursday.
Dr. Roussin stresses the importance of following guidelines and bringing case numbers down -- saying that Manitoba hospitals are facing a critical situation as they reach near capacity.
“We have to change the trajectory of this virus right now. That means staying home and socializing only with members of your household.”
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
November is Falls Prevention month and Prairie Mountain Health is reminding Manitoban’s to take extra caution when outside this winter.
Co-Lead of Regional Falls Prevention Committee for Prairie Mountain Health, Nancy Tregunna, explains the important steps to stay safe this winter.
“Falls prevention month’s theme is ‘Be Ready, Be Steady,’ so we are really focussing on safe winter walking. It’s really important to kind of plan your trip before you go outside – dress in layers so that you’re warm, wear bring reflective gear, make sure your footwear is well insulated and has a good tread.”
She adds that 1 in every 4 people over the age of 65 have at least one fall a year, and that falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and death in Manitoba.
“If you do find yourself walking on ice make sure you’re moving slowly, thinking about your next step, being very careful, leave your knees loose, shorten your strides, and shuffle your feet. Walking like a penguin is a good way to make sure you don’t fall on the ice.”
For more information about Falls Prevention Month, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A 41-year-old man is dead after a 2 vehicle collision in the RM of Portage la Prairie yesterday afternoon.
Around 1:10 p.m. RCMP responded to the collision at the intersection of Provincial Road 240 and Municipal Road 60N.
The investigation determined an eastbound vehicle on Municipal Road 60N with four occupants was struck by a southbound vehicle as it entered the intersection.
The 41-year-old male driver of the eastbound vehicle was pronounced deceased on scene. His three passengers, a 41-year-old woman and two boys, 2 and 3 years old, were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The 23-year-old female driver of the southbound vehicle was transported to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation continues.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The province is announcing 474 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, and the deaths of 9 more Manitobans.
All but one of the deaths announced Thursday are individuals from Winnipeg. Four are linked to the Maples Long Term Care Home.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 11 per cent provincially and 11.4 per cent in Winnipeg.
The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is now 9,782.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 132.
Today’s data shows:
· 26 cases in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority;
· 20 cases in the Northern health region;
· 19 cases in Prairie Mountain Health;
· 94 cases in Southern Health-Santé Sud; and
· 315 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
There are 6,030 active cases and 3,620 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 227 people in hospital with 34 people in intensive care.
The following Parkland health districts have active cases: Swan River (12), Porcupine Mountain (3), Duck Mountain (1), Asessippi (7), Riding Mountain (1), Little Saskatchewan (9), Agassiz Mountain (1), and Whitemud (16). Dauphin has 0 active cases. There are 54 active cases in Brandon, according to the province’s dashboard.
In the Interlake-Eastern region, there are 78 active cases in the Eriksdale/Ashern health district. The Fisher/Peguis health district has 177 active cases.
Effective today, the entire province of Manitoba moved to the Critical level (red) on the Pandemic Response System. Click here to learn more about restrictions and the measures in place.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the Dauphin R.I.D.E. Program to cancel operations for the 2020 holiday season.
Coordinator John Shuttleworth says there would have been too great of a risk for volunteers and passengers if they had gone ahead with the program.
He adds that it would be difficult to ensure social distancing protocols be followed during operation of the program.
The Dauphin R.I.D.E. Program is encouraging everyone to follow the COVID guidelines mandated by the province.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The most restrictive lockdown measures since the start of the pandemic go into effect across the province today — elevating all regions of Manitoba to Critical red on the Pandemic Response System.
The public health order signed by Dr. Brent Roussin states Manitoba will be facing red level restrictions for a minimum of four weeks, or two incubation periods.
Manitobans don’t need a law to do what is right - restrict your social interactions to your household. Not because you’ll be fined, but because it’s the right thing to do to fight #Covid19MB https://t.co/hojK3mRaqE
— Dr. Brent Roussin (@roussin_brent) November 12, 2020
What’s Going To Remain Open To The Public
Retail businesses deemed critical may remain open to the public at 25% capacity, which may include:
- Grocery, convenience stores, butcher shops, and bakeries
- Gas Stations
- Banks and financial services
- Liquor and cannabis stores
- Hardware stores, businesses that provide PPE
- Dentistry, massage therapy, and physiotherapy
- Transportation services
- Construction
- Agriculture and food production services
Click here for the full list of businesses allowed to remain open.
Schools and childcare centres will remain open with Orange level restrictions; a move the province defended saying these sites are safe and the level of transmission there has been minimal across Manitoba.
Non-essential Businesses Must Close Doors
Businesses like restaurants, bars, beverage rooms, brewpubs, microbreweries, distilleries, barbers, nail salons, casinos, theatres and concert halls will have to close their doors to the public.
Restaurants can still remain open for pickup and delivery; the same goes for non-essential retail shops.
The province announced a new financial support for businesses affected by the lockdown. The Manitoba Bridge Grant will provide an immediate one-time payment of $5,000 to small and medium-sized businesses, not-for-profit and charitable organizations that were directly ordered to temporarily cease operations by Manitoba’s public-health orders.
Religious Gatherings, Sports, Gyms, Fitness Centres
All religious services must close or be provided virtually.
All gyms, fitness centres, recreational facilities, as well as indoor and outdoor sports facilities will be closed in code red.
Why Is Prairie Mountain Health Being Moved To Red?
When asked why Prairie Mountain Health is also being elevated to red -- despite lower case numbers compared to the rest of the province -- Dr. Roussin cited the rising test positivity rate in all of Manitoba's health regions. Roussin also said the number of contacts per case is trending in the wrong direction.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
