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The Manitoba government has announced that the First Nation Court Worker Program would be taken over by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Southern Chiefs' Organization (SCO), Manitoba Metis Federation, and the Island Lake Tribal Council.

SCO will have court workers in Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, and Selkirk, who will also attend circuit court locations, including those in Bloodvein, Berens River, and other court locations within SCO member Nations.

SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels says the work they'll be focused on making sure that those going before the court know everything that's happening.

"Our focus is really on the information about the local resources that are available within the court system, translation services, some of the legal terminology, to ensure that it's fully understood. That those who are coming before the courts understand their rights and responsibilities, and also we want to ensure that there's a lot of respect and empathy for the process, and how it impacts people."

He says the program will add value to their existing restorative justice program, and it will help make sure the system is working, and having a meaningful impact.

"It'll add value to the relationships that are very important when we talk about restorative justice. We have restorative justice in about seven of our communities. They have a relationship and a role with the judges, with the crown attorney, with the defense council, with the sheriff's offices. So they will also sort of work with the court workers in some capacity to strengthen that relationship."

Grand Chief Daniels says the program will hopefully change the status quo that has led to the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.

"The goal is right now, obviously First Nations are the highest represented demographic within the justice system, and we really want to help change that around and hopefully create opportunity for those that are leaving, and also those who are in conflict with the law. We're trying to find a way to keep them focused on their personal development and trying to help them deal with the lasting impacts of what they've experienced in their environment."

More information about SCO's Justice Program can be found on its website here.

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February 6th to 10th, 2023, is known as Teacher and Staff Appreciation week in Manitoba.

Superintendent and CEO of Mountain View School Division, Stephen Jaddock, recognizes the work that gets put in every day by the staff the school division employs.

"We just want to thank everyone who plays a part, on a daily basis at Mountain View School Division, ranging from our employees out in the division office, to our crews who work on maintenance, and all of our operations and education coordinators that work tirelessly to make sure that we have a successful school division here in Mountain View", said Jaddock.

The division has schools in 7 communities in the Parkland: Dauphin, Ethelbert, Gilbert Plains, Grandview, Ochre River, Roblin, and Winnipegosis. No matter where your children go to school, they can probably recall a time when a staff member went above and beyond for them.

"We have teachers, educational assistants, and secretaries, going out of their way just to make individuals feel better. Whether it's getting a band-aid for a child hurt at that school, or whether it's somebody waiting for the parent to arrive to pick them up just so they're not alone", Jaddock recalled.

Mountain View School Division employs over 500 people.

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The Dauphin Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire shortly after 9 pm on Dunfield Avenue last night.

The vehicle was parked In the driveway, in close proximity to the home, and there was slight damage to the siding. There is no estimate on damages at this time and no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Around 2:30 a.m. today (February 7th, 2023) the Dauphin RCMP responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in Dauphin.

Members of the Dauphin detachment along with the D Division Police Dog Services attended the scene. It was determined that several shots were fired at the residence, with three vehicles in front of the house hit, and the other bullets entered the home, hitting the walls inside.

Several people were home at the time, but no one was injured in the incident. An investigation is underway, and the RCMP is asking anyone with information to call the Dauphin Detachment at Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online here.

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UPDATE:

The roads that were closed yesterday due to weather appear to be back open. Expect lingering icy conditions and drive with caution.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Some roads around the parkland are closed, although Manitoba 511 is not reporting a specific reason for the closure.

The following Highways are closed:

  • Highway 5 from Grandview to the Saskatchewan border.
  • PTH 83 from Highway 57 (East of Kamsak Sask.), south through Roblin to Russell.
  • Highway 16 from the Saskatchewan border, through Russell and Binscarth to East of Foxwarren.
  • Highway 45 from Russell, to west of Rossburn.

Other highways in the area are being reported as partially covered or bare, with some seeing reduced visibility. Before planning a trip make sure to check out the Parkview Auto Glass Road Conditions Tab.

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A youth has been charged after a child was killed on George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan. RCMP were called to a report of an injured person at a home on the First Nation, about an hour and a half west of Yorkton, on Thursday.

When police arrived, they found a child who was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS. He's been identified as a child under 10 from George Gordon First Nation.

The youth who's been charged cannot be identified as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act and is scheduled to appear in Regina provincial court today.

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The RCMP, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and Ontario Provincial Police will soon launch a fraud prevention campaign focused on emergency/grandparent scams targetting the elderly.

This comes after a significant increase in victim losses from these scams in 2022 when more than 9.2-million dollars was reported lost. That is up from 2021 when the country saw 2.4-million dollars in victim losses. Manitoba was one of the most impacted provinces with over $313,000 in reported losses.

More information from the RCMP is below:

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are launching a fraud prevention campaign, February 6 to 10, 2023, to raise awareness about the significant increase in emergency-grandparent scams targeting Canadian seniors.

In 2022, the CAFC received fraud reports totalling a staggering $530 million in victim losses. This was nearly a 40 per cent increase from the 2021 unprecedented $380 million in losses.

Fraudsters target anyone and everyone, particularly the vulnerable and seniors. In 2022, more than $9.2 million was reported lost to emergency scams, according to the CAFC. This was a drastic increase from $2.4 million in 2021.

Reports from residents indicate the five provinces most impacted in 2022 were:

  • Ontario - over $5.4 million in reported losses
  • Alberta - over $1.1 million in reported losses
  • Quebec - over $732,000 in reported losses
  • British Columbia - over $322,000 in reported losses
  • Manitoba - over $313,000 in reported losses

It is estimated that only 5-10 per cent of victims report scams and fraud to the CAFC or law enforcement.

What is an emergency scam?

Emergency scams, including variations called "grandparent scams", use urgency and the manipulation of emotions to extort money from victims. In these scams, fraudsters cold call seniors, on landline phones, claiming to be a grandchild, family member, law enforcement officer or lawyer calling on behalf of their loved one. They'll say that the person's loved one was involved in an emergency situation, such as a collision, charged by law enforcement, legal peril, being sick or injured, etc. They demand the senior provide payment immediately for supposed bail, legal fees, fines or other amounts "owed" to stop the family member from going to jail or to get them released from custody. This is a scam.

The fraudsters isolate the victims by informing them that there is a court-imposed gag order, and they're forbidden from discussing the matter. The victims are directed to attend their financial institution to withdraw the requested amount in cash. The fraudsters will then send someone to pick it up from the victim's home or have the victim send the money via courier services. There have also been reports of victims paying with cryptocurrency.

If you fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and also report it to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or online on the Fraud Reporting System, even if a financial loss did not occur.

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The Manitoba government released an update on conservation officer enforcement in the province and it includes an incident near Sifton in November.

On Monday, November 28th, 2022, a conservation officer from Dauphin checking deer hunters near Sifton discovered an SUV passenger in possession of a loaded firearm with a freshly fired cartridge in the chamber and two live rounds in the magazine.

The officer noted the safety was off on the firearm. When questioned, the passenger admitted he had just killed a white-tailed buck. The white-tailed deer, located in the back hatch of the SUV, was not tagged and the game tag had not been notched.

The deer, rifle, and game tags were seized and the hunter was issued tickets for having a loaded firearm in a vehicle and failing to notch his game tag. On further investigation, the individual was issued additional charges for shooting along a municipal roadway and possession of illegally taken wildlife. In total, the Port Perry, Ont. resident faces fines of $2,754, a two-year hunting prohibition, and $1,500 restitution for the white-tailed buck.

Anyone with information on illegal activity is asked to call a local Natural Resources and Northern Development office or the Turn in Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-782-0076.

More information about recent conservation officer enforcement is below:

Night hunting near Pine Falls  

On Nov. 15, 2022, conservation officers conducted a patrol to target illegal night hunting in the Pine Falls area. Officers observed a vehicle repeatedly shining a spotlight on various farm fields along Provincial Road 304. Officers stopped the vehicle and four male occupants, one male from Sagkeeng First Nation and three males from Pine Falls, were arrested for night hunting. With assistance from a K-9 unit, officers located a firearm discarded from the vehicle along the roadway. Officers seized the firearm, hunting gear, and the vehicle. Three adults were issued court appearance notices for illegally hunting at night with lights and a 15-year-old youth was released to his guardian.

Enforcement in the North Whiteshell district

On Nov. 17, 2022, conservation officers from the North Whiteshell district received a report of a suspicious vehicle stopped on Highway 44 near Rennie. Conservation officers attended the area and observed a kill site and drag marks. Conservation officers located the individuals and further investigation revealed that one individual had previously filled their general white-tailed deer tag when they shot and killed a white-tailed deer doe. That individual, from Whitemouth, was issued a ticket for hunting a big game animal without a valid licence, a ticket for possessing illegally taken wildlife, and a warning for discharging a firearm from a highway. The white-tailed deer doe was seized and donated. The individual was issued a ticket and restitution totalling $3,282.

On Nov. 19, 2022, conservation officers from the North Whiteshell district encountered individuals on a resource road near Whitemouth and conducted a compliance check. During the check, one individual advised they had shot a white-tailed deer buck. That individual could not produce a licence for inspection when requested. Further inspection revealed the tag affixed to the deer was not properly filled out and did not match that of the individual’s licence. The individual, from Winnipeg, was subsequently issued a ticket for possessing a big game animal under the authority of a tag other than that issued with the licence and a ticket of $846 for failing to carry their licence on their person while using it. The deer was seized and donated.

Illegal trapping and trespassing in Beausejour leads to deaths of a private land owner's dogs 

On Nov. 20, 2022, a Beausejour conservation officer investigated a complaint in the La Broquerie area of trapper trespassing. An individual had set several power snares on private land without permission of the owner. This negligent action resulted in the death of two of the homeowner’s dogs. The individual, from La Broquerie West, was identified and charged with trapping on private land without permission and trapping in a manner dangerous to property. The individual faces fines of up to $25,000 or imprisonment for a term of no more than six months, or both.

White-tailed decoy helps nab road shooters

On Nov. 24, 2022, Beausejour conservation officers conducted a white-tailed deer decoy operation in the Anola area in response to complaints of individuals shooting deer from the road. Officers observed two individuals in a grey truck stopped at the decoy and the passenger shoot the decoy out the window using a high-powered rifle. Officers conducted a stop and arrested two individuals. The shooter, from Ross, was charged with discharging a firearm from a vehicle and because this occurred in an archery only area, he was also charged with hunting out of season. Two rifles and other hunting equipment was seized. The shooter was issued a ticket for $1,782 and given a two-year hunting suspension. The driver of the vehicle, also from Ross, was charged with hunting from a vehicle and faces fines of $1,296 and a two-year hunting suspension.

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The Manitoba government announced that Manitoba Métis Federation citizenship cards will be recognized as valid identification when accessing products and services regulated by the Liquor, Cannabis and Gaming Authority of Manitoba (LCGA).

In the coming months, the LCGA will update its regulations to accomodate the change. As well, staff at licensed businesses will get training to recognize MMF citizenship cards.

A press release from the province is below:

The Manitoba government is recognizing Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) citizenship cards as a primary form of identification to purchase liquor, cannabis and gaming products in Manitoba, Premier Heather Stefanson announced today.

“The Manitoba government is continuing to advance reconciliation and honour the vital contributions of the Red River Métis in shaping Manitoba’s history and culture,” said Stefanson. “These changes will remove barriers for Indigenous Peoples to access products and services such as those regulated by the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA).”

The MMF is recognized as a self-government through an agreement with the Government of Canada. Currently, there are roughly 47,000 registered Métis citizens in the province. MMF citizenship cards include secure holographic images, displaying the photo, birthday and other verification information of the holder and security features that align with preferred identifications at modern retailers and regulators. These citizenship cards are also recognized by Elections Canada and Elections Manitoba.

“The National Government of the Red River Métis is pleased to hear that Manitoba intends to pass legislation to recognize our citizenship cards as government-issued ID,” said David Chartrand, president, MMF. “We look forward to the end of the discriminatory policy that saw our secure and protected IDs disregarded and we thank Premier Stefanson for her efforts to remedy this discrimination. We will continue to advocate for the recognition of our nation and the rights of our citizens with our provincial partners on many other matters of importance to us, here in the province we brought into Canada’s confederation.”

“I am pleased that the LGCA is able to take this important step to update and modernize regulations to recognize the MMF citizenship card as a primary form of identification,” said Kristianne Dechant, CEO, LGCA. “We also understand that not all individuals may have access to identification that is currently accepted by some retailers and this is another step to removing barriers for Manitobans to access these age-restricted products.”

The LGCA will lead the process to update its regulations in the coming months. Staff at licensed establishments will also be trained to recognize MMF citizenship cards to ensure a smooth transition of accepting the new form of identification.

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Bill C-21, specifically the amendments made to the bill, have come under a lot of fire recently, as many critics and gun owners say they unfairly targeted hunters and farmers.

This morning, Liberal MP Taleeb Noormohamed said the government is removing the clause that would have effectively banned any rifle or shotgun that has the potential to hold a magazine with more than five rounds, whether or not it actually had one.

The government was also planning on banning long guns that generate more than 10,000 joules of energy, or guns with a mizzle wider than 20 millimeters. Both of these would have landed many firearms on a "prohibited" list.

When it was originally drafted, Bill C-21 was intended to ban handguns, but amendments were made which changed the bill entirely, and was met with mass criticism from gun owners across the country.

While Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has stood by the amendments in the past, saying the government wants to cut down on gun violence, critics of the amendments say most guns used in crime are handguns, brought into the country illegally from the United States.

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Garton's Auction Service is hosting the provincial government's Agricultural Crown Land Leases Auction next week. While bidding doesn't open until Monday, Larry Garton says you can already go look at the lots available.

"Just go to the Gartons Auction website, and click on the link to take them into the Crown Lands Auction. They can preview all the lots that are up for sale, it's all sorted by municipality and then the legal land description is on those lots. Once you click into each individual lot, you'll see the AUMs listed, the taxes, and everything else that comes about once you've purchased the right to lease these lots."

Garton says that the auction is not selling the land, but rather the right to lease the land for a certain period of time. It's also important to get registered early because, on top of the normal registration needed for an online auction, Garton says you also need to get approved to bid on Crown Land.

"Go to the Gartons Auction Website and click into the crown lands auction right now, so that they can get registered ahead of time and make sure that once they're registered on that site, go into any one of the lots that are on the site, and click on the button that says get approved to bid."

Crown lands have to approve anyone that wants to bid on the land, and that's why there is the extra step after you're registered. This year, Garton's has imposed a strict deadline to get approved, as there were some issues with late registration last year.

"The sale is on, ready for registration this week. Go on, get your Get Approved To Bid button pushed on one of the lots, so we can get that declaration out to you. We have an absolute deadline this year, we didn't do it last year and it led to some people leaving things to the last minute. So this year, we have an absolute deadline on February tenth, the closing day of the sale, of 12 noon."

You can get registered and approved to bid, and check out the available lots at the Garton's Auction Service website.

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