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After nearly 2 weeks of no new COVID cases in the province, public health officials announced 5 cases today – none of which are in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
Manitoba now has a total of 330 cases.
There are 5 active cases, and 318 people have recovered.
There is still no one in the hospital, and the number of deaths in the province remains at 7.
For more information about COVID-19, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Premier Brian Pallister is voicing his concerns about the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), and calling on the federal government to redesign the program.
Pallister says the CERB is “increasingly acting as a work disincentive to some Canadians, as it penalizes them financially for returning to work full time,” and adds that “changing CERB so returning workers can keep some of this benefit — rather than lose it all at once — would help both businesses and workers.”
The province is still accepting applications for the Manitoba Job Restart Program, providing direct payments of up to $2,000 in financial support to those Manitobans who voluntarily came off CERB and took full-time work.
The Manitoba premier suggests the federal government consider a phased reduction of CERB as workers returned to their previous or new jobs, rather than lose the full benefit all at once.
Pallister has written all premiers urging them to encourage the federal government to make changes to the CERB program and to remove disincentives to work — and encourage Canadians to transition back to their jobs with the support of an expanded Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
The Canada-U.S. border closure will be extended for another 30 days, according to multiple sources.
This latest extension would see the border remain closed to non-essential traffic until at least August 21.
The closure went into effect on March 21, but there are exemptions for temporary foreign workers, vital healthcare workers, and the flow of trade and commerce.
COVID cases are surging in the U.S. — and CNN reported Monday that nearly one in every 100 Americans has tested positive for COVID-19.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
The Manitoba government is extending the province-wide state of emergency for another 30 days.
The extension will take effect at 4 p.m. today.
The state of emergency was first declared on March 20th, giving the government powers to take swift action in limiting the spread of COVID-19.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Berry farmers in Manitoba have run into some challenges this season, with excessive heat and heavy rain.
Some berry farmers in the Keystone Province are reporting significant loss of crops, and damage to fields due to less than ideal weather.
But George Neudorf, owner of Grand Valley Strawberries in Brandon, tells CKDM things have been going well on his end — and has already started welcoming the public to start picking.
“We’ve been fortunate too with the weather. After the rain, we’ve had some good wind and some sun — so that helps to dry things up and get things back on track,” he said.
He tells us the protocol for picking berries will be a bit different this year, with provincial guidelines requiring physical distancing and increased hand hygiene. He says visitors to the farm will have all the new rules explained to them before picking.
One other important rule on berry farms this year — no eating while you're out in the field.
Wayne Brezden, co-owner of Saskatoon Place about 5 miles north of Asheville, says the province’s rule against eating while you pick shouldn’t be an issue, saying it’s “something we’ve never had a problem with anyway.”
(CKDM personality Tamara Michèle at Saskatoon Place in 2019)
Brezden says he’s got between 4 to 5 acres of Saskatoons berries, and that things are looking good, despite a late start to the growing season.
“Actually, right now we are looking at having one of the best crops that we’ve had in years. We attribute that to the dry spring that we had. Saskatoon berries do not like wet; the fact that we’ve had a really dry spring has really helped us. We’re looking at a really good harvest.”
Brezden expects the public will be able to start picking his Saskatoons in the 3rd week of July — all depending on the weather.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Evacuated residents in the Riverdale Municipality, downstream of the dam at Rivers, can now return home.
Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says an assessment by engineers determined there is no substantial damage to the 60-year-old infrastructure.
Record rains resulted in very high water levels on the Little Saskatchewan River impacting the municipalities of Riverdale, Whitehead and Cornwallis and the City of Brandon.
80 people had been evacuated in Rivers and the rural municipalities of Riverdale and Whitehead.
Provincial officials will continue monitoring the dam at Rivers around the clock until water levels recede further.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
It wasn’t in the sky for long — but a funnel cloud formed over Dauphin this afternoon shortly after 3:00 p.m.
Photos came pouring in from all over the City of Sunshine.
(CKDM’s Alec Woolston snapped this photo from the window of the on-air studio)
At this time, there are no reports that anything touched down.
(Photo courtesy of Beverley Richard, appears to show multiple funnel-like formations in the sky)
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for most of the Parkland.
The forecast is calling for a chance of severe thunderstorms this evening, however, the skies are expected to clear after midnight.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for many areas in the Parkland, including Riding Mountain:
- Gilbert Plains Mun. incl. Ashville
- Grandview Mun. incl. Valley River Res.
- Mossey River Mun. incl. Winnipegosis and Fork River
- Mun. of Ethelbert incl. Garland
- Mun. of Roblin incl. Makaroff Shortdale and Bield
- Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.
- R.M. of Dauphin incl. Sifton and Valley River
- R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Ochre River and Makinak
- R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Rorketon and Toutes Aides
- R.M. of Riding Mountain West incl. Asessippi Prov. Park
A cold front tracking across western Manitoba is triggering scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Some of these thunderstorms may briefly reach severe thresholds. This severe thunderstorm watch may be expanded eastwards as the afternoon and evening progress.
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
UPDATE | July 14
Crystel Mary Rose Thomas has been safely located. The RCMP thanks the public and the media for their assistance.
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The Lundar RCMP received a report of a missing 24-year-old female on July 11, just after 7:00 p.m.
Crystel Mary Rose Thomas was last seen at a gas station in St. Laurent on July 11, at 1:15 a.m. She may have travelled to Winnipeg or Thompson.
She's described as 5'10", 130 lbs, with shoulder-length black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue jean jacket with a hood, black pants and she was carrying a backpack and duffel bag.
Her family and the RCMP are concerned for her well-being.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The number of active cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba is down to just one, as public health reported no new cases of the virus on Monday.
There is no one in hospital because of COVID-19, and 317 people are listed as recovered.
A total of 325 confirmed cases have been identified in the province. There have been 7 deaths.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A new program launched at Assiniboine Community College (ACC) aims to provide essential skills to youth facing barriers to employment in the Parkland.
The Parkland Youth Transition program will welcome 80 students over the next three years.
The first intake of the program begins in September — delivered at ACC campuses in Dauphin and Russell — and is intended for individuals with little or no work experience, who may not have completed their high school education.
Participants will receive provincial minimum wage during the 11 week training period, while getting a variety of employable skills.
Director of Assiniboine’s Parkland Campus in Dauphin, Gabe Mercier, says “this opportunity is designed to support youth facing barriers to employment in the Parkland region, to help them with transitioning into the workforce or bridging to further education pathways,” and adds “this also includes visible minorities, Indigenous youth, youth with disabilities and newcomers.”
Mercier says the program is open to anyone in the community aged 15 to 30.
To apply, or get more information, you can call the Parkland campus directly at 1.204.622.2222, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
