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Today is budget day in Manitoba and the provincial government says they are taking the economic effects of the coronavirus into consideration.
Premier Brian Pallister says scenarios will be outlined including reduced economic growth and what that could mean for the province.
In order to be prepared, should the coronavirus come to Manitoba, the government has spent 35 million dollars to bring in personal protective supplies such as gloves, face masks, shields, and hand sanitizer.
Manitoba still doesn’t have any confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Since the government has added hundreds of millions of dollars to the rainy-day fund, Pallister says the province is in a better position than it was a few years ago.
Opposition N-D-P Leader Wab Kinew says Pallister's focus on tax and spending cuts is hurting the province.
The Manitoba government also will be increasing the salary threshold for the province’s payroll tax.
The tax currently applies to employers who spend more than 1.25 million dollars on salaries every year, but come January, that will be bumped up to 1.5 million dollars.
This is the first time since 2007 the tax has seen an increase.
Critics of the payroll tax say it stifles job creation and makes Manitoba less competitive.
The government has already announced the PST will be reduced to 6 per cent.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Today many local businesses were recognized for their commitment to the community at the Dauphin Chamber Appreciation Lunch.
Executive Director of the Dauphin and District Chamber of Commerce Stephen Chychota says the lunch series is a great opportunity to connect with people both on a professional and personal level.
“It’s a great opportunity to relax and get out of the office; any type of conversation can happen. Any type of business opportunity or a personal opportunity.”
The celebration continues tomorrow night at the chamber celebration night at the Countryfest Community Cinema.
Tickets are $15 and available on dauphinchamber.ca.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
If you plan on purchasing provincial park vehicle permits or hunting & fishing licenses this season, you'll be able to do so online.
You can still buy permits and licenses in-store and over the phone.
Rob Cann works with Conservation and Climate and is in charge of the new e-licensing project.
He explains that Manitobans can set up a profile on the government website, select the desired permit or license, and check out.
Once you make a purchase, a digital copy will be available for download and a hard copy must be printed out to present to conservation officers upon request.
The new online system will slightly increase prices by $4.50.
“The base fees actually have not changed for any licenses this year, so we won’t see any price increases there. The $4.50 is an administration fee; we’ve contracted a third-party vendor who’s going to host the whole system for us. They have costs for hosting, maintaining and supporting the system. So those funds will be directed to that company to do all the work that’s necessary for the system.”
Cann says any question can be emailed toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and you can also visit the website here.
They hope to have the website and e-licensing system fully up and running by April.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A biology student from Gilbert Plains is working on a project that could help save the planet from plastic pollution.
23-year-old Harald Grove is a 2nd year Master’s student at Brandon University and is working with a research team that’s exploring an insect’s ability to metabolize plastic.
The research, using waxworms (caterpillar larvae of the greater wax moth), has attracted the attention of media all over the world.
He explains the worms are not necessarily going to eat up all of our plastic pollutants, but that they may hold the key to better methods of eliminating plastics from our environment.
Harald grew up on a farm near Gilbert Plains where his family still farms, and went to Gilbert Plains Collegiate.
He wanted to give a special shout-out to one of his former teachers at the Collegiate.
“I’d like to give a mention to Lydon Lagoski who was my math and sciences teacher at the Collegiate. He really loved discussing science, and that really got me asking questions and wondering how I could answer those questions.”
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
While the coronavirus hasn’t made it to Manitoba yet, some schools in the Parkland are feeling the effects of it.
Three international trips were planned for MVSD school students during spring break.
The trips were to Japan, Italy, and Costa Rica.
Gilbert Plains Collegiate’s trip to Japan and Grandview School’s trip to Italy have been cancelled, while the DRCSS’ trip to Costa Rica is still planned.
The school division will be reviewing any travel advisories prior to the departure date, but as of now, there haven’t been any reported cases of the virus in Costa Rica.
Also on the topic of COVID-19, a memo was sent to schools and was asked to be shared with staff and parents.
The memo reminds that there aren’t any known cases of the Coronavirus in Manitoba. The Public Health Agency of Canada has released recommendations for public schools.
Since there isn’t a widespread transmission of COVID-19 in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that schools take standard respiratory illness precautions, the same precautions that are recommended every year for cold and influenza season.
MVSD has increased the cleaning and disinfecting protocols within schools, focusing on common “high touch” surfaces. That'll occur on buses daily.
Parents are asked to keep students home if they are displaying symptoms of illness.
MVSD also asks parents to remind their children on the need to be diligent with good hygiene practices, including regular hand washing, as well as the correct way to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. In addition, MVSD discourages students from sharing food.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
A pair of young farmers from Miami, Manitoba will be heading to Saskatoon in December to represent their province at a national competition.
This past weekend, Andre and Katie Steppler were announced as winners at Manitoba's Outstanding Young Farmer's Awards Banquet in Brandon.
They manage the cattle division at Steppler Farms.
Event organizer Angela Fox says there were several criteria in choosing the winner.
“They were judged on (1) Progress in their career, (2) Environmental stewardship, (3) Production history, (4) Farm management, and (5) Contribution to their community.”
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program recognizes young farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession, who are between the ages of 18 and 39, and derive a minimum of two-thirds of their income from their farm operations.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A 44-year-old male from the RM of McCreary has passed away after a single-vehicle collision. At approximately 8:35 a.m. yesterday, Ste. Rose RCMP responded to a report of the collision on Road 86W, located approximately 10 kilometres southeast of McCreary.
An investigation determined that the male was heading northbound when he lost control and entered the ditch and rolled. The 44-year-old was transported to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation continues.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Dauphin RCMP are investigating a residential break and enter that happened early last week.
Suspects entered the home south of Dauphin around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday March 3rd and stole a number of electronic devices and tools.
The homeowner was not present at the time of the theft.
Suspects have been identified and police continue to investigate the matter.
Anyone with information can contact the Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5050
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Frustrations are mounting as rail blockades continue to impact the Manitoba farming economy.
Dan Mazier, MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa, is asking everyone to take a deep breath and promises to keep agriculture at the forefront of discussions in Ottawa.
“$9 million a day in demurrage and contract cancellations. That’s a pretty high number for us as farmers in Western Canada to bare. That’s just one agriculture industry and commodity, so I can’t imagine the rest of the industries that are suffering just as much.”
Mazier acknowledges that the rail blockades are adding more stress to the spring season.
“Now we’re getting closer to spring seeding, now our fertilizer has to start coming into the prairies. So the railways are going to have to make a choice here. We want them to get the grain out because the ships are sitting there, or they’re going to have to decide to bring the fertilizer in, and the grains are going to sit longer. They ultimately have to coordinate that. It ultimately just adds that much more complexity to the spring.”
There have been some efforts to help farmers through this difficult time, such as cash advances and Farm Credit Canada adjusting due dates of interest payments.
Mazier says he will also remain in contact with CN about their plan going forward, and hold the liberal government accountable to resolve this blockade issue.
“We should be talking to CN as well, I plan on talking to them. They have a thing called a grain plan. We’ll figure out where that’s at, and how they’re making out with that.”
“Ultimately, we hope that Trudeau steps up here and starts having some discussions about how he can help out. Right now we’ve seen nothing but indecision on how to handle this."
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
In the past week, gas prices in Manitoba have fallen an average of 5 cents per litre.
In Manitoba, prices averaged 102.71 c/L yesterday, but today’s price at the Co-op gas bars in Dauphin is 104.9.
Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, urges motorists to be in no rush to fill up.
“Gas prices will drop in nearly every nook and cranny of the country, from the smallest cities to the largest metros, at a time of year that prices are usually rising, we'll see anything but that. The national average came into March like a lamb and will likely be leaving as a lion, with prices roaring lower."
He shares the reason for dropping prices.
“It's been an unprecedented week, one in which oil majors Russia and Saudi Arabia saw anything but eye-to-eye on lowering oil production, leading crude oil prices to plummet 20% in Sunday evening trade, combined with COVID-19 fears escalating, and gas prices have nowhere to go but down and like a rock."
Comparing Dauphin’s 104.9 c/L, Winnipeg is seeing prices hovering around 98.78 c/L and Saskatchewan has an average of 103.61 c/L.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Dauphin City Councillors will be meeting this evening.
Some of the items on the agenda include a funding proposal for the Dauphin At-Risk Teen Program, a rezoning application to build a 4-plex multiple-family dwelling on Jackson Street, and an update from the City Manager on street maintenance in Dauphin.
The meeting gets underway at 5pm, with the next meeting scheduled for March 23rd.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
