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Following a historic decline in Manitoba’s employment numbers — it appears the province is rebounding as we gradually restore the economy.
Total employment increased by 13,100 — following a decrease of 64,200 positions in April.
Overall, the provincial unemployment rate moved down to 11.2%, which is the lowest in the country, compared to the national average of 13.7% unemployment.
Although the national jobless rate hit a record high last month at 13.7%, Statistics Canada reports the economy added 289,600 jobs.
The increase in the number of jobs follows a rocky couple of months — three million jobs were lost across Canada over March and April.
The national unemployment rate last month could have been as high as 19.6%, if the report factored in people who stopped looking for work.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
A grade 4 student from Gilbert Plains has won $10,000 for Habitat for Humanity Manitoba.
Tiana Sanko from Gilbert Plains was one of the winners of The Meaning of Home national writing contest in support of Habitat for Humanity.
Cortez Rivera from Headingly was another grant recipient, and both grants will be used to build homes for low-income families.
Tiana’s grant will go to the Dauphin chapter, and Cortez’s will go towards Winnipeg programs.
For a complete list of winners, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Today there were 2 new cases of COID-19 announced, bringing the total number of cases to 300.
There is still no one in the hospital, and the number of deaths remains at 7.
The number of active cases has increased to 9, and 284 people have recovered.
The number of cases in the Prairie Mountain Health Region remains at 26.
For more information visit manitoba.ca/covid19.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Manitoba Hydro will begin issuing temporary layoff notices today.
About 200 Manitoba Hydro workers with IBEW and UNIFOR will be temporarily laid off for a period of four months.
The move comes after Manitoba Hydro and the two unions were unable to agree on cost reductions.
The crown corporation was originally anticipating 700 workers would be affected.
The first layoffs are expected in the next two to three weeks.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is starting up knowledge and road tests with new safety protocols in place.
Customers are encouraged to book their knowledge tests online.
For those who don’t have access to online services, MPI is allowing people who phone their Autopac agent to perform certain critical transactions over the phone or by email.
MPI has made changes to the Class 1 road test process to ensure employee and customer safety. Customers must now provide and wear their own mask, answer questions to make sure they haven’t been exposed to COVID-19, and sanitize all touchpoints in their vehicle.
When taking knowledge tests, customers must arrive 15 minutes prior to their appointment and sanitize their hands when they enter the building.
Up until June 12, customers may have to bring their own pen to complete paper tests. After June 12, electronic testing will resume.
If these requirements are not met or the customer shows any symptoms of COVID-19, the test will be immediately cancelled and rebooked.
Customers can access the updated procedures here.
On a separate note, drivers in Manitoba could be getting some more good news in the coming weeks from MPI.
CEO Ben Graham, says the corporation has never been financially stronger - even after handing out $110 million in rebates.
Graham says Manitoba drivers can expect more details in a couple of weeks.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Two Manitoba Conservation Trust grants are going to the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures.
$250,000 will be making its way to the Alonsa, Bield, Cote-San Clara, Ellice-Archie, Ethelbert, Langford, Spy Hill-Ellice, Wallace and Woodlands Community Pastures for improvements towards grazing and range management.
The nine community pastures combine for 189,500 acres, they also provide grazing services for 31,800 head of livestock and are important habitats for species at risk.
The community pastures are the home to federally and provincially-listed species at risk including the Northern Prairie Skink in Langford, and at-risk bird species including Bank Swallow in the Woodlands, Olive-sided Flycatcher in Bield, Whip-poor-will in Alonsa, and Sprague’s Pipit in Ellice-Archie, Spy Hill-Ellice, and Wallace.
The second grant of $25,000 will be given to the Bield and Wallace Community Pastures for completing range health assessments using made-in-Manitoba methodology and land management plans.
The Aspen Parkland Ecoregion will experience ecological monitoring, focusing on biodiversity and land management planning across 17,300 acres.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
11:07 am Update June 5:
On June 2, 2020, Jayden Wade Catcheway, 23, of Skownan First Nation, was charged with manslaughter and appeared in court on June 3, 2020.
He has been remanded into custody.
The investigation continues.
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Winnipegosis RCMP responded to a report of an injured man at a residence on Skownan First Nation yesterday morning around 11:05.
The 31-year-old man was transported to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
The RCMP have a suspect in custody.
The death is being investigated as a homicide.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
You may have already spotted the renovations happening at the Fusion Credit Union branch in Dauphin.
Fusion’s CEO Darwin Johns explains the revamping of their Dauphin location will provide a space that can meet the needs of employees, members, and the community.
“We really see it as a positive project and contribution to the Dauphin community as well. We see it as positive that we’re having these conversations during difficult times — and really see that we will be involved in Dauphin long term.”
Johns says about 25% of the financial cooperative's employees work out of the Dauphin branch, and these updates to the interior will help create more office space and enable them to offer more services to members.
Fusion Credit Union has a total of 18 branch locations, as well as 5 insurance agency and real estate locations.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Today is World Environment Day — where we have an opportunity to reflect on what we all need to do to improve our environment.
This year's theme is “biodiversity”, which comes at a time where 1 million species are facing extinction.
Also happening today is a small climate change awareness event outside of City Hall, hosted by the Citizens' Climate Lobby - Dauphin Chapter.
The event will run this afternoon from 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Co-chair Rebecca Van Otterloo says the event will follow public health guidelines, with respect to physical distancing and the province's 50 person limit for outdoor gatherings.
“The ongoing issue of climate change remains just as real and urgent as ever. We just welcome people to join us and explore those solutions and be apart of building a liveable future together.”
The group has invited Dauphin City Council to take part.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Dauphin Rec Services will be opening up more of its facilities on Monday.
The Dauphin Clinic Walking Track and the Rec office will open up to members only, starting next week.
The Kinsmen Aquatic Centre will also be opening- but only to complete swimming lessons that were interrupted because of COVID-19. The pool will open up to more programming on June 22nd.
Dauphin Rec Services Operations Manager, Wes Carnegie says there will be strict health guidelines in place.
"We will only have one door open, that's our South entrance right off the main parking lot. When you come in you have to go to the front desk, and it's kind of like other businesses in town. We have to sign you up at the front and make sure you have no COVID symptoms because if you do, we'd rather you not be in our facility. We also have hand sanitizer there waiting for you."
Wes adds that there will be a limit to 25 people in each area, and visitors will be assessed using the online COVID-19 screening tool.
Looking ahead, we can expect to see the Vermillion Sportsplex open up for baseball, softball, and soccer on June 15th.
The Vermillion Campground will be closed until at least July 1st.
For more information, you can go to dauphinrec.com, or call Dauphin Recreation Services at (204)-622-3150.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The City of Dauphin has announced its Canada Day fireworks display has been postponed.
They say the decision is a response to evolving provincial restrictions surrounding COVID-19.
A release from the city reads “it’s not the fireworks that make us Canadian, but the compassion and strength we show in the face of adversity.”
The City will review the possibility of holding a fireworks celebration later this year.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
