Equalization Payments To MB Jump 10%

The Government of Manitoba’s fight to cut the province’s deficit is getting an assist from the federal government.

The federal Finance Department’s new figures show that Manitoba can expect a $255-million boost in equalization payments next year.

2020 will be the third consecutive year that equalization payments to Manitoba have increased by more than 10 percent.

Equalization is a program that is federally funded program that gives money to the poorer provinces so that they can offer the same services as the richer ones.

Manitoba’s PC government has promised to balance the budget before the next election and recently announced that they are predicting a $350 million deficit for the current fiscal year.

Provincial Finance Minister Scott Fielding says that the federal funding boost will help, but the province has also controlled spending increases in an effort to getting closer to balancing the budget.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Dec 17, 2019 - 1:18 pm

Last week CKDM reported that work on the Edwards Creek Bridge in the RM of Dauphin would begin yesterday.

That work will now begin in the new year, still with the goal of being completed in September 2020.

In August, the RM of Dauphin council disagreed with the proposed detour from Manitoba Infrastructure.

The detour that has been chosen is the one the RM of Dauphin proposed, it takes residents down Road 146 N.

For information on the detour on Highway 20 click here.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Dec 17, 2019 - 12:39 pm

Entrepreneurs and businesses will have an opportunity to compete in the first-ever Manitoba Protein Challenge next spring.

Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen said that the Challenge will showcase the innovative products that local entrepreneurs and businesses are creating with animal and plant protein products.

“This event will also help connect processors with retailers, food service, and industry experts to introduce their products, learn about current protein industry trends and accelerate the commercialization of their products.”

The Challenge is expected to bring together approximately 100 agriculture and food stakeholders, including key retailers and distributors in Western Canada, who will sample and vote for the favourite protein products. The competition will include plant-based and animal-based protein.

The Challenge will also provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to fast track their products to commercialization through the competition, feedback and connections with key industry contacts.

People wishing to participate must submit an application form that describes their new protein product and market potential.

The deadline for applications is February 7th, 2020, and the competition is scheduled to be held on March 17th, in Winnipeg on Agriculture Awareness Day in Manitoba.

The Manitoba Protein Challenge is part of the government's Manitoba Protein Advantage, a strategy aimed to sustainably grow the plant and animal protein industry in Manitoba.

For more information or to apply for the Challenge, click here.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Dec 17, 2019 - 10:43 am

While only slightly, the federal government has lowered the amount that families in Manitoba will receive in carbon tax rebates next year.

A family of four will be able to receive $486 instead of $499. Below is a breakdown of how the rebate will be calculated for Manitoba for 2020:

A single adult or first adult in a couple gets $243.

A second adult in a couple or first child of a single parent gets $121.

Every child under 18 gets $61.

This sets the baseline total for a family of four at $486.

The carbon tax rebates were also lowered in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Alberta. Those provinces, along with Manitoba, either didn't adopt a carbon pricing model that meets federal requirements or repealed theirs all together. In Manitoba, the provincial government favours the Manitoba Climate and Green Plan.

The rebates are meant to offset the extra costs to the consumer as a result of the carbon tax scheme which is set to go up to $30 a tonne in 2021.

Remember to claim the carbon tax rebates come tax time next spring.

Details: Contributed by Alec Woolston; Published: Dec 17, 2019 - 5:49 am

The Government of Manitoba wants to cut the amount of money paid to investment managers who handle public sector pensions, by merging management services.

Premier Pallister stated that public servant pensions are operating in silos that result in lower returns for investors. He is challenging the managers of those pensions to work together to lower the fees being paid.

“It’s an enormous amount of money every year, and pension plan managers will appreciate having a better and more consistent degree of transparency,” said Pallister.

Pallister estimates that the proposed move could mean $200 million more in annual returns that will ensure that the funds remain strong.

The Premier swore that the move wasn’t trying to force everyone to have the same pension plan. He said it was about respecting the different divisions among pension plans and having public pension funds becoming “better and smarter shoppers” when they invest.

He went on to say that the government will be meeting with pension fund managers soon. The managers have been told to report back to the province with a joint recommendation by March.

Alberta, B.C., Ontario, and Nova Scotia have merged aspects of their public sector pension plans

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Dec 17, 2019 - 5:00 am

A man involved in the shooting of an RCMP officer in Onanole last year has pleaded guilty to charges laid against him.

Shane Beaulieu entered guilty pleas this morning in Brandon provincial court to possession of property obtained by crime, two firearm-related charges, and two counts of break and enter.

Beaulieu, along with three other men, was arrested after Corporal Graeme Kingdon was shot and seriously injured while investigating a break-in near Onanole in August of 2018.

The shooting resulted in a massive search for the suspects that lasted until the next afternoon.

During the manhunt, Beaulieu was arrested while walking down a road in the area around 6 am. He has been out of custody on bail since October 2018.

Therae Racette-Beaulieu, the man who admitted to the shooting, is currently serving a 15-year-prison sentence for attempted murder, and another three years for the crimes that led up to the shooting.

Racette-Beaulieu also faces charges in connection with a stabbing at the Brandon Correction Centre after his sentencing.

Delaney Houle and Tommy Beaulieu also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

31-year-old Shane Beaulieu has been to jail several times in the past.

He is set to be sentenced in May.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Dec 16, 2019 - 1:35 pm

Dauphin’s Countryfest is expanding its borders and adding a new project in Thunder Bay, Ontario called Country on the Bay.

Ann Ransom, Countryfest president says that the organization does more than just their annual Dauphin summer festival by putting on concerts around Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as helping with other music festivals in the prairies.

The organizers of Country on the Bay in Thunder Bay reached out to Countryfest asking for assistance to help put on the festival, and Ransom says it was an easy decision.

“We looked at it a little bit further and went this is a great opportunity to diversify our revenue opportunities, it’s a good thing for our organization, and for Dauphin, and for our brand,” said Ransom.

Ransom added that participating in other festivals and expanding the brand generates a lot of clout in the industry, which allows them to buy more talent.

While Countryfest might be looking to other festivals for revenue opportunities, Ransom says Countryfest is still very much Dauphin centric.

“We are still local, we are still a not-for-profit organization, it’s still out of Dauphin,” said Ransom. “The nice thing is we’ve got 31 years of experience in this organization, and that’s seen throughout the industry as quite reputable.”

Ransom went on to say that the Country on the Bay festival is a way to put Dauphin on the map.

“It’s a different market, being able to showcase what we can do, and the talent that we have in Dauphin, and spreading out a bit,” said Ransom “We’re excited about the new partnership, and the new opportunities it will bring.”

The lineup for Country on the Bay includes Toby Keith, Terri Clark, Gord Bamford, High Valley, Hunter Brothers, The Roadhammers, The Reklaws, and The Washboard Union.

Pre-sale tickets are on sale today, and regular tickets go on sale tomorrow.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Dec 16, 2019 - 11:23 am

A fire burned down the main building for Sandy Bay Child and Family Services on Sunday.

The chief of Sandy Bay First Nation said that the incident occurred sometime before 5 am yesterday morning.

Sandy Bay fire crews battled the fire for four hours with the assistance of the Alonsa and Langruth fire departments.

Around two dozen staff members were based out of the building which housed administration, family enhancement programs, and social workers' offices.

The chief added that the building was a central hub for the Sandy Bay CFS and that he did not know the exact extent of the damage, or what was recovered.

To contact staff who worked at the main office, First Nations members are asked to call the Winnipeg office at 204-856-2030. According to a Facebook post, messages will be relayed and calls will be returned within a reasonable time.

The cause of the fire is still unknown as the provincial fire commissioner’s office is still investigating.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Dec 16, 2019 - 9:37 am

With the holiday season upon us, the RCMP are reminding Manitobans of the importance of driving sober.

The Holiday Checkstop Program has been running since the start of December and the stats from December 1st to 8th have been released:

26 people were charged with a criminal code impaired driving offence, 15 alcohol or drug related tiered administrative roadside suspensions were handed out, 141 charges were handed out under the Highway Traffic Act, and 34 written warnings were issued. Overall, 3,700 vehicle were checked, and the highest blood/alcohol reading was 0.23.

From the beginning of the year until now, alcohol is suspected to be a factor in 27 fatal collisions.

In Dauphin on Fridays, Saturdays, and New Year's Eve, the Dauphin RIDE program will be running. If you need a ride, call 204-638-5707.

Details: Contributed by Alec Woolston; Published: Dec 16, 2019 - 5:38 am

New impaired driving consequences are now in effect and anyone caught driving while impaired will face tougher consequences.

If a driver registers a "warning", which is a blood alcohol level between .05 and .079 or fails a drug screening test, their license will be suspended immediately for at least 3 days for a first offence. As well, you'll be slapped with an administrative penalty of $400 and your vehicle will be impounded for 72 hours. The length of the license suspension and vehicle impoundment go up with each offence.

Drivers who register a blood-alcohol level over .08, or a blood drug concentration higher than five nanograms of THC will have their license suspended for 3 months and their vehicle impounded. They'll also have to use an ignition interlock for a year and pay a $700 fine plus a $50 driver's license reinstatement fee.

On top of all that, if your license is suspended two or more times within a 10 year period, you'll have to complete the Impaired Driver Program at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba at your own expense. Your Driver Safety Rating will also be ruined.

You can find more details on impaired driving consequences here.