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Insurance fraud is an issue that can really cost ratepayers, and Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) works to ensure that doesn't happen.

During 2022, the MPI Special Investigations Unit (SIU), investigated thousands of claims, saving millions for ratepayers says Marnie Kacher, Chief Operations Officer for MPI.

“Our SIU team works tirelessly to investigate suspicious claims in order to ensure the right claims are paid and for the right amount. Thanks to their dedicated efforts in 2022, MPI closed nearly 3,000 investigations, which resulted in claims savings of over $14 million for customers.”

MPI has compiled a list of the top five fraudulent claims, in which the SIU was able to save ratepayers almost half a million dollars. The top five feature lies about stolen vehicles, exaggerated injury claims, and inconsistencies between police reports and insurance claims.

Claim 1: After reporting to both police and MPI that their car had been stolen, this policyholder signed a sworn statement that the vehicle had been stolen and destroyed by fire.

When the car was found, there was a plastic container used to hold laundry detergent pods nearby. Further investigation found that the claimant and the vehicle were seen at a gas station earlier in the day, filling up the container with gasoline.

When confronted, the person confessed that the fire was an accident and the vehicle wasn't stolen. The claim was denied, saving ratepayers approximately $24,400.

Claim 2: After having their vehicle hit while another driver was changing lanes, a policyholder was deemed eligible to receive income replacement benefits and personal care assistance through MPI’s Personal Injury Protection Plan, based on the extent of their injuries.

The person claimed their injuries included a concussion, headaches, dizziness, back, knee, and neck pain, an ankle injury, and more. They reported that their ailments were so severe that they could not open water bottles, or lift a pen, and had limited mobility due to balance issues, nausea, and full-body pain. They claimed they could barely get out of bed.

An investigation was initiated, and surveillance showed the person was walking long distances, including shopping for hours at several stores, lifting bags of groceries, and driving a motorcycle on multiple occasions.

Based on the investigation, the individual was informed that their benefits would be terminated, saving ratepayers more than $300,000.

Claim 3: The claimant says they returned to their vehicle and found that it had been damaged by a semi-truck, and said the other driver had already reported the incident to MPI.

SIU's investigation determined that the two people were known to each other, and often interacted on social media. A search of the vehicle also found jugs of coolant and oil in the back seat, and after a full inspection, it was discovered that the engine had seized due to a lack of oil.

The second driver confirmed they intentionally hit the vehicle with a rented moving truck when interviewed, and the claimant later admitted to staging the incident. The claim was denied, saving ratepayers more than $50,000.

Claim 4: After a single-vehicle rollover, three intoxicated people were found by law enforcement outside of the vehicle with no way to determine who had been driving, though the vehicle was registered to one of the individual's spouses.

One of the individuals was arrested for intoxication and held overnight. They were released the next day without any charges.

A few days later, the person that had been arrested opened a claim with MPI saying they had hit a rut and lost control, leading to the rollover. They also claimed that they were alone and hadn't consumed any drugs or alcohol in the past 24 hours.

The claim was denied due to the false statement provided, saving ratepayers an estimated $62,000.

Claim 5: A person claimed that their vehicle had been stolen from their work while they were working an overnight shift. They told police they were only in possession of one set of keys after losing the second set.

While filing their claim with MPI, they stated that they still had both sets at the time of the theft. The vehicle was found, and the immobilizer was functioning as designed. Additionally, the investigation found that the vehicle ignition was not manipulated or damaged.

As both sets of keys were determined to be in the customer’s possession despite the initial conflicting reports, the claim was denied, saving MPI’s ratepayers over $38,000.

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According to the Monthly Police-Reported Crime Stats, the RCMP across the province saw a decline of about 10% in calls for service in November.

The West District saw the smallest decline, with 8% fewer calls for service year over year, while the North District saw a 9% decline and the East District was down 11%. During November 2022, the West District reported an increase in Crimes against Persons by 16%, while Crimes against Property decreased by 17%, over the same period in 2021.

Common Police Activities

Overall, there was a decrease of 11% (544 to 486). The largest decrease occurred in Persons reported Missing, down by 42% (81 to 47), followed by Suspicious Person/Vehicle/Property down by 24% (193 to 147). The largest increase was in the Wellbeing Check sub-category, up by 29% (84 to 108), followed by Breach of Peace, up 13% (106 to 120).

Crimes Against Person

Crimes against Persons increased overall by 16% (270 to 312), with increases occurring in Forcible Confinement up 200% (3 to 9), Robbery/Extortion/Harassment/Threats up by 20% (76 to 91), and Sexual Offences up 18% (22 to 26).

Crimes Against Property

Crimes against Property decreased by 17% overall (708 to 588), with notable decreases in Break and Enter down by 35% (109 to 71), followed by Arson down by 31% (13 to 9), while Theft over $5000 increased minimally by 8%(48 to 52) occurrences.

Drug Enforcement

There was a 10% increase overall in Drug Enforcement (30 to 33), with Possession up 100% (5 to 10), while Trafficking was down by 25% (20 to 15).

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Co-op Food Store

Saturday, December 31st - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st - Closed

Co-op Main Street Gas Bar 

Saturday, December 31st - 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st - 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Co-op Mountain Road Gas Bar 

Saturday, December 31st - 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st - 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dauphin Liquor Mart

Saturday, December 31st - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st - Closed

Fusion Credit Union

Sunday, January 1st - Closed

Monday, January 2nd - Closed

The Dauphin Marketplace Mall

Saturday, December 31st - 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Walmart

Saturday, December 31st - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Safeway

Saturday, December 31st - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No Frills

Saturday, December 31st - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st - Closed

City of Dauphin

Sunday, January 1st - Closed

Monday, January 2nd - Closed

Dauphin Rec Services

Sunday, January 1st - All Facilities Closed

Monday, January 2nd - Admin Office Closed, Facilities Open Regular Hours

Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy

Sunday, January 1st - 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday, January 2nd - 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Super Thrifty Pharmacy

Sunday, January 1st - Closed

Monday, January 2nd - Closed

Dauphin Vet Clinic

Saturday, December 31st - Closed

Sunday, January 1st - Closed

Monday, January 2nd - Closed

When the clinic is closed, a vet is on call for emergencies at 204-638-3208.

Canada Post

Saturday, December 31st - Closed

Sunday, January 1st - Closed

Monday, January 2nd - Closed

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RCMP Major Crimes Services is investigating after a body was found on Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation this morning.

Wasagaming RCMP responded to a report just after midnight that there was an unresponsive male at a residence in the community. Officers located a deceased 54-year-old male from Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation when they arrived.

The death was ruled a homicide, and an investigation is ongoing.

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Manitoba Conservation has released its Officer Service Enforcement Summary for the second half of 2022, and it was a busy six months, including charging 24 individuals for night lighting.

Between July 1st and December 16th, 2022, officers:

  • Conducted 131-night patrols designed and coordinated to stop illegal night hunting activities, 36 of which utilized aircraft.
    • As a result of these patrols, officers apprehended eleven separate night hunting parties, charged 24 individuals for night lighting, and seized eleven vehicles. 
  • Charged 17 individuals with hunting within a moose conservation closure area.
  • Charged 37 individuals with loading a firearm in a vehicle or discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
  • Seized 64 firearms.
  • Executed five search warrants.
  • Conducted 11 fish and wildlife check stops.
  • Conducted 45 decoy operations.
  • Seized 36 illegally harvested big game animals including 24 deer, five moose, six elk, and a wolf.

The Manitoba Conservation Officer Service is committed to protecting and maintaining healthy wildlife populations, ensuring public safety, and enforcing applicable laws. Anyone with information on illegal activity is asked to call a local Natural Resources and Northern Development office or the Turn in Poachers line at 1-800-782-0076.

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Deputy Premier and MLA for Spruce Woods, Cliff Cullen, has announced that he won't be seeking re-election this fall.

Cullen is the sixth Progressive Conservative MLA to announce they won't be running again, joining a group that includes Agassiz MLA, Eileen Clarke. Cullen was first elected as the MLA for Turtle River in 2004 and has been the Spruce Woods MLA since 2011.

The Spruce Plains Constituency surrounds the city of Brandon and includes the municipalities of Cornwallis, Elton, Glenboro – South Cypress, Oakland – Wawanesa, Riverdale, Sifton, Souris – Glenwood, Victoria, Whitehead, and the portion of the City of Brandon located north of the Assiniboine River.

Since the PCs formed government in 2016, Cullen has held five cabinet posts, including growth, crown services, justice, education, and economic development. He's currently serving as the minister of Economic Development, Investment, and Trade.

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The Dauphin Hospital Foundation is getting a holiday boost thanks to a very generous donation.

Dauphin resident Jim Mulligan donated $150,000 to the foundation and says it was something he and his late wife Judy had talked about. Mulligan says he's happy to help an organization that provides needed assistance to many healthcare projects and initiatives.

“I am pleased to be able to assist the Dauphin Hospital Foundation with their work. I believe the hospital, and healthcare, needs all the help it can get! I look forward to seeing the donation put to good use to assist healthcare staff on the tremendous work they do each and every day!”

Mulligan says he's not sure what the money is going to, but he knows the foundation will have a plan for it. Foundation Chair Greg Thompson was very appreciative of the donation.

“Mr. Mulligan is very community-minded and wanted to ensure that organizations like the Foundation can continue making a difference with various projects which assist the hospital, personal care home, and community health services. We can’t thank him enough!”

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Police in Brandon had to be on their toes while responding to a disturbance earlier this week.

Brandon Police Service (BPS) got a report of a disturbance at a residence around 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The caller said an intoxicated man was destroying property and refusing to cooperate when others tried to de-escalate the situation.

When police arrived on the scene, the man became aggressive toward them and threw a full beer bottle at the officers, no one was injured. The media release from BPS states that officers then used a conducted energy weapon (Taser) to gain compliance.

The man was arrested and taken into custody until he was sober. He's been charged with Assault with a Weapon and Assaulting a Peace Officer, and will appear in court on February 23rd.

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The Parkland campus of Assiniboine Community College (ACC) will host an Applied Building Construction program starting on February 27th, 2023. This is offered through a partnership with Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Enrollment in the six-month program will focus on Indigenous youth between the ages of 18 and 30 who are not currently in employment, education, or training. There are 15 spots open for the program and students who are accepted will have their tuition, textbooks, personal protective equipment, supplies, and tools, covered at no cost.

In a media release, Kevin Poirier, Dean of Trades at Assiniboine said, "the Applied Building Construction certificate program provides students in this region an opportunity to receive training in a field with in-demand career opportunities, supporting an industry need for skilled trades workers."

The program will be accredited with Apprenticeship Manitoba. If students meet certain goals including averaging 70% marks or better, they will receive credit for Level 1 in-school technical training and 900 hours in the Carpenter apprenticeship program.

ACC will host free information sessions about the Applied Building Construction program on Wednesday, January 11th, and Thursday, January 26th. There are also 2 more on Wednesday, February 1st, and Wednesday, February 8th. Register at https://assiniboine.net/programs/applied-building-construction

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The province is reminding employers to make sure their workers have proper fall protection while working high up off the ground.

This comes after Norwin Roofing Ltd. out of Winnipeg was fined $24,000 for not ensuring one of their employees was equipped with proper fall protection while working at heights in an area where a guardrail had been removed.

On March 30th, 2020, a worker employed by the company was clearing debris off a roof near the mentioned area where a guardrail was removed. The worker fell approximately 20 feet, hitting a smaller roof portion on the way down. This resulted in fractures to the ribs and spine as well as internal injuries.

Officials from Workplace Safety and Health did an investigation and laid charges under the Workplace Safety and Health act. Norwin Roofing Ltd. pleaded guilty on December 12th.

More information can be found in the Manitoba Government media release here.

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As the end of the Holiday season approaches, the Dauphin R.I.D.E. program is preparing for what has historically been its busiest night of the year. The program will run on New Year's Eve from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. but they're in need of more volunteers says Coordinator Sho-Sho Shuttleworth-Lafontaine.

"At this point, for New Year's Eve, we most likely don't have enough volunteers to provide rides for all the out-of-town callers that we get."

Shuttleworth-Lafontaine says a lot of volunteer hours get taken up by out-of-town rides, but the radius they can serve depends on the number of volunteers they have.

"Our volunteer numbers are down a bit this year than in the past years, so we're just reaching out, asking people, if you're available, give us a call and we'll tell you about volunteering with us. If anyone is interested in volunteering, they'll need a valid and current Manitoba Drivers license, and we can give them some paperwork to drop off with the RCMP to have a record check done."

Shuttleworth-Lafontaine says the RCMP has a really quick turnaround time for the program because they are associated. She also says that a personal vehicle isn't required, but if you are using one, fuel will be provided.

Anyone looking for more information or interested in volunteering for the program can call 204-638-1463, or message Dauphin R.I.D.E. on Facebook.

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