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The Manitoba government has extended the province-wide state of emergency in what they say is an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and variants.
The extension went into effect, Tuesday, August 24, at 4 p.m. for 30 days.
Ron Schuler, the minister responsible for the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization, made the announcement today.
“With our vaccination rates steadily climbing, we can help control the spread of COVID-19, but we need Manitobans to continue to follow the fundamentals to ensure we can hit our final milestone to reopen the province safely.”
The state of emergency was first declared on March 20, 2020, and continues 17 months later.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Update:
A woman accused of a homicide that occurred in Winnipeg last week was arrested on Monday night, according to police.
RCMP say Laura Fay Buboire was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for a number of charges, including the second-degree murder of Deena Anne Markwick.
Police found Buboire at a home in the Norwood East area and took her into custody at around 10 p.m. on Monday.
She's facing several charges including 2nd-degree murder, armed robbery, and gun possession.
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The Winnipeg Homicide Unit is asking for public and media assistance with locating Laura Fay Buboire, a 30-year-old female of Winnipeg, who is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for the following offences:
Second Degree Murder - Armed Robbery using a Firearm - Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order and Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized.
Buboire is indigenous, approximately 5’4” in height and 134 lbs in weight with a medium build. She has green-coloured eyes and may have red or brown-coloured hair.
The public is cautioned not to approach Buboire. Anyone with knowledge regarding her whereabouts is asked to call 911.
As previously released:
On August 16, 2021, at approximately 2:00 a.m., members of the Winnipeg Police Service responded to the report of a female who had been shot in the 500 block of Young Street.
Officers located a 45-year-old female outside suffering from a severe gunshot wound and administered emergency first-aid.
The victim was subsequently transported to hospital in critical condition, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The deceased was identified as Deena Anne Markwick, a 45-year-old female of Winnipeg.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin have announced that the province will put indoor mask requirements in place across Manitoba in the coming days, including in schools.
The province will also expand the list of activities and services that can only be accessed if an individual is fully immunized.
The Manitoba government will also require all provincial employees who work with vulnerable populations to be fully immunized for COVID-19 by October 31st or undergo regular testing.
This includes direct healthcare providers and workers, educational workers, child-care workers, public servants and funded-agency employees who work in high-risk settings with direct, ongoing contact with the public or clients, and Manitoba Justice employees who work with vulnerable people and in correctional facilities.
Designated employees who are not fully immunized or cannot provide proof of vaccination will need to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, up to three times a week for full-time employees, and provide proof of a negative test result before they can resume working.
Pallister says these steps are necessary to protect children in Manitoba and avoid another lockdown.
“Despite having among the highest rates of vaccination in Canada, children in Manitoba are not yet eligible for the vaccine and we have to take every step we can to protect them from this virus, especially as they prepare to return to the classroom this fall.”
Dr. Brent Roussin stated all these measures are necessary to guard against the delta variant and a fourth wave of COVID-19.
Roussin added that public health officials also recommend that private businesses and organizations follow the province’s lead and consider mandating COVID-19 vaccination for their employees.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Update:
Mountain View School Division has come up with its back-to-school plan, and it involves requiring masks at beginning of the school year.
After Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin’s announcement today, vaccines will also be mandatory for staff.
Superintendent Dan Ward says that superintendents met with the government today before the press conference.
“They're working on a rollout plan and will continue to consult with school divisions. We did raise a number of questions in terms of how the rollout was going to proceed, and how the testing would be facilitated for the employees who choose to not get vaccinated."
Employees who are not fully immunized or can’t provide proof of vaccination will need to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, up to three times a week for full-time employees, and provide proof of a negative test result before they can resume working.
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Mountain View School Division has come up with its back-to-school plan, but it’s subject to change based on Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin’s announcement today.
Superintendent Dan Ward says that superintendents are being called into a meeting prior to Pallister and Roussin’s conference at 11:30 this morning, meaning the announcement will likely involve schools.
Ward says Mountain View School Division intends on requiring masks for the beginning of the school year, but there is no vaccine requirement.
“If Public Health makes it a requirement for our staff then we’ll work with our employee groups on that, but at this time we are following Public Health guidance on vaccines. We absolutely support and promote vaccines for both our staff and students, Mountain View School Division doesn’t have a mandate to require our staff to be vaccinated.”
730 CKDM will provide more information as it comes.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
With Premier Brian Pallister announcing that he's not seeking re-election, Manitoba's Progressive Conservative Party will have to choose a new leader and premier. The PCs will make their decision in October.
The party says voting will be conducted by mail and the ballots will be counted in Winnipeg on October 30th.
The new leader and premier will be chosen through a one-member, one-vote election. There will not be any delegates to determine the result.
PC members who want to succeed Brian Pallister as premier have to pay $25,000 to enter the race, sign up by September 15th and sign up at least 1,000 members by September 30th.
Tuxedo MLA Heather Stefanson is the only candidate to declare a run for leader of the Progressive Conservative party.
Former Conservative MP Shelly Glover said she will meet with family, friends, and supporters to discuss whether she will run.
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Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin is hosting their Kuba Dog BBQ Sale Fundraiser today, in conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Kayla Gillis, President of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival says the funds raised are going toward the festival next year.
Gillis adds that this is their first-ever annual BBQ.
“We have two combos available, a Kuba dog combo for $10 or a hot dog combo for $8, and we will have some prizes in our store as well, and we did get in some new clothing, so we will be promoting that as well.”
Kayla says that there will be live music at the event.
“One of our board members is a very good accordion player, he plays the drums and the tysmbala, so he’s going to grace us with a bunch of music as well.”
The sale is taking place in front of the National Ukrainian Festival’s office in the plaza off main from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Yesterday the province announced the 10 scholarship winners in the Vax To Win Lottery.
Kaden Rozdeba from Strathclair was among the winners.
Kaden says he found out that he won a couple of weeks ago but was told not to tell anyone until a formal announcement was made.
“It feels great, it’s pretty surreal actually.”
He adds that he was planning on getting vaccinated anyways.
“I figured the best thing to do was to get vaccinated, and then I could travel and do everything I want to do and have a normal life again. I didn’t even think of winning.”
Kaden plans to go to post-secondary, but isn’t sure where, or what to study yet, but says the scholarship takes a lot of weight off his shoulders.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Last Thursday, August 19th, at around 6:00 p.m., the RCMP reports that an incident occurred between an 18-year-old female and two males aged 30 and 22.
The males approached the 18-year-old in her vehicle, and one of the men attempted to enter it.
She then exited her car and called the police.
Both males left the scene on foot but were located a short distance away and taken into custody.
The 22-year-old male from Saskatoon was lodged at Dauphin's police station and was found to be highly intoxicated.
The 30-year-old male from Dauphin, who was not intoxicated, was released from custody without charge.
The investigation is currently being reviewed to determine if the 22-year-old male will face charges.
The 18-year-old female was not injured in the incident.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Last year a man arrested on Ebb & Flow First Nation collapsed in his cell and died, and the Independent Investigation Unit has concluded its investigation into his death.
According to RCMP, on October 30th, 2020 at 11:23 a.m., RCMP officers were dispatched to a man with a machete threatening workers on Ebb and Flow First Nation.
Officers attended and located a man who appeared under the influence of meth. He was highly agitated during the arrest requiring numerous members to restrain him in order to place him in custody.
Inside the cell area, the man collapsed to the floor in medical distress.
Officers called for paramedics and initiated CPR. EMS assumed medical treatment upon arrival at the detachment and were able to secure a heartbeat. The man was then transported to Ste. Rose Hospital.
He appeared to have no brain activity and later passed away. The Independent Investigation Unit was notified of the incident that same day.
The Independent Investigation Unit says following a detailed review of this comprehensive investigation, it was determined that the man's death was a result of cardiac arrhythmia due to, or as a consequence of, meth toxicity mixed with the physiologic stress of struggle and restraint by police. The amount of meth in the man’s system was significant and extremely high.
The Independent Investigation Unit says it was determined that no actions by any police officer caused or contributed to the man's death to any degree.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
There have been 109 cases of COVID-19 in the province over the past three days.
According to the provincial dashboard, there are 27 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba today.
Of today’s cases:
- One is in the Prairie Mountain Health region
- Two are in the Interlake-Eastern Health region
- Five are in the Northern Health region
- 15 are in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- Four are in the Winnipeg Health region
Dauphin has a total of three active cases in the city.
The numbers of active cases in other Parkland health districts are:
Riding Mountain (0), Swan River (0), Duck Mountain (0), Porcupine Mountain (1), Agassiz Mountain (1), Asessippi (2), Little Saskatchewan (0), Whitemud (0). Brandon has six active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has two active cases. The Fisher/Peguis district has 56 active cases.
The current five-day test positivity rate is 2.3 percent provincially. 1,120 laboratory tests were completed yesterday.
There are 345 active COVID-19 cases in the province.
63 Manitobans are hospitalized, including five Manitobans in intensive care units with active COVID-19.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
This morning, Premier Brian Pallister announced that the province is investing $812 million to improve access and quality of care for Manitobans.
Today’s announcement includes a provincial capital investment for around 38 projects. Together, these projects will form the foundation of Manitoba’s new Provincial Clinical Network, a system of health services that will improve access and enhance the quality and reliability of care while reducing provincial wait times.
Premier Brian Pallister says the new investment from the provincial government will build, renew, and expand sites across the province.
“Better health care for all Manitobans, with reduced wait times and improved access with more services closer to home, requires a bold vision and action plan for a stronger, more prosperous province.”
He adds that nearly $70 million in funding will establish the Brandon Regional Health Centre as a centralized hub of specialized services for western Manitoba.
The clinical network will reduce the need for many Manitobans to travel long distances for care by providing more services in a community closer to home.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
