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We now have details about Manitoba’s reopening plan.
Premier Brian Pallister laid out the multi-phased effort — gradually reopening services, businesses, and some recreational opportunities — while still maintaining social distancing.
Phase One begins on May 4th, and will see priority elective surgeries restarted, diagnostics screening will resume and some non-essential businesses will reopen. Businesses must limit occupancy to 50 percent of normal business levels or one person per 10 square metres, whichever is lower.
Services, businesses and venues included in Phase One are:
• non-urgent surgery and diagnostic procedures;
• therapeutic and medical services;
• retail businesses;
• restaurants – patio/walk-up services;
• hair salons;
• museums, galleries and libraries;
• seasonal day camps; and
• outdoor recreation and campgrounds.
Phase Two will begin no earlier than June 1st, and we still may have critical public health measures and travel restrictions remain in place. More non-essential businesses will be considered for reopening, and public gathering sizes may be increased.
Businesses and services reopening during Phase Two may include.
• additional personal services, such as nail salons;
• restaurants – dine-in services;
• non-contact children’s sports; and
• film production.
The Department of Families will continue working with the child-care community to expand the availability of temporary child-care.
Looking ahead to future reopening phases, the premier says public gathering sizes will be increased and other non-essential businesses — such as bars, pools and spas, movie theatres and indoor recreational facilities — will be able to fully reopen. Travel restrictions may be eased at that time.
Mass gatherings — like concerts, summer festivals and major sporting events — will not be considered before September 2020, according to chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin.
The province will continue to reevaluate the situation around COVID-19 and adjust plans accordingly.
To view today's full reopening plan released by the province, click here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Five people are facing charges after a traffic stop near the RM of Ellice-Archie.
On Saturday, April 25th at 1:30 a.m., Russell RCMP pulled over a vehicle with 5 occupants.
The 32-year-old man from Birdtail Sioux First Nation driving the car informed police he did not have a license. It was later determined he was also prohibited from driving.
He was then arrested for impaired driving after he was found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 1.5 times the legal limit.
The driver faces charges of Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Impaired Operation Over 80, Drive while Prohibited, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, three firearms offences, Open Liquor and Possession of Unstamped Tobacco.
A search of the vehicle located a .22 cal. firearm, 2400 unmarked cigarettes, a small quantity of marijuana, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia and open liquor.
Four other passengers, a 69-year-old male from Binscarth, a 47-year-old female from Waywayseecappo, a 56-year-old male and a 60-year-old female, both from Brandon, also face charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Firearm in a Motor Vehicle and Possession of Unstamped Tobacco.
All five of the accused have been released, and are scheduled to appear in a Russell courtroom on September 23rd.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Manitoba Liberals have released documents that suggest the Pallister government had plans to close the Dauphin Correctional Centre (DCC) more than a year before the announcement was made.
The documents were obtained in a Freedom of Information request.
Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont tells CKDM the government “had every intention of closing that jail down, but waited until after the election to spring it on people.”
The first briefing note recommending a shutdown is from November 28, 2018. The premier received a similar briefing note on January 15, 2019. A third briefing note was directed to the Minister of Justice on March 11, 2019.
The Liberal leader and MLA for St. Boniface says the “worst possible thing we could be doing is laying people off”, and thinks the government should be doing everything they can to save every single job.
Lamont also criticized the decision to make correctional workers relocate their families during a pandemic.
You can view the documents and the release from the Manitoba Liberals here.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba was not immediately available for comment.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba’s road to re-opening is beginning with increased testing capacity in the province.
That was the message today from Premier Brian Pallister.
With the help of Dynacare, the province expects to triple the province's current capacity by the end of the summer.
In efforts to increase testing, Dynacare will begin significantly increasing COVID-19 testing alongside Manitoba’s primary public health lab, Cadham Provincial Lab.
Effective immediately, the province is expanding testing to anyone who is showing symptoms of COVID-19.
People showing mild symptoms including a cough, runny nose, sore throat, and fever will now be able to receive testing.
The Manitoba Premier and says this is a crucial step before re-opening.
“It’s necessary we continue to increase our testing so we can ensure the health and wellbeing of Manitobans through effective monitoring of COVID as we work towards a strategy of re-starting our economy.”
Pallister is set to release more details about Manitoba`s re-opening plan tomorrow.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Some UFO videos released by the Pentagon on Monday have resulted in quite a reaction online.
Chris Rutkowski is a science writer in Manitoba that specializes in strange things like UFO’s. He’s not surprised the videos taken by the United States Navy have garnered so much attention.
“The fact that it’s attracting so much attention shows that people really want to know. We’ve always wondered if we’re alone in the universe.”
Chris explains these videos have actually been circulating the internet for quite some time. The three videos were originally taken between 2004 and 2015. The Pentagon explains it officially released the footage to “clear up any misconceptions as to whether or not the footage that has been circulating is real.”
Chris thinks it’s actually led to a lot more questions than answers.
“What we have are these videos that are very interesting; by themselves, they don’t seem to suggest aliens. But they seem to zip around in ways that people can’t really ascribe to an aircraft. The question is: are we looking at something out of this world, or something that’s just a little bit strange?”
To read more about UFO reports in Canada, click here. Chris says UFO sightings in Canada can be reported at the 'UFOs Above Canada' Facebook group.
To see the videos, click here.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Today Public Health Officials announced no new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba.
The total number of cases remains at 272.
There are currently 57 active cases, and 209 people have been recovered.
The number of deaths in the province remains at 6, and seven people are hospitalized.
Testing has gradually been expanding, and with increased capacity, the province is now ready to test anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19.
Premier Brian Pallister is expected to release more details about Manitoba`s re-opening plan tomorrow.
For the most up to date information about COVID-19 and to access the online screening tool, visit Manitoba.Ca/covid19.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A Dauphin man and two adults from Winnipeg are facing charges following a drug seizure by members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
The seizure happened on April 25 during a traffic stop on Highway 17 near Vermillion Bay, Ontario. Roughly 15 grams of methamphetamine was found inside the vehicle.
As a result, Kristopher Ranville of Dauphin has been charged with possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking.
Joseph Liew and Janine Desjarlais, both of Winnipeg, have also received the same charge. The three will appear in a Dryden courtroom on July 20.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
After postponing graduation ceremonies to the fall, the DRCSS has now settled on a date.
September 4th was chosen to allow the most students, staff, and sponsors to attend.
The DRCSS recognizes that any postponement date will create difficulty for some to attend the ceremonies.
This date is the last day before the 2020-21 school year, bringing closure to the interrupted school year.
In a press release, the DRCSS says that while the plans optimistically look forward to a time of relaxed social restrictions, should restrictions still be in place, a plan will be put together to host the ceremonies differently.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The provincial government has introduced policy changes to create more inclusive birth certificates.
The changes will allow individuals to choose non-binary in addition to male or female when applying for a change of sex designation under the Vital Statistics Act.
In a November 2019 decision, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission required the province to recognize and implement policies to allow for non-binary sex designations by May 2, 2020.
Also, last November, a human rights adjudicator ordered the province to pay $50,000 to a transgender individual, for denying their request to replace the sex designation on their birth certificate with an “X”.
The Manitoba government has taken the additional step of introducing a legislative change that would remove the requirement to display a sex designation on birth and death certificates.
Finance Minister Scott Fielding added this legislation hasn’t passed yet.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
A local business has decided to postpone their spring sale event, but aren't letting that get in the way of making sure their customers get the products they need.
Assistant Manager Kim Trush from Sammy’s Farm Supply Ltd. explains the annual event is very important, but must be put on hold due to the current circumstances.
“It’s a chance for us to have a more personal touch with our farmers and all of our customers. This year we’re just not able to. Hopefully in the future we’ll have a chance to actually celebrate it.”
The 35th Anniversary of Sammy’s Farm Supply Ltd. was supposed to be a big celebration. Their annual spring sale event features deals, discounts, and free coffee & donuts.
Although the company will miss the opportunity to socialize with their customers & community at the spring sale, Kim has found the silver-lining in the situation.
“If anything comes out of this pandemic on a positive note, it’s reinforced that our Ag producers are invaluable. We strive to meet everyone’s needs, but especially those people that feed us.”
Otherwise, the business has been operating as usual; Kim says staff are working hard to meet everyone's needs.
Sammy’s Farm Supply Ltd. in Dauphin can be reached at 204-638-3566, and at their website.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Today marks the first day Canadian businesses can apply for the federal wage subsidy program.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says nearly 10,000 businesses applied for the 75% wage subsidy in just the first few hours.
But will this federal program be able to meet the needs of Parkland businesses? Executive Director of the Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce Stephen Chychota says we’ll have to wait and see.
“It’s kind of early to gauge and figure out what supports are really needed. It will still take some time to figure out where government has to step in and make some supports. Maybe some other organizations, including the chamber, have to get creative to see where we can help out local businesses.”
Chychota says some local employers have been forced to drastically scale-down business in order to carry on during the COVID crisis. If federal assistance can help save some of their employees, he says that’s a good thing.
There are several provincial support measures in place for Manitoba businesses. The province recently announced a new call-centre to help Manitoba businesses get connected with the support programs available to them.
Locally, the Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce continues to help local businesses; listening to their concerns and providing resources to help navigate the support programs available to them.
Although their office is closed, Chychota says local businesses can contact the Dauphin Chamber on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
