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Premier Heather Stefanson and Chief Public Health Officer Doctor Brent Roussin held a press conference this morning to give an update on public health orders. Starting February 15th, Manitoba will be lifting even more restrictions.
The restrictions will be in place until March 1st;
- Masks and physical distancing will still be required in indoor public spaces.
- Indoor gatherings in public spaces will be limited to 50 people if anyone over 12 is not fully vaccinated.
- Indoor gatherings in public spaces will have no limit if everyone over 12 is fully vaccinated.
- There are no capacity limits for outdoor public gatherings.
- There are no capacity limits for indoor private gatherings.
- Restaurants will have no capacity limits but will still require proof of vaccination for anyone over 12 who is dining in.
- Liquor sales return to normal hours of operation.
The province plans to remove proof of vaccination requirements on March 1st. In some settings, such as personal care homes, shelters, and healthcare facilities, public health officials have continued to work with facilities to notify close contacts until March 8th. They plan to remove Mask requirements and other restrictions effective March 15.
A full list of the restrictions coming into place next week can be found here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
A report was released by the Manitoba Association of Health Care from December 2021 that showed the shortages of rural Manitoba paramedics.
The report showed there were almost 20,000 hours of unstaffed ambulances in the rural part of the province which was up from 17,000 in the fall.
The shortages have led to a large number of paramedics having to work anywhere from 14-16 hour shifts as well as some having to work up to 20-23 hours in a row in order to offer the care patients need.
The length of response times has also suffered, increasing by as high as 35 percent longer since 2018.
Shared Health is currently working to increase the educational capacity for paramedic training as well as working with the College of Paramedics to get recent graduates licenses to get them into the workforce sooner.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
50 Manitoba tourism businesses are getting some pandemic recovery help from Travel Manitoba. The Tourism Innovation and Recovery Fund is a one-time support initiative that was launched last November.
Over 120 applications were handed in for the program. There were two ways for businesses to apply, the Experience Enhancement programs could get up to $15,000 to help improve an existing experience, while the New Experience Development program could provide up to $25,000 to add a new experience.
Some of the businesses involved in the program;
- Arrowhead Family Resort in Onanole is receiving $25,000
- Elkhorn Resort, Spa, and Conference Centre in Onanole is receiving $25,000
- North Mountain Adventures in Ochre River is receiving $12,325
- Harvest Lodge on the Waterhen River inc. is receiving $18,700
- Westway Inn Motel in Neepawa is receiving $15,000
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
There was another protest pop-up with a blockade at the Emerson Manitoba crossing of the Canada U-S border early this morning.
All lanes of Highway 75 in both directions leading to and from the border have been blocked by Semi-Trailer trucks, farm equipment as well as passenger vehicles.
This blockade is happening to show support for and is being done in coordination with the blockades at other U-S Canada borders in Ontario and Alberta along with the protests happening in cities across the country including Ottawa and Winnipeg.
Canada Border Services Agency was notified about the upcoming blockade late Wednesday evening.
The protests and blockades are continuing to pop up to put pressure on the federal and provincial governments to end all COVID-19 mandates.
RCMP officers from the area as well as Winnipeg are headed to the blockade to try and open a dialogue with the protesters in order to keep the traffic moving in and out of Canada.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
The Dauphin Healthcare Auxiliary is shutting down after 120 years of serving the community. As one last act of charity, they are splitting their remaining funds between the Dauphin Regional Health Centre and Dauphin Personal Care Home.
The Auxiliary presented their final cheque to the DRHC today and CKDM Spoke to Auxiliary president Sharon Derhousoff.
"From the combination of both accounts, the gift shop and the general account it was over $46,000 dollars, so approximately $23,000 plus will go to each of the facilities."
More information on the Auxiliary shutting down can be found here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Canadian Canola Growers Association has opened the application phase for their Advanced Payments Program earlier than ever this year. Applications can be submitted from now until March 31st.
Through the program, farmers can apply for up to $100,000 interest-free and up to another $900,000 at an interest rate of prime minus 0.75%. The program can cover more than 50 commodities including field crops, large and small livestock, honey, and organic commodities.
You can learn more about the program that CCGA offers by calling 1 (866) 745-2256 or by visiting their website here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Canada's National Ukrainian Festival is taking place from July 29th to the 31st of this year.
You can get your tickets now, according to Festival President, Kayla Gillis.
"They've been on sale for about a month now, and sales are going quite well," said Gillis. "We're really excited to return this year. It's going to be an amazing weekend."
The Festival will only be able to do half the capacity of the site this year. An Early Bird Weekend Pass is just $110, and lower camping spots are $60, while upper camping passes are $60.
You can buy your tickets at Canada's National Ukrainian Festival, or call 204-622-4600.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Swan River RCMP are investigating two separate incidents since Sunday with one involving arson and the other a shooting.
The first happened late on Sunday as the RCMP were called to the Starlite Trailer Court in Swan River after reports of a fire at a residence.
When officers arrived flames were contained to a side window and they were able to confirm no one was inside. The fire has been determined to be arson and investigators are considering the connection between the arson and the shooting they responded to at the same residence on Saturday.
You can find more about that shooting here.
The second incident happened early this morning when officers responded to a report of shots being fired at a house on 6th Avenue in Swan River.
Upon arrival, officers found a vehicle with a window that was shot out and no injuries were reported. The Mounties continue to investigate the circumstances around the shooting.
If you have any information on either of these events, please call Swan River RCMP at 204-734-4686, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or a secure tip online here.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
Manitoba announced last week that new public health orders with eased restrictions go into effect right now.
These new orders will be in place until at least February 22, and include;
- Private gatherings where everyone is fully vaccinated will be expanded to allow the household plus 25 others in indoor spaces and 50 people in outdoor spaces.
- Private gatherings where any of the individuals are eligible but unvaccinated (youth under the age of 12 are exempt), are limited to the household plus 10 others in indoor spaces and 20 people in outdoor spaces.
- Sports and recreation tournaments will be able to resume.
- Restaurants will be limited to 50% capacity and will still require proof of vaccination. Table sizes will be limited to 10 people.
- Liquor sales at licensed premises will now be allowed until 12 am
- They are lifting the cap of 250 people at events, however, they will still be limited to 50% and require proof of vaccination.
The full list of public health orders can be found here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress organized 28 rallies across the country on Sunday afternoon, including a flash mob rally in Dauphin. A group of about 25 gathered in front of Dauphin City Hall on Sunday to show their support.
"We concluded the Dauphin event by singing the Ukrainian National Anthem, Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia, so that was a touching end to the flash mob, and I just want to thank everyone who showed up to that for their support."
Event co-organizer Stephen Jaddock told CKDM how great the event was on such short notice and said he believes UCC wants to keep holding events.
"We want to have Canada and the Canadian Government help Ukraine and be proactive rather than reactive."
For more on the movement, you can visit UCC Manitoba's website here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Saturday afternoon the Lac du Bonnet RCMP responded to a call of a snowmobile collision on Bird Lake in Nopiming Provincial Park, Manitoba.
After investigation, it was determined that two riders tried to pass another group going in the same direction by leaving the groomed trail. One of the drivers, a 49-year-old female from La Salle, lost control of her snowmobile and ended up back on the trail, colliding with a rider from the other group.
The rider who lost control was pronounced deceased on the scene. The investigation is still underway.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
