NewsNow
The RCMP is launching the Eagle Feather Initiative.
It will see eagle feathers distributed to all detachments throughout the province and will provide victims, witnesses, suspects and police officers the option to swear legal oaths on an eagle feather.
The eagle feather will be used in the same way as the Bible or affirmation is used. When someone provides a sworn statement to the RCMP, they will be given three options: to swear on a Bible, affirm, or affirm with an eagle feather. This means that a sworn statement given by any of these three methods is evidence that can be used in a court of law. Also, a police officer will be able to use the eagle feather to swear information before the court.
Additionally, the eagle feather may also be offered as a comfort for anyone who wishes when they are at the detachment.
The head of the R-C-M-P in Manitoba says providing an eagle feather to people swearing oaths is a positive step toward reconciliation with Indigenous people.
“For some, the eagle feather provides comfort and strength. By holding the eagle feather, they find the strength to talk, and are empowered to speak their truth,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott Kolody, Commanding Officer of Manitoba RCMP. “This is what inspired us to bring the eagle feather into our day-to-day policing operations.”
Kevin Hart, regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, says the move will help Indigenous people deal with the justice system and the R-C-M-P.
Anyone who requests to use the eagle feather will be able to do so as every detachment in Manitoba will be receiving an eagle feather soon.
- Details
- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Manitoba and Dauphin have finalized the snow removal agreement.
In the agreement, the city will be paid 650 dollars per centimetre based off of the amount of snow that falls at the Dauphin Airport.
Payments will be made December 31st and March 31st.
Dauphin is being paid to clear Main Street from Whitmore Avenue to River Avenue, River Avenue from Main Street to Bond Street, 1st Avenue NE from Main Street to Mountain Road, 2nd Avenue NW from Main Street to 2nd Street NW, and the Mall Service Road.
Dauphin has to have an approved snow disposal site.
Since the services are being purchased by the Government of Manitoba, they are not subject to the federal Goods and Services Tax.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Manitoba government has established a new commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the kindergarten to Grade 12 education system.
The process will include consultations across the province and consider a wide range of topics like student learning, teaching, accountability for student learning, governance and funding.
Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen made the announcement today.
“This is a long-overdue opportunity to build on strengths and identify challenges to create a better education system with high standards for educators, high expectations for student achievement, relevant curriculum, governance excellence and a sustainable fiscal framework,” said Goertzen.
The eight other commissioners are:
• Dr. Janice MacKinnon (co-chair);
• Clayton Manness (co-chair);
• Terry Brown;
• Mark Frison;
• John Daniel (JD) Lees;
• Jill Quilty;
• Laurel Repski; and
• Denis Robert.
Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education will also include Ian Wishart, legislative assistant to the minister of education and training, who will lead public consultation and stakeholder engagement.
Soon the commission will begin public consultation and seek input from students, parents, educators, school boards, academics, Indigenous organizations, la francophonie, municipal councils, professional organizations, the business community and all Manitobans.
The commission is expected to submit a report with key findings and recommendations by February 2020.
Information about the kindergarten to Grade 12 review will be posted throughout the year at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/educationreview/.
- Details
- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The capacity of the Vermillion Reservoir is significantly greater than originally thought.
Dauphin and Manitoba Infrastructure have been meeting with each other to investigate issues around continued use of the Vermillion Reservoir, located on the north boundary of RMNP.
The bathymetric survey they conducted showed a greater capacity of 4100 DAM3.
There has also been a considerable amount of siltation in the reservoir that will continue.
In October 2018, the city hired divers to take a look at the two intakes for the reservoir pump house. The divers found the lower intake buried under 0.6 metres of silt. The divers also found out the upper intake was buried in sediment and debris.
At the time of that dive, the reservoir was considered full and the divers noted 5 metres of water above the intake, because of the silt there were only 4.25 metres of water above the bottom of the reservoir.
While Bill Brenner was researching the reservoir, he found a letter from the province indicating the dam constructed to create the reservoir was created in a way that could increase the reservoir overflow level. Brenner wants to look into increasing the dam’s containment volume, which would help guide them in the proper remediation options.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Winnipegosis Elementary is one of the schools receiving funding for capital projects from the provincial government.
Yesterday the province announced 129.5 million in funding for school divisions across Manitoba.
Winnipegosis Elementary is receiving funding for an exterior wall renewal.
“We continue to make significant investments on new schools as well as major additions and renovations to existing schools,” said Goertzen. “Manitoba has more than 600 schools and this funding will help them remain safe and functional. Growing communities will also benefit from new school facilities to meet their needs.”
- Details
- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Monday's fire at Smitty’s was an accident.
The Dauphin Fire Department says the fire started in the laundry area in the building's basement.
Earlier in the day, staff had removed some cloths and aprons from the dryer and placed them on top of the unit.
The DFD warns that when flammable liquids like cooking oil, deep fryer oil or cleaning fluids are soaked up by a rag, heat develops.
If the heat doesn’t dissipate by spreading the rags out, there is the potential for spontaneous ignition. That was the cause of this particular fire.
The department reminds everyone that any combustible materials should be kept clear of clothes dryers as they do produce significant heat.
- Details
- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Yesterday, Health Canada released the new food guide.
Robert Sopuck, Member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa, is unhappy with the new guidelines.
“I’m deeply, deeply, concerned in the Food Guide.”
The food guide no longer has meat and alternatives and milk and alternatives as their own groups. They combined into a proteins group
Sopuck thinks it’s completely misguided and a politically correct attempt by the liberals at virtue signalling.
He says it’s criminal that Canada’s highly nutritious meat products, like beef, chicken and pork, as well as dairy is being downgraded.
Sopuck adds one last comment.
“The food guide, quite frankly, with its politically correct virtue signalling, will do our rural communities nothing but harm.”
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Weedless Wednesday marks the middle of National Non-Smoking Week.
Weedless Wednesday is just a day for those thinking of quitting smoking to give up smoking just for a day.
Jo-Anne Douglas says if you’ve tried to quit before, try again because it gets easier every time and you could be ready this time.
Even quitting for one day is helpful for the body because that would mean a break from the 7000 chemicals in tobacco.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
UPDATE:
21-year-old Kawalpreet Singh who resides in Thompson has been arrested and charged with Arson - Disregard for Human Life as well as Arson - Damage to Property. Singh has been remanded into custody.
--
The Thompson Inn received extensive damage after a fire broke in the restaurant part of the building.
Around 9:58 last night, Thompson Fire and Emergency were quick to respond to the fire.
They were able to contain the fire in the restaurant.
There were no injuries to firefighters or the public, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
- Details
- Contributed by With Files From Darnell Duff
UPDATE:
Smitty's Restaurant and Lounge will re-open this morning at 7:00 a.m.
It remained closed yesterday as a result of the fire in the basement.
---
DFD was dispatched to smoke in a building (1601 Main Street South-Smitty's Restaurant & Lounge) shortly after 10 pm on Monday, January 21st.
Upon arrival, management met the firefighters and reported that there was a fire in the basement under the kitchen area.
Firefighters entered and encountered heavy black smoke coming from the basement stairs.
The fire was located and extinguished within the first 20 minutes on the scene but crews remained on scene until after midnight in order to remove smoke from the building.
There are no injuries and no estimates on damages at this time.
Even though the cause of the fire is not suspicious, it does remain under investigation.
- Details
- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
There's a big crowd on the first day of Manitoba Ag Days.
Talking with a variety of people working at their booths they all say the crowd so far has been great.
As the first morning of the three-day event wraps up, those attending have already heard from many experts.
Some of the highlights for this morning included David Lobb, Professor at the University of Manitoba with “A view below the soil surface – tillage challenges facing agriculture” and “Resistance management 101 – can we take an integrated approach?” by Holly Derksen, Technical Support Specialist with Aysta LifeScience, Tammy Jones, Weed Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and John Gavloski, Entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture.
Dan Orchard, Agronomy Specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, John Guelly, Director of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission and Michael Weir, Agronomist with Pioneer Hi-Bred presented “Clubroot – what we all really need to know.”
There are many speakers this afternoon. Some of the highlights include Ralph Eichler, the Minister of Agriculture and Mayor of Brandon Rick Crest addressing the crowd at 1:30 pm. Premier of Manitoba, Brian Pallister, will speak directly after the Ag Minster at 2:00 pm.
There are other presentations this afternoon. One example is Lance Stockbrugger, with LD Stockbrugger Farms, presenting on how to “Let the numbers talk – leasing vs buying machinery" at 1:30.
Manitoba Ag Days runs until five this afternoon and then will pick up at nine tomorrow morning.
- Details
- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
