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The Member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa says he’s rejecting a scheduled pay raise slated to occur April 1st.
He did the same thing a year ago.
Dan Mazier issued a press release this week stating he believes it’s inappropriate for politicians to accept a pay raise during the COVID-19 crisis.
The legislation requires MPs to accept a raise, so Mazier says he’s donating the pay increase to local charitable and service groups throughout the constituency.
“I was proud to donate to local organizations throughout our constituency last year, and I look forward to doing the same this year. Many local organizations and charities are working tirelessly to support people who are vulnerable or in need of support, and most of them are struggling with decreased revenue and increased demand during the pandemic,” Mazier stated in the press release.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Two tickets were issued by RCMP following a two-vehicle collision in Dauphin on Friday morning.
Emergency personnel responded to the crash on 4th Avenue SW around 8 a.m., across from St. Pauls Anglican Church.
Police say one of the drivers involved, a 30-year-old man from Dauphin, was issued two tickets under the highway traffic act for driving without a licence and proceeding when it was unsafe to do so.
Both drivers were seen by emergency personnel and released and there were no serious injuries to report.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
On Friday health officials in Manitoba announced 116 new cases of COVID-19, and three deaths.
Public health officials are announcing that 46 new confirmed cases of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant of concern have been detected, 44 from the Winnipeg health region and two from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region.
The total number of confirmed variant of concern cases of B.1.1.7 is 109 and B.1.351 is 14, bringing the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases to 123.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 4.4 per cent provincially and 3.6 per cent in Winnipeg.
The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 33,810. There are 1,169 active cases and 31,709 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 58 people in hospital with active COVID-19 and 84 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 142 hospitalizations.
There are 12 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 19 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 31 ICU patients.
Today’s new COVID-19 cases are from the following health regions:
• two cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 55 cases in the Northern health region
• three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• five cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 51 cases in the Winnipeg health region
According to the province’s data, there are active cases of COVID-19 in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (0), Riding Mountain (2), Duck Mountain (1), Porcupine Mountain (34), Asessippi (3), and Little Saskatchewan (0). Brandon has 2 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has no active cases of COVID-19. Fisher/Peguis health district has seven active cases.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Manitoba will remain at Critical Red on the Pandemic Response System, as a few small changes to public health orders go into effect today.
Gathering limits at outdoor public places, and at weddings and funerals will increase from 10 to 25 people.
Capacity limits for retail stores will remain at 50 per cent, or 500 people – whichever is lower.
The province is also relaxing rules for drive in events to allow people to leave their vehicles while still observing public health guidelines.
All other previously existing health orders will remain in effect.
Manitoba’s chief public health officer says changes to rules for gatherings at private homes, and the rules for restaurants will remain the same for the foreseeable future, as he says these settings carry a higher risk of transmitting the virus.
Dr. Brent Roussin says more changes might be considered after spring break, Passover, and Easter if case data supports making further reopening efforts.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The City of Dauphin will be providing an opportunity for the public to give feedback and ask questions about a new Strategic Plan being released next week.
On Wednesday, March 31st, the City will be releasing a 5-minute video on their website and social media channels detailing the plan.
Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., City residents will get to ask questions of Council representatives and the economic development manager by phone or email.
City Manager Sharla Griffiths explains the Strategic Plan is a document that council and staff have put together “to give guidance on how best to make decisions going into the future, to lead our community in the direction we want it to go.”
The plan touches on economics, tourism, fiscal responsibility, public works & operations, community safety and wellbeing — “it’s really every aspect of our city,” says Griffiths.
The City Manager also says there will still be opportunities to ask questions and provide comments to the City about the plan after March 31st.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
On Thursday health officials in Manitoba announced 111 new cases of COVID-19, and one death, a man in his 70s from the Winnipeg Region.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 4.3 per cent provincially and 3.8 per cent in Winnipeg.
The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 33,696. 1,109 active cases and 31,658 individuals who have recovered from COVID-1
There are 61 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 85 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 146 hospitalizations.
There are 14 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 16 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 30 ICU patients.
There were no new variant cases detected today. The total number of confirmed variant of concern cases of B.1.1.7 is 63 and B.1.351 is 14, bringing the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases to 77.
Today’s new COVID-19 cases are from the following health regions:
• zero cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 53 cases in the Northern health region
• nine cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• three cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 46 cases in the Winnipeg health region
According to the province’s data, there are active cases of COVID-19 in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (0), Riding Mountain (2), Duck Mountain (4), Porcupine Mountain (32), Asessippi (4), and Little Saskatchewan (0). Brandon has 2 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has no active cases of COVID-19. Fisher/Peguis health district has seven active cases.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The Supreme Court of Canada decided this morning that the federal carbon tax is constitutional.
The split decision upholds a key aspect of the Liberal's plan that works towards reducing emissions in Canada.
A written ruling from Chief Justice Richard Wagner states climate change is real and is an existential threat to Canada and the entire world.
Several Conservative premiers have advocated against the carbon tax over concerns the plan would unfairly impact their provincial economies.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
(This story has been updated to clarify that there have been two separate confirmed cases reported at the school this week)
Public Health issued another advisory on Wednesday regarding another confirmed case of COVID-19 at Winnipegosis Collegiate.
The letter sent to the school community states a 2nd confirmed case of COVID-19 attended the school on March 22 in Grade 9, 11 and 12 classrooms when they may have been infectious.
The school was closed on Tuesday, March 23 and reopened the following day after a member of the school community at Winnipegosis Collegiate informed the school they tested positive for COVID-19.
Earlier this week, public health officials said the initial case was at the school on March 16th and 17th in the Grade 9 classroom and on Mr. Richard's bus when they may have been contagious.
Public Health says the school is working closely with health officials and is following their recommendations.
It's recommended parents take their children for testing if any cold or flu-like symptoms develop.
To view the updated press release from Public Health, click here.
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Officials with Manitoba’s vaccine task force provided an update on how the immunization campaign is progressing.
Co-lead of the province's vaccine task force, Johanu Botha, confirmed some Manitobans have been experiencing issues trying to book appointments this week at some vaccination supersites, including the site at Brandon’s Keystone Centre.
Botha says the province has been opening up more appointments each day, which are being “swallowed up pretty fast, for now.”
Going forward, he says Manitobans can expect to see the vaccination sites to get into a “groove” where appointments will almost always be available at the supersites.
Appointments for super sites or pop-ups can be made by calling (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC). Supersite appointments can also be made online.
The eligibility criteria for the general public will remain the same for the time being — individuals 65 years of age or older, and First Nations people 45 and older.
Earlier this week the province announced more COVID vaccine pop-up clinics — with plans to announce more pop-ups in the future. Click here to see the latest schedule from the province.
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On Wednesday health officials in Manitoba announced 81 new cases of COVID-19, and no addition deaths.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 4.6 per cent provincially and 3.8 per cent in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 33,591.
There are 1,261 active cases and 31,401 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 58 people in hospital with active COVID-19 and 80 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 138 hospitalizations.
There are 14 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 and 13 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 27 ICU patients.
There were no new variant cases detected today. The total number of confirmed variant of concern cases of B.1.1.7 is 63 and B.1.351 is 14, bringing the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases to 77.
Today’s new COVID-19 cases are from the following health regions:
• two cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 37 cases in the Northern health region
• four cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• three cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 35 cases in the Winnipeg health region
According to the province’s data, there are active cases of COVID-19 in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (0), Duck Mountain (4), Porcupine Mountain (27), Asessippi (4), and Little Saskatchewan (1). Brandon has 2 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has no active cases of COVID-19. Fisher/Peguis health district has seven active cases.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The head of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) says the province’s plan to overhaul the education system fails to address several key areas of concern.
MTS President James Bedford says the organization representing Manitoba’s teachers has been supportive of the education review since it was first announced in January 2019.
Two years later, Bedford says the introduction of Bill 64 — the most extensive restructuring of Manitoba’s education system in decades — has left teachers feeling the most critical issues are not being addressed.
“Our members don’t see things in Bill 64 that improve learning for students in the classroom, it’s as simple as that. Where’s the connection between Bill 64 and students in the classroom? We just don’t see it.”
With a dramatic reduction in the number of school divisions — from 37 down to 15 regional bodies — the MTS president says the much greater role that school divisions play is being lost in the conversation.
Each community is different, says Bedford, adding "the concern that MTS members have with the wholesale elimination of what would appear to be virtually everything to do with school divisions and that governance” will cause difficulties addressing the unique needs of any particular community of schools.
“Teachers are very concerned about the future of education in schools. They don’t see this as a positive thing.”
Childhood Poverty Not Addressed In Bill 64, Says MTS President
Bedford says one of the most critical factors hindering classroom outcomes in Manitoba is the issue of childhood poverty.
“Children who come from impoverished backgrounds are at a deficit when it comes to the education system. It’s difficult for them to get to school. It’s difficult for them to remain engaged in a single school. They come to school hungry. They don’t have access to the levels of technology that other students have. I could go on.”
The province’s overhaul of the education system outline in Bill 64 does not address the issue of childhood poverty, says Bedford.
“What we really need to do is go back to look at what does the research tell is truly the greatest impediment — and the research points to poverty. You fix poverty and so many other things get fixed with it.”
Bedford gives the government credit for saying more work needs to be done. "But the way Manitoba’s teachers see it, is you need to address the most critical issues first."
"So if you want to improve classroom outcomes — address poverty. How does Bill 64 address poverty? It doesn’t.”
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
