Frank Godon's Federal Election Priorities

Frank Godon is the People’s Party of Canada MP candidate for the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa constituency in the federal election.

Godon says there’s one main point the PPC wants to address if elected government.

“One of the main issues is making sure that we balance the budget. Our party is the only party committed to balancing the budget within 2 years.”

Godon has a major issue he wants to be addressed if elected. He wants to bring clean drinking water back to our constituency’s reserves.

Another main issue he’d like to address in parliament is, growing the infrastructure industry in the area, specifically the hemp processing plant, by getting it going.

Election Day is just three days away, on Monday.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Oct 18, 2019 - 5:00 am

The Dauphin Co-op is celebrating Co-op Week this week.

As part of the week, they announced the Cup of Caring Program. Cup of Caring offers free coffee to any emergency responder, in uniform, that stops by the Co-op Gas Bars.

Joan Chetyrbok, the marketing manager for the Dauphin Co-op, says the program is an easy way to say thanks to the men and women that work as emergency responders in our community.

“It’s just a small gesture to say thank you to our heroes in uniform that get up every day and go to work, no matter the weather conditions, no matter the circumstances,” said Chetyrbok. “They’re out there helping citizens, and our communities that we love and call home.”

The Co-op also presented Whitmore School with a cheque from the proceeds from last month’s Fuel Good Day.

Whitmore Recieves Cheque

56,003 litres of fuel were sold that day, which resulted in $5,600 being donated to the school’s playground project.

There were barbecues at both gas bar locations that day that raised $1,475, with the Whitmore Parent Council adding another $1,000 resulting in a donation of $2, 475 for Whitmore’s Breakfast Program.

Chetyrbok added that the Co-op was thrilled to be a part of both of these projects.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Oct 18, 2019 - 5:00 am

Ceto the police dog has done it again.

On Tuesday morning, around 3:00 am, Manitoba First Nations Police Service responded to a call of a suspect driving a stolen truck on the Sandy Bay First Nation.

MFNPS officers located the vehicle and tried to stop it, the truck then sped off from police.

Police pursued the vehicle, and after 15 minutes, the chase ended when the vehicle rammed an RCMP vehicle and then an MFNPS vehicle.

The stolen truck was disabled, and then the suspect ran from the scene. A female passenger in the vehicle was arrested.

Manitoba First Nations Police deployed K-9 Ceto who tracked the suspect for about a km, where Ceto found the suspect in a bedroom.

A 31-year-old male from Sandy Bay was arrested and is scheduled to appear in Portage provincial court, where he will face several charges including.

-Criminal Negligence causing bodily harm x 3

-Assault of a police officer with a weapon x 2

-Flight from police

-Possession of Stolen Property obtained by Crime

-Uttering threats

-Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

-Breach of recognizance x 4

-Forcible confinement

The 34- year-old female from Sandy Bay was arrested and released.

Ceto has helped in over 30 arrests since her debut in June.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Oct 17, 2019 - 4:40 pm

We Can Scare Hunger is a campaign to help end local hunger issues.

Kelleher Ford is taking part in the campaign.

They have various bins around the community where donations to the food bank can be made.

Kelleher Ford asks for non-perishable food items such as canned goods, pasta, cereals, personal hygiene products, and bath tissues.

Kelleher Ford also asks that things that need to be refrigerated, glass jars, candy and dented cans aren’t donated.

The bins at No Frills and at Kelleher Ford will be taking in donations until the end of October, while the bin they have set up at the Dauphin Marketplace Mall will be there until 5 today.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Oct 17, 2019 - 2:42 pm

Approaching the anniversary of cannabis legalization in Canada, Manitoba RCMP say they are starting to see more Criminal Code investigations related to driving while high. They add it’s still too early to determine what is behind the jump.

From the time cannabis was legalized on October 17th, 2018 to Wednesday, there have been 329 pot-related charges laid by RCMP in Manitoba. 224 of those charges were for unlawful transportation of cannabis in a vehicle, with another 19 charges laid for consuming cannabis in a vehicle.

56 charges were given for cannabis-related offences under the Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Control Act, and 30 were cannabis-related Criminal Code investigations for impaired driving, there are several more charges waiting on toxicology results.

Even as the number of cannabis-related charges is on the rise, the numbers still pale in comparison to alcohol-related offences.

Over the past year, 444 charges for unlawful transportation of liquor in a vehicle were given out in Manitoba, and 224 charges were laid for other liquor-related provincial offences, including public consumption.

1,403 other people were charged with alcohol-related driving infractions.

As of the end of August, 584 cannabis offences were received by the courts. Some of the cases seen dealt with unauthorized sales or possessions, supplying cannabis to a young person or smoking it in a public place or provincial park.

Compared to the rest of the country, Manitoba was responsible for very few of the cannabis-related offences given out in 2018. The 2019 numbers are not available yet.

Only 660 of the 34,441 cannabis-related violations were in Manitoba. Most of those charges were for possession, with 26,194 charges laid federally versus only 439 in Manitoba.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Oct 17, 2019 - 11:15 am

Throughout the week, the Dauphin Senior Centre has been celebrating 30 years in many ways.

While reflecting, Kim Armstrong, administrator and program coordinator, says she’s been with the senior centre for 13 years.

“We are seeing a change in seniors, generally, our seniors are living longer and they have bigger expectations of an organization such as ours. More involvement but different involvement.”

Armstrong says moving forward, the senior centre will continue to grow and morph with the needs of the people.

Tonight they’re hosting their volunteer supper, tomorrow there’ll be a sock hop with Elvis performing music from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, and finally, on Saturday they’ll be having a come and go.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Oct 17, 2019 - 5:00 am

Last night at the WAC a federal election debate was held, featuring all the candidates for the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa riding.

Each candidate had 2 minutes for opening statements before a mixture of questions from a panel and the public were asked.

The panel featured CKDM’s James Blake, the Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce’s Stephen Chychota, the Brandon Sun’s Drew May, and the Dauphin Herald’s Shawn Bailey.

Kerry Auriat moderated and Matt Goerzen coordinated audience questions, both are with the Brandon Sun.

The main topics from the evening were agriculture, developing industry, Indigenous issues, and cell service.

Right before the first commercial break, the candidates were asked their stance on the ag situation with China.

Green Party candidate, Kate Storey answered by saying similar canola numbers were still sold, and instead of canola, more wheat went to China. She added we need to be smart and careful when dealing with China.

Conservative Party candidate, Dan Mazier then had his input saying China does their own thing and we need to work on Canada's influence in the world.

Finally, Liberal Party candidate, Cathy Scofield Singh said Canada is moving forward and mentioned how canola sales haven't dropped.

Shortly after the first commercial break, the candidates were asked if in this campaign, they had visited any of the 14 first nations or reserves in the riding and if they had, how many.

Christian Heritage Party Candidate, Jenni Johnson, and Scofield Singh haven't visited any, the NDP's Laverne Lewycky, Mazier, and Storey have visited 2, and the PPC's Frank Godon has been to 6.

After the second commercial break, the candidates were asked about how they'll work to improve cell service.

Johnson said the CHP plans to defund the CBC and use the 500 million dollars towards infrastructure, including internet and cell phone service.

Godon wants to create competition for current internet and cell providers, which could ultimately lower prices.

Storey started her answer by expressing a need for the CBC, adding that the Green Party will look into 5G technology, but it costs to put up towers.

Scofield Singh also started by saying CBC is important, and that the Liberals plan to improve infrastructure which covers internet and cell phone service.

Lewycky made a point that improving rural cell service is 1 of 6 main priorities for the NDP.

Mazier ended the question by saying the Conservatives want to improve rural broadband service.

All candidates say they will vote for the people and won't allow themselves to be whipped into blindly voting for their party.

The debate ended with each candidate getting 2 minutes for closing remarks and a meet and greet with the candidates hosted by the Dauphin and District Chamber of Commerce.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Oct 17, 2019 - 4:41 am

Government officials came to the Ste. Rose Community Hall to further explain the changes made to the province’s Crown Land Leasing Program.

The meeting follows an announcement made on Friday that the government would offer current legacy leaseholders, the first right to renewal.

While the ranchers in the room felt the move was in the right direction, it is just one item on the long list of changes that they feel need to still be made.

The concerns that echoed around the room were the ability to complete unit transfers, longer terms, and cheaper rental rates. Under the current format, rental rates are expected to more than triple.

The meeting ended with the government workers promising to bring the concerns of the room, to the provincial Ag Minister.

Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski also gave a short speech to assure producers that his door is always open to talk about their concerns.

After the meeting, producers had the chance to bring up their individual concerns to the government officials, as well as the MLA.

Dakota Sorenson, a young producer, from Eddystone, is hoping the meeting brings results.

“If they listen, I think it’ll help a lot. There were a lot of good points made, and they tried to answer questions, but there are too many things to work on, to be able to answer all the questions,” said Sorenson. “There needs to be change, more than questions.”

Sorenson added that if he had known of the changes happening to the crown lands program, he wouldn’t have moved away from Saskatchewan.

The head of the Manitoba Crown Lands Leaseholders Association, Brent Benson, said that the meeting went the way he thought it would go.

“I guess it’s what we expected, there are no real concrete changes for sure yet, and there are proposed changes. I guess we heard that there’s maybe a willingness to listen to us and consider other changes we brought forward,” said Benson. “I think they clearly got the message that we are frustrated, and this is a big problem that could severely affect our businesses.”

There is another meeting scheduled for tomorrow night at the Moosehorn Community Hall, near Ashern, from 7- 9 pm.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Oct 16, 2019 - 11:23 am

Tonight there’ll be a federal election debate at the WAC at 7.

This debate will feature a panel made up of CKDM’s James Blake, the Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce’s Stephen Chychota, the Brandon Sun’s Drew May, and the Dauphin Herald’s Shawn Bailey. Kerry Auriat will be the moderator and Matt Goerzen will coordinate audience questions, both are with the Brandon Sun.

Following the debate, Chychota is hosting a meet and greet with the candidates.

Chychota hopes by the end of the debate, the public will have a better understanding of the candidates and their parties to make a smart decision with their vote.

All candidates say they’re attending.

Election Day is Monday, October 21^st.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Oct 16, 2019 - 5:00 am

The advance voting period over the weekend saw the most advance votes ever.

4.7 million Canadians lined up on the holiday weekend to cast their votes, making for a 29 percent increase from 2015.

According to Elections Canada numbers, 1.24 million votes were cast on Friday, 977,000 on Saturday, 915,000 on Sunday, and 1.6 million ballots were submitted on Monday.

During the advance voting period for the 2015 election, 3.65 million votes were cast.