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On August 9th, at approximately 2:50 p.m., Ste Rose du Lac RCMP received a report of an armed robbery at a business on Highway 50 in the RM of Alonsa.
RCMP say that three males wearing masks pulled up to the business, got out with firearms, and pointed them at the employees. They then stole an undisclosed amount of money and cigarettes. They left in the same vehicle. None of the employees were physically injured.
Amaranth and Neepawa RCMP, and Manitoba First Nations Police Service, were notified of the suspect vehicle, which was found in Sandy Bay.
MFNP then conducted a traffic stop on a van in the community. One of the suspects from the robbery was visible in the van, as was a firearm.
All four occupants of the vehicle were arrested, three males and a female driver. The female has since been released without charge.
31-year-old Francis Beaulieu, 26-year-old Anton Levasseur, and 29-year-old Victor Lavasseur, all from Sandy Bay, remain in custody on charges of Robbery with a Firearm and various firearms offences.
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The government of Manitoba is providing over $241 thousand from the proceeds of crime to the Brandon Police Service, Cornwallis Police Service, and Rivers Police Service.
Justice Minister Cameron Friesen says the funding will go towards safety and crime prevention initiatives.
“One award of over $15,000 is being directed to the purchase of electronic equipment for the Online Child Exploitation Unit for the Brandon Police Service, where officers work to investigate cases of children being sexually exploited online. Another award will be used for emergent trauma kits that will allow officers to effectively intervene and provide emergency treatment on scene.”
The minister noted that Brandon Police Service is receiving more than $215 thousand through the Criminal Property Forfeiture program for safety and crime prevention programs including:
- $17,422 for equipment for immediate emergent trauma kits
- $10,791 for equipment for trauma care kits
- $15,483 for software and hardware for the Online Child Exploitation Unit
- $4,483 for cameras for the Forensic Identification Unit
- $82,500 for mobile workstations
- $50,000 for in-car camera systems
- $24,500 for a digital fingerprinting system
Brandon Police Service, Deputy Chief Randy Lewis says once again the service was fortunate enough to receive funding from the Manitoba Justice Criminal Property Fund.
“These funds have allowed us to purchase much-needed medical equipment for our officers to carry on their person and in their vehicles, which will allow for timely first aid to be provided to fellow officers or members of the public.”
More information about criminal property forfeiture can be found here.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Many Manitoba post-secondary institutions are not mandating COVID-19 vaccination to attend in-person classes come fall.
These schools include the University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, University of Brandon and Red River College.
Previously, all have said vaccination was not to be required to attend classes but it was strongly recommended and encouraged.
The schools are also operating the next year with blended in-person and online class schedules.
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Those wanting to get their COVID-19 vaccine have many opportunities for walk-ins next week.
Dauphin’s supersite at the Ukrainian Orthodox Hall, located at 304 Whitmore Avenue east, is taking walk-ins from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 16th and 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 21st.
In Swan River, walk-ins are taking place on Tuesday, August 17th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre, located at 1413 Main Street east.
Brandon's Keystone Centre Vaccine Supersite is having walk-ins on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. next week.
On Friday, August 20th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., walk-ins are taking place at the Co-op parking lot in Roblin.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
On Tuesday, Premier Brian Pallister announced that he won’t be seeking re-election and that he’s stepping aside at the mid-point of this term.
MLA Brad Michaleski says the progressive conservative government has had a really strong team over the past five years and says he’s thankful to Pallister for all of the work he’s done and his commitment to the province.
Michaleski adds that Premier Brian Pallister’s announcement that he’s stepping down didn’t come as a surprise to him.
“Politicians don’t go on and on forever so I respect his decision to step down, and I wish him and his family all the best.”
Michaleski says having a new leader isn’t going to help or hurt the PC government.
“The party is still incredibly strong and focused on what we need to do, and this is just a natural progression.”
Pallister has been the party’s leader for nearly 10 years, and the premier for over five years.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery Minister Audrey Gordon made an announcement about rural and northern telepsychiatry today.
Telepsychiatry delivers real-time care through secure videoconferencing.
The government of Manitoba is investing over $342 thousand dollars to provide emergency telepsychiatry assessments to rural emergency departments and First Nations communities without current access to these services.
Audrey Gordon says this investment will ensure people experiencing mental health issues can have access to psychiatrist support that is timely, efficient, and reliable.
“It means people can access the care they need close to home, while continuing to receive support from friends and their family members.”
Gordon says accessing psychiatric assessments for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis can be particularly challenging in remote and rural communities including many First Nations communities across Manitoba.
Gordon adds that the Manitoba government will work with other organizations, regional health authorities and service delivery providers to improve access to mental health and addiction services.
“A five-year action plan will be created to help shape the strategic priorities of the newly created ministry of mental health, wellness, and recovery. A public engagement campaign will begin this fall, gathering input from Manitobans and key stakeholders.”
More information on mental health and addictions services in Manitoba can be found here.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to Johnathan Wilkinson, Minister of Climate Change Canada, has announced the signing of a new understanding between the governments of Canada and Manitoba to protect Lake Winnipeg today.
Building upon a previous 10-year agreement between the two governments, the new understanding will support a coordinated approach to protect the water quality and health of Lake Winnipeg.
The understanding will also support the engagement of Indigenous Peoples to advance reconciliation and mutual priorities related to water quality and the health of Lake Winnipeg.
Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted the importance of the lake to our province:
“Lake Winnipeg and its basin is a vital resource for many communities. It is important to our economy, generating millions of dollars of revenue in hydroelectricity, recreation, and fishing industries. Our new agreement with Manitoba on Lake Winnipeg and its basin will help build upon stakeholder efforts to address water quality and ecosystem health challenges and provide a useful framework for information sharing and science collaboration.”
Secretary Duguid also announced $519,600 in federal funding to support ten new projects under Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Lake Winnipeg Basin Program.
Lake Winnipeg is Manitoba's largest lake, Canada’s sixth-largest lake, and the 11th largest freshwater lake in the world.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
The Manitoba Wildfire Service is advising that even though there have been improvements in weather conditions, the fire danger levels remain high for the upcoming weekend.
Fire and travel restrictions will continue.
All provincial burning permits remain cancelled province-wide, and new permits will not be issued until conditions improve.
Area 9 which includes Duck Mountain, and area 8 which includes many communities like Camperville, Skownan, and Gypsumville are under level 2 fire and travel restrictions.
This means Motorized backcountry travel, including ATVs and other off-road vehicles, is prohibited unless under the authority of a travel permit, camping is restricted to developed campgrounds, campfires are permitted only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., and landing and launching is restricted to developed shorelines only.
The full fire restriction map can be seen here.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
According to sources, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is planning to call a snap election for September 20th.
He's expected to make the formal announcement this Sunday at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
Trudeau aides have said for months that the ruling Liberals would push for a vote before the end of 2021, two years ahead of schedule. Trudeau only has a minority government and relies on opposition parties to push through legislation.
To formally launch the campaign Trudeau will need to visit Governor-General Mary Simon, the personal representative of the head of state Queen Elizabeth, to ask that Parliament be dissolved.
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The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is calling on provincial governments to adopt stay-open strategies now, so any possible resurgences of COVID-19 do not lead to further business closures.
Canadian Federation of Independent Business Executive Vice-President, Laura Jones says provinces have done a good job of putting reopening plans in place, but very few have stated their intention to stay open and released detailed plans on how they’ll do that.
“The last 16 months have been incredibly hard on small business owners, not only financially, but emotionally as well. They can’t take more lockdowns. Provincial governments have the opportunity to reassure businesses that lockdowns are an extraordinary measure that will only be used now as a last resort by announcing a clear policy that keeping things open is a priority.”
Jonathan Alward, Director of the Prairie Region says Many of Manitoba’s small businesses have been locked down for about half of the last year and it will still take 25 months on average for the province’s businesses to fully recover.
“We can’t go back to that in the fall. Small businesses need to know that they will be allowed to remain open going forward.”
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business claims 85 percent of Manitoba business owners say they want the government to adopt a stay open strategy to avoid further lockdowns.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
On Wednesday, the Canadian government settled a claim with the Waywayseecappo First Nation, giving them 287.5-million dollars, along with capital to invest in new opportunities for community and economic development.
The compensation was given in regards to the 1881 Surrender Specific Claim, which relates to the taking and sale of over 21-thousand acres of Waywayseecappo land.
The claim states that Canada took these lands from the First Nation without their consent.
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