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The Government of Manitoba is introducing new cannabis possession rules to help stop the illicit cannabis market that will come into effect as of January 1st.
Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced that the new rules are aimed at preserving the integrity of the legal retail cannabis system and protect health and safety.
“Our government has made health and safety our top priority throughout the legalization process,” said Cullen. “These legislative changes about possession restrictions give provincial inspectors the ability to seize illicit cannabis, helping us crackdown on the illicit market without further increasing the burden on police officers.”
The changes to the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act will allow for provincial inspectors to issue tickets and make seizures of illegal pot, making Manitoba the first province to allow the enforcement.
The changes will also make it illegal to possess pot that is not packaged, stamped or labelled according to federal laws. Exemptions to the rule allow people to remove the pot from its original package for storage. The province says it is supporting the legal pot market by prohibiting the possession of illegal cannabis.
The new provincial offences give officials the option to follow through with a charge in a less formal way by issuing a ticket, instead of requiring a person to appear in Provincial Court to deal with a formal charge.
The fines for possessing more than 30 grams of non-medical cannabis and possessing improperly packaged pot will be $672.
In September of last year, the province established pre-set fines for other cannabis-related provincial offences including supplying pot to a person under 19, smoking and vaping in provincial parks, transporting improperly stored pot and failing drug-screening tests as part of the graduated driver licensing program.
As part of a larger response to the federal laws around non-medical cannabis, the province has also introduced legislation that would formalize a social responsibility fee for cannabis retailers, establish a hybrid retail model to support public safety and economic development, and launched an awareness campi9agn about the laws and risks associated with cannabis use.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Manitoba First Nations Police are requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing man last seen a week ago in Sandy Bay.
31-year-old Cody Grayson Mousseau of Sandy Bay was last seen between November 29th and December 1st in Sandy Bay.
Police are concerned for his well-being and are asking anyone with information that could lead to his location to contact them.
Police did not provide a description of his appearance.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
This past weekend was the return of the Dauphin RIDE Program.
It was a successful weekend, with 62 people getting to their destination safely. 32 volunteers gathered at the Dauphin RIDE Headquarters and worked 110 hours combined.
The program is looking to recruit more volunteers because they depend on having a consistent volunteer base, and more are always appreciated.
Those wanting to donate or volunteer can call Cory or Sho-Sho at (204) 638-1463. The Dauphin RIDE Program runs on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 pm to 3 am for the next few weeks with the final day being New Year's Eve, if you need a ride call (204) 638-5707.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Manitoba was ranked lowest on the PISA results that were released last week. Students in Manitoba scored last in the country in math and science and second-last in reading skills.
MVSD Superintendent Dan Ward says it gives them some data to look at and analyze.
“Obviously, I would have liked our students, provincially, to have done better. However, we do have to keep in mind that it is one test that was administered back in 2018, the sample size is relatively small at 10% roughly across the province.”
Division by division results don't get released.
While giving the reasoning for why Manitoba is low, Ward says the provinces with higher child poverty rates don’t perform as well as provinces with a lower rate.
“I think that, when we look at the issue of student performance both nationally and provincially, we have to take a collective effort to make sure that every student who walks through the doors of one of our schools comes ready to learn and has their basic needs met.”
Ward adds that they have to continually look at ways to improve and says the Mountain View School Division is investing heavily in the numeracy achievement project. Many rural school divisions are participating in the project. MVSD is focusing on student performance data in grade 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Ward wasn’t surprised in the results, saying for some time now, Manitoba has been at the bottom half of the PCAP and PISA results.
“There have been discussions about how we can improve, not specifically for PISA or PCAP, but as a province. The province introduced a continuous improvement plan a number of years ago where the Department of Education is supporting school divisions in creating targets.“
Ward says the province is well aware they’re ranked in the bottom half, adding it’s a multi-year effort to improve.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Neepawa RCMP attended a two-vehicle collision 1km north of Neepawa on Highway 5.
Friday, just before 6 pm, a vehicle driven by a 42-year-old male was driving north on Highway 5 when it hit a deer that was coming from the east side of the road.
A second vehicle heading south hit the same deer, causing injuries to those inside.
The 58-year-old male driver, and 58-year-old female passenger, both from the RM of Cornwallis, were taken to hospital where the female was pronounced deceased.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Every winter the RCMP gets called out to the scenes of tragic snowmobile collisions.
Last weekend alone, RCMP got called out to two incidents where lives were lost on snowmobiles.
Since snowmobilers are starting to head out, the RCMP has released some tips to stay safe while out on the trails.
- Know your abilities and ride within your limits. This will allow you to always be in control of your snowmobile.
- Use caution, be alert and slow down when operating on unfamiliar terrain. Always look ahead and be ready for hidden or unforeseen obstacles.
- Always ride in groups and let people know where you’re going, the route you will be taking, and when you expect to return.
- Wear the proper protective clothing, including a helmet, to keep you warm and to keep you safe.
- Be cautious of ice thickness when crossing frozen bodies of water. If you are crossing a body of water, please wear a floatation device over your outer clothing.
- RIDE SOBER. Drinking and using cannabis while operating a snowmobile don’t mix.
The RCMP hopes that by sharing these tips, they can increase the number of snowmobilers that make it home to their friends and family safely.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
NDP Leader Wab Kinew has introduced a private member's bill to recognize Metis leader Louis Riel as the honorary first premier of the province.
The Progressive Conservative government would have to support the bill in order for it to pass.
That will likely have to wait because it isn't expected to come to a vote before March.
Riel was central to the Red River and North-West rebellions to assert Indigenous rights, before getting hanged in Saskatchewan in 1885 for treason.
A motion passed in Parliament in 1992 recognized him as the founder of Manitoba and the province celebrates a statutory holiday on the third Monday in February as Louis Riel Day.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
On December 6th, 1989, Canada's worst mass shooting took place at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique which resulted in the deaths of 14 women, and 14 others injured.
It started when the shooter, Marc Lépine, entered an engineering classroom at the school and separated the men and women. He then ordered the men to leave and shot the 9 women who remained, killing 6 of them.
He then for 20 minutes went through other areas in the school targetting women before killing himself. He stated he was "fighting feminism".
The tragic incident is now being officially acknowledged as an attack on feminists, and a memorial plaque in the city of Montreal has been changed to reflect that. Nathalie Provost, a survivor of the shooting, says it was an obvious anti-feminist act from the moment it happened.
Several events are planned every year in Montreal and other places in Canada to mark the anniversary.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
RCMP have concluded an extensive search of homes in Winnipeg and the Interlake, possibly resulting in one of the largest meth seizures in Manitoba.
On Wednesday, the RCMP organized crime unit executed nine search warrants in Manitoba and Alberta. The nine searches were conducted in Winnipeg, St. Laurent, and Calgary.
RCMP said the massive investigation led to seizures of meth, cocaine, cash, and a number of vehicles. Police went on to say that the total amount of drugs and money seized still needs to be counted, but it is expected the largest meth seizure in the province.
RCMP arrested nine people, including a full-patch member of the Hells Angels named Kenny Erstelle.
Along with Erstelle, the people arrested include:
-40-year-old Lord Kofi Agyapong-Mensah
-31-year-old Anthony Cerezo-Brennan
-32-year-old Ryan Cerezo-Brennan
-42-year-old Akhome Manotham
-25-year-old Dillon Manotham
-34-year-old Ritchie Orbegoso
-41-year-old Linda Pelletier
-37-year-old Jian Shen
Police say that money laundering charges have been laid against the suspects, and all suspects are scheduled to be in provincial court.
RCMP added that the investigation is still ongoing and there will be more information will be released next week.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The Asessippi Ski Area and Resort’s winter season grand opening is today.
Isaiah Smith, project manager at CoPilot Collective, says it all opens at 10 in the morning.
“The slopes are all opening with some fun activities like the Get Amped Ski and Snowboard Competition. Everything’s just opening up for the winter season over at the park there.”
To go along with all the activities, there’s a ski and snowboard competition this weekend on Saturday.
Smith says they've been building to this point.
“They’ve put in so much time and effort over the last 21 years just kind of developing the resort and a space that has attractions, has value all seasons, and really gives people an opportunity to explore Manitoba in a way that we typically don’t associate Manitoba with, being one of the largest skiing areas in the prairies.”
There's a lot to look forward to this weekend, such as 26 trails, 4 snow tubing lanes, a snowshoe trail, a new powdered snow creating system, and dog sledging for those who aren’t as invested in skiing or snowboarding alternatives to have a good time while at the resort.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Government of Manitoba is planning out a cap on salaries paid to executives in the public sector and is not ruling out cutting current wages.
The PC government introduced a bill outlining “a compensation framework” for senior officials at Crown corporations, school divisions, and health authorities.
Finance Minister Scott Fielding said that the government will seek the help of a consultant to determine an appropriate salary range for different jobs.
Fielding added that are several variables to consider, but they want to make sure there is some consistency in regards to what executives are getting paid.
Under the proposed law, a public body could see funding clawbacks if they ignore the set cap.
The introduction of the bill follows a spat between Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen and the Winnipeg School Division. Goertzen stated on social media that almost 200 school division staff were making $100,000 a year or more. The superintendent’s salary is listed at over $250,000.
The NDP's finance critic Mark Wasyliw, says that the salary cap should also include executives in the private sector.
Fielding based the bill on current legislation in Alberta, where in June last year, they reduced salaries of almost all school superintendents after a review found that they were making too much. They also decreased severance payments and retirement allowances.
Fielding went on to say that it’s too early to tell of similar cuts would come into play in Manitoba.
One of the bill’s other provisions would allow the province to set a new financial reporting requirement for municipalities. The provision is aimed at ensuring fiscal years for municipalities and the province would end at the same time, as well as syncing accounting practices.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
