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Manitoba is boosting the maximum amount eligible for the Young Farmer Rebate program to $200,000 from $150,000.
The program provides an annual rebate of up to two per cent on the principal of a loan from the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation.
Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler says one of the government's priorities is to increase the number of young people in the agriculture industry.
“Increasing the young farmer rebate supports our focus on young producers by reducing the cost of borrowing while they grow their operations.”
The program provides an annual rebate of up to two per cent on the principal of a loan from MASC for up to five years.
As a result of the expansion, the lifetime maximum rebate will also increase, to $20,000 from $15,000.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Manitoba’s rural economy, and young farmers are the future of the industry’s growth,” said Jared Munro, president and CEO, MASC. “This enhancement to the Young Farmer Rebate program is expected to provide an additional $500,000 in interest reductions next fiscal year.”
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The snow on top of the Parkland Rec Complex has been leaking through the roof and causing some damage.
Operations Manager Wes Carneige says the leak started on the 20th and it came down in six or seven different spots from the roof to the main floor.
“It actually follows the handicap ramp at the top leading into the CUP. That area and down right by our pool office.”
They have reached out to their insurance company and are now in the process of ripping the damage out.
They will be putting out a tender to get everything repaired as soon as possible.
“When they come to do tear out of all the drywall and everything we’re going to be redirecting all the walking traffic for all the walkers and everything like that. if someone needs the wheelchair ramp, we will just instruct the workers that they have to be cautious and if someone is coming up the wheelchair ramp that they have to stop all work while they pass.”
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Canadian canola exporters are trying to sell their supply to other markets after Chinese companies stopped buying last week.
Brian Innes, with the Canola Council of Canada, says China was a big chunk of the market and it’s hard to fill a hole that size.
“That would be a train that would go all the way from Calgary to Vancouver filled with canola seed. So that’s a lot of canola seed to send somewhere else.”
The immediate problem for canola farmers is the drop in price for the commodity.
“That directly hits producers who have canola to sell," said Innes. "But of course, producers are also looking to go into their fields in just a few short weeks and plant the 2019 crop. so it’s creating a lot of uncertainty with the whole industry for a market that is really significant for the Canadian industry.”
The council says canola exporters are now looking at other markets, including Japan, Mexico, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Europe.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
With spring here the condition of ice on rivers and lakes across Manitoba is now dangerous.
The province has issued an advisory warning the public of potentially hazardous ice conditions.
While the ice may appear normal, it may be very thin and no longer support people and heavy objects such as snowmobiles and vehicles.
The quality of river ice within communities is also uncertain, so people are advised to stay off rivers and retention ponds.
Manitoba Sustainable Development advises ice fishing shelters must be removed by March 31 in the rest of the southern division and by April 15 in the northwest, north central and northeast divisions, or when requested to do so by a conservation officer due to unsafe ice conditions.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Yesterday, Dairy Queen made its long-anticipated open. In the first hour of being open, over 100 people made it for an early lunch.
Most people were feeling good about Dairy Queen being open, Christina from Dauphin was one of those people.
“We’re pretty excited! We usually go to Neepawa and stop on the way to Winnipeg so it’s nice to have it here.”
Cavan from Dauphin was also one of the first 100 people into DQ.
“It’s pretty good that we have another restaurant cause it’s a new thing that I like.”
The first 100 people received coupons for a free burger and a free small blizzard.
CKDM’s Darnell Duff spent about 40 minutes waiting to get into DQ.
“I’m a Dairy Queen fan and I know a lot of people are. Especially after golf, I’ll definitely come here for a blizzard, maybe fries and a burger, so I’m pretty excited about it for sure.”
Some people were standing out in line in the -10 weather for an hour waiting for the open. The Dairy Queen staff even mentioned people waiting in their car outside the DQ at around 6:30 in the morning.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is going digital with a new app to make this year's experience more engaging.
General Manager Ron Kristjansson says they partnered with a company called Numnu to create the app. It's one of the first fairs in Canada to try this out.
“It’s going to be exciting to see how that works. It’s something that we’ve worked hard to try and build over the last few years.” Kristjansson continues, “Fairgoers want to be able to pull up their phone and figure out where to go. That’s what we’ve got for you now.”
Some of the things visitors can use the app for include skip-the-wait mobile ordering and the event map and schedule.
Marc Chriqui, founder and CEO of Numnu says, “Guests will enjoy a convenient mobile experience that will allow them to discover, experience, and share what the fair has to offer, benefiting them, the organizers, and exhibitors.”
There’s a lot to see in this modern show, like Empress Arabian Stallion, Thriller Trick Riders, and even a Craig Douglas Comedy Juggler.
“Every day will be changing up the performances. So what you see on Wednesday will be just a little bit different then what you saw on Monday and that type of thing. It’s something that lots of families come. There’s a fiddle contest Wednesday night if that’s what people are inclined to,” said Kristjansson. “You could spend easily a couple of days and see all kinds of things.”
Gates open at 8 each day and go until 8 at night. The fair runs starting today and goes until Saturday.
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But not the kind with snow, Dairy Queen is making its long-anticipated open this morning at 10.
They would have liked to have the parking lot paved by the time they opened but they didn’t want to stall the opening, so the parking lot will be finished in a few weeks.
Eric Rochefort, franchise developer for Dairy Queen Canada, says they’re expecting a pretty busy opening tomorrow.
There will be a special deal for the first 100 people that go to DQ. They have a grand opening event planned in a week and a half.
They already have created 40 jobs in the local market and they’re still looking for more people. If you’re interested bring your resume to DQ and they’ll take a look at it.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The federal government is excluding broadcast media from the journalism support tax credits announced in Budget 2019.
Only newspapers are eligible for the new tax credits for news and journalism.
According to the Reuters Institute’s 2018 Digital News Report, more than 75 per cent of Canadians get their news from television and radio, while only 31 per cent cite newspapers as their primary source.
“Canadians want to be informed and they want a diversity of trusted, quality news sources from which to choose,” said Lenore Gibson, Canadian Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors chair. “The federal government’s exclusion of broadcasters —the preferred source for news among Canadians — is arbitrary and unfair policy."
Canadians place a high value on local news and are concerned about the decline of journalism according to Nanos polling. More than two-thirds (70%) of Canadians agree their MP should work to keep local broadcasting strong. The majority of Canadians polled say local broadcast news is valuable. Also, a majority of respondents agree that their local broadcast news contributes to making their community stronger.
“If the government is truly committed to recognizing the vital role media plays in helping citizens make informed decisions, it must find a way to include radio and television news outlets in this tax credit regime,” said Gibson.
The tax credit was announced in the 2018 Fall Economic Statement.
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With spring break here, people are hitting the highways and will probably come across a semi.
Jim Campbell from First Class Training Centre says large trucks have four blind spots that small vehicles should avoid. They include right in front and on the sides from the mirror to the drive tires.
“One of the bigger pet peeves for a lot of drivers are people hanging in right behind the trailer. The old saying that if you, as a car driver, cannot see our mirrors, well then we obviously can’t see you. So that’s a major blind spot.”
He also warns never to cut off a semi. Their stopping distance is a lot farther and takes a lot longer to stop safely.
“We cannot stop like you can in a car. It takes a lot of time and distance to be able to stop properly and safely. We’re dealing with a lot of weight. We’re dealing upwards of 80 thousand plus pounds.”
If space opens up beside a semi when they are planning to turn, small cars are told never to sneak in.
“A lot of drivers will require what we call a button hook turn where we are going to need some of that left lane as well to swing wide enough to make that turn. If that little gap opens up between the curb and the trailer, don’t try and race it. Don’t try and squeeze in there and beat the truck. Because that’s where a lot of accidents happen.”
Campbell says to be patient and give drivers the space they need to make the turn safely.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The Manitoba Government is finalizing the selection process for their second phase of retail cannabis stores.
Their goal is to have a non-medical cannabis store available within a 30-minute drive for 90 per cent of Manitobans within 2 years of legalization.
In July 2018, 100 applicants pre-qualified for a future opportunity to operate a cannabis retail store in Manitoba.
Approved applicants will be able to proceed to open a store in one of seven communities.
Altona, Flin Flon, Lac du Bonnet, Niverville, RM of Russell-Binscarth, Swan River, and Virden are the locations poised to receive a cannabis retail store.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Just after 1 this afternoon, Thompson RCMP responded to a vehicle-pedestrian collision.
Upon arrival on Provincial Road 391 near Thompson, officers located a male who looked to be in his 40’s, lying on the roadway.
He was pronounced deceased on scene.
It is believed the man was struck by a vehicle, but the vehicle didn’t remain at the scene.
Thompson RCMP and Forensic Collision Reconstructionists continue to investigate.
The RCMP are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has any information to call the Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6911, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
