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On Tuesday, PMH reported a cluster of coronavirus cases at a workplace in the region.
The cluster has been linked to the Brandon terminal of Paul's Hauling.
There are 7 confirmed and probable cases in the cluster according to public health officials.
Affected staff and their close contacts are self-isolating, and public health officials are continuing with detailed contact tracing.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The province has introduced a new measure to provide more support to students and post-secondary institutions during the pandemic.
Premier Brian Pallister announced Wednesday that the province will be matching funding for the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI) for the upcoming academic year.
That means the Manitoba government will be matching every dollar universities and colleges contribute under the MSBI.
“As students and the post-secondary institutions they attend deal with challenges created by COVID-19, the Manitoba government is committed to providing the funding they need during these uncertain times,” said Pallister. “We are facing the obstacles in front of us together, and it is imperative that we rely on our strong partnership with post-secondary institutions and our shared vision for access to education.”
The province is also committing $5 million to the MSBI program on top of the $10 million announced in Budget 2020. This year students will have approximately $30 million in scholarships and bursaries up for grabs.
Today’s announcement adds to existing provincial supports in place for students — a $120-million Summer Student Recovery Plan – a $7-per-hour wage subsidy for employers to hire them – and a deferral of repayments of student loans to help those affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has been given the approval to return $110 million to customers.
MPI is offering financial relief to Manitobans through rebates around 11 percent.
These rebates were made available partly by lower claims during the COVID-19 period.
Rebates will be based on what policyholders paid last year and are expected to be around 11 percent, or around $140 to $160, per average policyholder.
Manitobans can expect a rebate cheque at the end of May to early June.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A lobbyist group in Manitoba is drawing attention to some issues facing the commercial fishing industry.
Einar Sveinson is the president of Pioneer Commercial Fishers of Manitoba, which represents 300 commercial fishermen and families on Lake Winnipeg.
He says the problem here in Manitoba and across the Prairies is that our freezers are full of fish.
“They’re bursting at the seams,” he says, adding “to let us go ahead and fish, would actually negatively affect our industry for the next 3 to 4 years.”
As a result of the COVID pandemic, Sveinson tells CKDM that sales are down 98% across Canada and the United States.
On top of that, Sveinson explains Freshwater Fish isn’t accepting any pickerel.
He worries that the $62.5 million in federal funding — announced late last month for the fish and seafood sector — won’t help Manitoba fishermen and women who mainly fish for pickerel.
“They’re going to accept carp, suckers, pike, and a little bit of whitefish. I don’t know what all these other fishermen are going to do, if they’re targeting the secondary fish, and their nets are plugged full of pickerel."
"We’re in a pretty bad situation here.”
Going forward, Sveinson would like to see the federal government support a “pay-not-to-fish” program for the next year. He says this would “save our industry for the next 3 to 4 years — not only on Lake Winnipeg — but right across Canada.”
The president of Pioneer Commercial Fishers of Manitoba says he looks forward to both the federal and provincial government stepping up to address this problem.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Like many summer events here in the Parkland, the Gilbert Plains-Grandview Ag Society Fair and Rodeo has been cancelled.
It would’ve been the 121st annual fair, and the 30th year for the rodeo.
Despite the cancellation, Ag Society president, Kevin Boese says there may be an event in the fall.
“We talked last night and if everything settles down, it might even be late in fall, we might do some sort of event there. Maybe a community barbecue of some kind just to show the appreciation for the community, volunteers, and our supporters.”
Boese adds that they are looking forward to continuing the fair and rodeo next year.
For more information, you can visit the Gilbert Plains Ag Society Facebook page, or check out their website.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Public Health Officials have announced 2 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba today, and the total number of cases is 284.
Right now there are 35 active cases and 242 people have recovered.
The number of deaths remains at 7.
Public health officials have increased the number of cases associated with a workplace cluster in the Prairie Mountain Health region to seven, up from yesterday's 5.
Dr. Brent Roussin has confirmed the workplace in question is not a healthcare setting.
Affected staff and their close contacts are self-isolating, and public health officials are continuing with detailed contact tracing.
For the most up-to-date information about the virus, visit Manitoba.ca/covid19.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
This morning around 10:45 a.m., emergency crews were called out to a semi rollover.
The incident is on Road 119W, approximately half a mile south of Hwy 5 west of Dauphin.
Reports are that a semi hauling anhydrous ammonia hit the ditch and rolled onto its side.
No injuries were reported and the tank is not believed to have been damaged.
The officers along with the Fire Dept. remain on scene.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Next Tuesday is Manitoba Day, and there are some new ways to celebrate our province.
Manitobans are encouraged to take part in celebrations online this year because of social distancing orders.
There are many ways to get involved, with online visits to museums, heritage sites, cultural centres, and Manitoba attractions.
More online Manitoba Day attractions include:
- A colouring page of the Manitoba flag, posted on the provincial website for families to print, colour, and post in their windows. You can share a photo of you, your family, and your coloured flag on social media using #ManitobaDay. You can find the colouring page at https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/manitoba_day.html
- Manitoba Archives is posting digitized films from its holding online. The first uploads feature Manitoba’s history, including a film about the 1926 opening of the downtown Winnipeg Hudson’s Bay store, a 1959 film about a public health issue in the province, and a 1968 film about Manitoba in the winter. To access these films, visit http://www.manitoba.ca/yourarchives/events.html
- Manitoba Archive is also offering ‘Your Archives: The Histories We Share’, a yearlong initiative where Manitobans can choose an archival record and explain why that record matters. There are also commemorative videos to watch. For more information, visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/yourarchives/
- The Association of Manitoba Museums highlighting artifacts from its online exhibit ‘A Museum Called Manitoba.’ They will feature a new artifact every day in May on Instagram and Twitter. For more details, visit http://www.museumsmanitoba.com/150/
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A new federal aid package for farmers and agriculture producers falls short of what some groups have been asking for.
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has been advocating for a $2.6 billion emergency preparedness fund.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the $252 million announced yesterday is just an initial investment, and “if we need to add more, we will.”
Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) president Bill Campbell says this financial assistance is a good start.
“It’s good that the government has finally acknowledged some of the impacts of COVID-19, but I’m not sure if this amount of money actually deals with the impact being felt.”
When looking at how much is being set aside for cattle producers, Campbell says there “isn’t a large amount of money to help producers”.
He says it’s encouraging to see $50 million set aside for the purchase of surplus Ag commodities, so some food doesn’t go to waste.
Going forward, the KAP President hopes to see a movement amongst Canadians, engaging with their MP’s and MLA’s, and even grocery chains, to make sure Canadian food production is top of mind.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
It was announced earlier this week that Dauphin Rec Services wouldn't be opening their playgrounds. That is still the case until further notice.
However, Vermillion Park does remain open. That means you can still go for a walk on the trail or even a bike ride. The play structure is closed.
Social distancing is still required for the safety of everyone that utilizes the trail.
When it comes to the Splash Park, that doesn't open until late June or early July so more information will be provided when we get closer to then.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Manitoba RCMP is calling it one of the largest seizures of illegal tobacco from a traffic stop in Canada.
On Sunday, May 3rd around 11:20 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop two kilometres east of Brandon.
An inspection led to the discovery of 350 cases of illegal tobacco, containing 3,500,000 cigarettes.
The 36-year-old male driver from Calgary was taken into custody.
He faces charges for trafficking contraband tobacco, the Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act (TAMTA) and the Excise Act, 2001.
If convicted, he could face a mandatory triple tax penalty of over $3,000,000.00 under the TAMTA.
The investigation continues.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
