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The provincial government is holding the line when it comes to school funding for 2019-20.
That’s the view of Bart Michaleski who thinks the province is focused more on the education review this year.
Mounting View School Division is getting a 0.7 per cent reduction in funding which comes out to 22.1 million dollars.
“Our announcement was slightly better than it was last year because we had an enrolment increase this fall that we weren’t expecting. And any time your enrolment goes up, it does affect your formula calculations. So last year when we received our formula our enrolment had gone down slightly. That’s why we were a little more negatively affected last year.”
In the 2018-19 school year, the province had given MVSD a 0.8 per cent reduction.
“Our expectations going into the year was that the announcement would be similar. We didn’t think that the announcement would province more money than last year. As well, last year’s announcement put a cap on how much we could increase our property taxation and that same rule applies this year as well.”
Funding in Manitoba is calculated using the Funding of Schools Program formula, which guarantees divisions receive at least 98 per cent of the previous year’s total.
The province is directing divisions to cap increases to their local education property tax at two per cent for the 2019-20 school year and is asking them to continue to reduce administrative costs.
Michaleski says MVSD is in a slightly better situation this year.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Some people vape to quit smoking, while younger people have been vaping more and more in recent years.
Jo-Anne Douglas, tobacco dependence councillor, doesn’t think it’s good to start vaping if you don’t smoke because of all the chemicals.
Douglas says if you’re trying to quit smoking and you think it will work, try it.
“There’s no evidence it helps to quit smoking. But, there is some evidence that it is safer than smoking.”
She recommends to those quitting smoking to try traditional methods first, and put vaping at the bottom of the list.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Friday was the Dauphin Friendship Centre’s pizza fundraiser for the Food for Thought program.
Their goal was to sell 200 pizzas.
They surpassed that, selling 304, which made over 2500 dollars.
Due to the success, the volunteers want to do another one.
Gale Welburn, the resource development coordinator at the DFC, is thankful for the support they received.
“Everything looks really good and we’re just so grateful for all the support we received from the community for this. So thank you.”
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Canada’s new food guide isn’t revolutionary, and not much has changed.
That’s according to Mary Ann Binnie, a nutrition consultant with the Canadian Meat Council.
“What’s different is the nomenclature. And now with all the interest of Canadians in protein, they’ve labelled the group protein foods. But meat, pork, beef, fish, chicken, have always been the same grouping as nuts, seeds, and legumes.”
She says what people should focus on are the foods that aren’t included in the food guide. Those include nutritionally lacking food that is either high in fat, sodium, or sugars. She recommends moderating consumption of these to make room for foods that are actually in the guide.
Some people are interpreting the new Canada food guide as an instruction to eat less meat.
But Binnie says Canadians have already reduced their red meat consumption. “Well, Canadians have moderated their red meat consumption. So I think the food guide does not recommend any further reduction.”
According to an Ipsos poll done in 2017, 72% of respondents reported eating three or less servings of meat a week.
Binnie says cattle producers should be aware that the foods they raise are welcomed and appreciated by Health Canada because they add to a nutrition package of a well-balanced diet.
“It does include lean red meat as a healthy choice that should be enjoyed every day.”
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Two rifles and four shotguns were stolen from a garage in the Interlake.
It happened on Tuesday in the RM of Fisher, south of Peguis.
Overnight the garage had been broken into where the guns and some work tools were taken.
Anyone with information is asked to call Fisher Branch RCMP at 204-372-6329 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The Dauphin and District Chamber of Commerce is holding a meeting in Grandview on Tuesday.
It's to touch base with anyone in the business community to discuss what they’d like to see from the chamber moving forward.
Stephen Chychota is hoping that anyone with a stake in the business community can make it out to the discussion.
It’s also a good opportunity for the chamber to learn about the businesses in the community.
Chychota wants to look to the future about what could be developed in Grandview.
Since they are called Dauphin and District, Chychota is trying to put more focus on the district part of the name.
If you’d like to go to the meeting call Stephen at 622-3140, or the community futures parkland office at 546-5100.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Organizers of Manitoba Ag Days say it was another great event.
The 42nd annual show wrapped up yesterday.
It was well attended as 45,000 people came through the doors of the Keystone Center in Brandon.
Seminar speakers were extremely well attended over the course of the three days.
Organizers say next year's theme will be technology and innovation.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Mountain View School Division Superintendent Donna Davidson hopes the outcome of the education review lead to a conversation about something important for youth.
“I’m hoping the outcome will be a collaborative look at how can we ensure that our youth are ready for what is out there. And sometimes it’s difficult to plan for the unknown because we know how quickly and how changing our society is as a result of technology.”
Public consultations will start soon, and Davidson says the review should continue to focus on the welfare of students. That includes their mental, social, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing.
“I note that it is so broad. They’re going to look at funding, they’re going to look at taxation, they’re going to look at governance, they are going to look at student learning. All those things that they’re going to look at. I’m hoping that what comes out of it is they will make the right decisions for the right reasons. That they’ll make decisions about taxation and decisions about funding that will directly support student learning.”
The review has been in development for a while. She remembers talking to then Education Minister Ian Wishart back when they were preparing to announce the opening of MacKenzie middle school around two and a half years ago.
The final report with key findings and recommendations is expected by February 2020.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Tickets are sold out to the Richardson Pioneer Gilbert Plains Community Hall Grand Opening Event on Saturday, February 9th.
Doors open at 4:30, and the banquet is at 6. After the banquet, there will be an old time dance with a live band performance playing mostly country.
A theatrical group called Galaxy Theatre will also put on a show about the history of events that have taken place in the hall.
They cost 35 dollars and can be purchased by calling the Gilbert Plains Municipality office at 204-548-2326 or you can stop in at Family Foods in Gilbert Plains.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
RCMP have laid charges in the Swan River homicide over the weekend.
30-year-old Tyler Brass, from Swan River, has been charged with Second Degree Murder in relation to the homicide of a 39-year-old male on January 18, 2019.
Original story
Manitoba RCMP have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the fatal stabbing in Swan River over the weekend, and aren't seeking any other suspects.
RCMP say they were called to a home in Swan River on Friday night, and were led to an injured and unresponsive 39-year-old man when they arrived.
E-M-S attempted to treat the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The province is developing a strategy to help farmers and industry produce more plant and animal protein products.
MP Robert Sopuck says the growth and survival of our communities and Agri-culture can be bolstered with investments in protein.
“I strongly support any added processing that goes on. Whether it’s producing canola oil at Harrowby, fine pork from the HyLife plant, all those value-added processing activates are extremely important.”
The strategy will also aim to increase investments in new plant protein extraction and position Manitoba as a leading research and development centre.
MLA Brad Michaleski says this announcement is great news. “Manitoba produces a lot of protein sources. So we’re going to try and tap in and get into that market as much as we can. The beef sector, forage and legumes, all kinds of different sources here.”
The government says it will release a consultation paper called Manitoba Protein Advantage in February and seek feedback before releasing the final strategy in September.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
