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Over 4,000 Manitoba First Nations residents are beginning to see compensation from the federal and provincial governments after being evacuated eight years ago.
Residents of the Lake St. Martin, Little Saskatchewan, Dauphin River, and Pinaymootang First Nations were forced to leave their homes during the 2011 flood. They and 3,000 community members living off-reserve were eligible for compensation after winning a $90 million class-action lawsuit against the federal government.
Sabrina Lombardi, a lawyer representing some evacuees, confirmed compensation cheques were mailed beginning last week.
Of the 7,000 people eligible, only 70 percent successfully applied.
Evacuees receiving compensation fall into three categories: Those disrupted for more than three years, those disrupted less than three years, and those living outside of the community during the flood but were disrupted from accessing the community after the fact.
Another category of “special circumstances” applicants which account for 7.5% of claimants who incurred extraordinary health care costs or job loss, will have to continue to wait until that process is completed.
The amount of compensation being received by each evacuee has not been disclosed.
Hundreds of people were never able to return home, those who did had to wait several years to do so. Reconstruction is ongoing in the communities affected. The money is solely meant to compensate people for the personal impact of the flood, not on rebuilding the community.
Almost 100 people from Lake St. Martin died over the past six years due to illness that some say was associated with the stress of the evacuation.
CKDM reached out to a spokesperson for the Pinaymootang First Nation who declined to provide a comment.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Registration is still open for the Walk for Alzheimer’s happening on June 19th.
This walk helps to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. Over 80% of their funding comes from fundraisers like these.
Wanda Sime, the Parkland Regional Coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, says brochures can be picked up at the IG Wealth Management building or the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba building in Dauphin.
Last year the walk started at Vermillion Park, this year they’ve moved back somewhere they’ve started before, CN Park
The route is the same one as normal. The goal is to raise awareness and let people know they’re out there and can help or support those dealing with any kind of cognitive changes.
The walk registration will start at 5, the walk will start at 7, there’ll be a barbecue during the day, and face painting.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
A Waywayseecappo man is in custody after being apprehended by Manitoba First Nations Police Service and their K9 Unit.
MFNPS officers were circulating the area in an effort to find a suspect wanted on five outstanding warrants.
Police went to the residence of the suspect to learn that the suspect had fled the home. K9 CETO immediately picked up his scent and began tracking him for 200 meters in a densely bushed area.
The suspect was found hiding in the bush and was quickly arrested and taken into custody.
41-year-old Graham Sparvier was arrested on outstanding warrants for sexual assault, sexual interference, fail to attend court and 2 counts of failing to comply with conditions on his recognizance.
Sparvier has been remanded in custody to June 13th, 2019 to appear in Brandon Provincial Court.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The 3rd Annual State of the District was held in Winnipegosis yesterday.
Reeve of the Mossey River Municipality, Ron Kostyshyn, says having a bunch of municipalities partake in the conversation was great.
Kostyshyn thinks the municipalities are looking at opportunities for economic growth and development to help the municipalities grow and benefit ratepayers.
He adds that they talked about Mossey River and Winnipegosis and what they have to offer the Parkland, such as a hospital, emergency service, and opportunities for business.
Kostyshyn says all the municipalities strive for economic growth and business opportunities.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Charlie Major and George Canyon concert in Grandview brought in 35 thousand dollars.
Dennis Lukey would like to see more concerts in Grandview.
“We’ll see how things go. Maybe try to work with Countryfest and maybe get something done again next year. Grandview’s hosting a big reunion they do every 5 years, so that’ll be August long weekend next year. So, maybe try to plan something for then.”
There was a lot of hype and excitement in Grandview leading up to the concert.
The money will help the Grandview Kinsmen Club continue their many local initiatives.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Gas prices have been going down in the Parkland recently and that trend is expected to continue.
Dan McTeague, the senior petroleum analyst with gasbuddy.com says that prices could drop by another 5 to 8 cents a litre over the next week.
He added that he doesn’t expect a hike for the upcoming Canada Day long weekend unless trade relations between the United States and China improve, which could cause prices to take a U-Turn.
The trade dispute between the two superpowers is the main reason for the fall in prices and while that may be good on the wallet, it is not good for the global economy overall. If the low wholesale value of gasoline continues to be low it could have a negative effect on the Canadian economy due to the amount of gas we produce and sell.
McTeague says that this is the first spring in six years that gas prices have fallen instead of risen. And even though gas prices may continue to fall the federal carbon tax of 4.6¢/litre will make sure that prices stay above $1.10/litre.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The State of the District was held in Winnipegosis yesterday afternoon.
Stephen Chychota says it went very well.
“There was lots of great information and presentations. It’s an opportunity to collaborate, connect and gain some insight into what’s going on in the Parkland.”
Chychota says municipalities and community groups shared the opportunities that they have in their areas.
“There are business opportunities, people can definitely pull up their sleeves and be a little entrepreneurial.”
A lot of history was talked about as well; there were presentations relating to how things started in the Parkland and what it took to get where we are today.
This was the 3rd annual state of the district and second in a row away from Dauphin. Last year it was held in Grandview. Plans are for next year’s to make a return to Dauphin.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation will be painting lines on streets in Dauphin.
Crews started today and will be working until Friday.
They ask drivers to drive with care and caution.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Early yesterday morning the Manitoba First Nations Police Service executed a search warrant at a home on the Sandy Bay First Nation.
During the search, Police located and seized 23 firearms some of which are suspected to be stolen and 3 of the guns were loaded.
Two adult males have been arrested and face several charges including unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, and possession of a weapon obtained by crime.
Both suspects will appear in court at a later date.
This search was conducted as part of the “MFNPS Guns and Gangs Initiative” and funding is provided by the provincial government.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Despite recreational cannabis being legal, it won’t be allowed at Safe Grad parties.
This is because to have a true safe grad it has to be in a public place, and consuming cannabis in public is illegal.
There are two types of penalties someone could receive. Smoking or vaping cannabis in public will result in a 672 dollar fine and for supplying cannabis to someone who’s underage the fine is over 2500 dollars.
Penalties would go to the individuals involved however, the committee and licensed establishment have a duty to ensure the environment is safe and take precautions to ensure everyone is following the rules.
Even if someone is 19, they still won't be allowed to consume cannabis at safe grad.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Trudeau government says it will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021.
Some of the single-use plastics that will be banned include plastic straws, cotton swabs, drink stirrers, plates, cutlery, and balloon sticks.
A larger strategy to tackle the plastic pollution problem will be announced by the government.
It is expected that the list of banned plastics will look a lot like that of the EU, voted in March to ban products made of oxo-degradable plastics that don’t fully decompose.
Fast-food containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene, which is similar to Styrofoam, will be banned as well.
At last year’s G-7 meeting in Quebec, Prime Minister Trudeau announced the Canada-led Ocean Plastics Charter which Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The U.K, and the European Union immediately signed on to.
A report completed earlier this found that in 2016, 87 percent of plastic waste ended up in landfills with only nine percent being recycled in Canada.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadians throw away more than 34 million plastic bags daily. This is a global issue because the bags end up in landfills and can take 1,000 years to decompose. They also end up in the oceans, where dead whales have washed ashore with plastic bags found in their stomachs.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna will announce the new plastic strategy in two separate locations.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
