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Canada's Federal Budget was announced today with a heavy focus on health care, cost of living, and a transition to a clean economy. 

One of the most notable pieces of the $491 billion budget is the presentation of $13 billion for a federally funded dental plan that will assist families earning less than  $90 thousand annually. The dental plan could cover nearly 9 million Canadians by the end of this year.

Other notable announcements that came from today's budget include:

  • $198.3 billion in spending in the healthcare system to expand services and reduce backlogs, which has been in the works for a while.
  • $59.5 billion in additional spending as compared to last year.
  • Doubling the GST rebate for low-income families
  • $20 billion over 6 years in tax credits for investments in green technologies 
  • $4 billion over 5 years for an Indigenous housing strategy 
  • $359 million over 5 years addressing the opioid crisis
  • $158 million 3 years for a new suicide prevention hotline that launches November 30th
  • and $15 billion in reduced government spending for public servants and travel.

Assisting Canadians with health care came with its costs, and projections of higher-than-expected deficits are being predicted for the next 5 years.

Canada's debt-to-GDP ratio is still one of the lowest among G-7 countries at 30.5 percent as of 2022.

For a full review of the 2023 federal budget, the Government of Canada Website has the entirety of the release.

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There are some shockingly high numbers in the RCMP monthly crime stats for February, including a 45% increase in Crimes Against Property in the West District, which includes the Parkland.

Overall, calls for service across the province were up 17%, with the West District seeing the smallest increase at just 3%. The East District saw an average increase of 17%, while the North District was up 21%.

The crime statistics compare February this year, with February 2022, and three of the four major categories saw an increase in the West District.

  • Common Police Activities +23% (387 to 477)
  • Crime against Property +45% (401 to 580)
  • Crime against Person +25% (247 to 308)
  • Drug Enforcement -7% (28 to 26)

Further breakdown of the West District crime stats can be found here.

Some other numbers around the province that really stick out in this month's report were a 160% increase in Drug Enforcement in the East District, a 54% increase in Drug Enforcement in the North District, and a 62% increase in Traffic Enforcement Tickets provincially.

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The Manitoba government is investing $420 million in critical infrastructure to strengthen the economy in Northern Manitoba.

The money will be going toward projects like road and runway repairs, upgrading airport facilities, and developing a sustainable northern corridor through the Port of Churchill.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk made the announcement in Thompson this morning.

“We are making strategic investments that strengthen northern Manitoba to create opportunities not only to compete today but to build on for generations to come,’’ said Piwniuk in a news release. “We believe a stronger, more vibrant northern economy can help propel the provincial economy forward.”

Included in the investment is over $250 million dollars in improvements to five roadways. This money will be going towards improved safety and year-round access.

  • Over $100 million is going to Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 6, including $40 million in projects such as twinning and passing lanes for the section of PTH 6 from PTH 101 north to Grosse Isle.
  • $98.3 million will go to Provincial Road (PR) 283 for a new bridge at the Pasquia River and bituminous reconstruction from the Saskatchewan boundary to PTH 10 at The Pas. Once complete, this section will support Manitoba’s heaviest allowable loads and will complete 39.7 km of the trade and commerce grid.
  • $36 million is earmarked for bridge repair work at Burntwood River on PR 391.
  • $8.5 million for upgrades to PR 620, a 10-km gravel access road that connects PR 391 to Nelson House-Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the community of Nelson House.
  • $4.5 million to build a new airport access road off PR 391 to better serve the Thompson airport.

Piwniuk says the government understands the importance of improving transportation linkages for the transportation of goods and services, promotion of tourism, mining exploration, and economic development.

You can see the provincial government's full News Release about the investment here.

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Police are looking for answers after the death of a 37-year-old man on Opaskwayak Cree Nation.

Around 11 pm on Saturday night, Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) officers responded to an unresponsive male at a residence in the community. EMS also attended to the scene, and the man was taken to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Police are looking to speak to two people who had helped the man at around 1:30 am on Saturday. They stopped to help the 37-year-old get medical attention from EMS.

Anyone with information in relation to this death is asked to contact the Manitoba First Nations Police Service at 204-623-8200, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

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The Virden RCMP received a report of a house fire on Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Saturday evening, and while on their way, were told that a child was believed to still be in the residence.

Sioux Valley Fire Department, Sioux Valley First Nation Safety Officers, and community members were working on extinguishing the fire as quickly as possible. An 11-year-old male was found in the home and taken to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Four adults and three children were in the home when the fire started, and only the 11-year-old sustained physical injuries. A 65-year-old female community member who was assisting in trying to get the 11-year-old male out of the home sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital where she remains.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The Office of the Fire Commissioner is assisting with the ongoing investigation.

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The Dauphin RCMP is looking for help identifying a suspect after shots were fired last night.

Shortly before 9 pm, the RCMP responded to a report of shots being fired at a motel on Main Street South. Police say a dark-coloured van stopped in front of the units and a male suspect got out and knocked on the door of a unit.

The suspect then fired a gun at the door and window of the unit before getting back in the van and fleeing. He's described as tall and skinny, and was wearing a black mask. No one was injured in the incident.

The RCMP is looking for anyone who saw this vehicle or its occupants in the area at that time or who may have information to assist with the investigation. If you have information please call Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Shots Fired Dauphin

Shots Fired Dauphin 2

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Brandon Police found a number of unusual weapons during a residential search warrant last week.

Following an investigation into illicit firearms, police executed a search warrant at a residence on the 300 block of 11th street. Police seized a modified COOEY model 82 .22cal firearm, bear mace, a small amount of meth, and various other weapons.

Three people were arrested as a result of the search. A 38-year-old male and a 25-year-old female face charges of CDSA Possess Meth, Careless Storage of a Firearm, and Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm.

A 30-year-old female is facing charges of failing to Comply with Release Order X2, Possessing a Firearm contrary to Prohibition Order, CDSA Possess Meth, Possession of a Firearm knowing its possession is Unauthorized, and Careless Storage of a Firearm.

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There is still much work to be done after flood waters surged last spring, causing nearly $200 million in damages to provincial infrastructure.

A news release from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure detailed the amount of work still left in the wake of the floods, including the replacement of embankments, the clearing and repair of culverts, and the restoration of roads.

In the Parkland, there are 16 projects with $6.4 million going to repairs.

There are four projects on PTH 10:

  • Embankment reconstruction at SteepRock River bridge.
  • Embankment reconstruction and river channel realignment at the Bell River bridge with design of long-term river training work is underway.
  • Embankment reconstruction Birch River bridge.
  • Embankment reconstruction and retaining wall design at Pine River bridge.

There are three projects along PTH 20:

  • Cowan – Camperville – road repairs.
  • Embankment reconstruction Sclater bridge.
  • PR 271 – Camperville – road repairs.

There's one project along PR 271:

  • PTH 10 – PTH 20 – road repairs.

There are six projects on PR 367:

  • Temporary culvert replacement at Garland culvert with the design of long-term structure underway.
  • Temporary culvert replacement at River Hill culvert with the design of long-term structure underway.
  • Temporary culvert repairs at Culvert at West Favel River with the design of long-term structure underway.
  • Temporary culvert repairs at Culvert at Roaring River with the design of long-term structure underway.
  • PTH 83 – PR 366 – road repairs.
  • PTH 10 – PR 366 – road repairs.

There are two projects along PR 366:

  • PTH 10 – PR 367 – road repairs.
  • PTH 5 – PR 367 – road repairs.

In addition to these recovery efforts through the Disaster Financial Assistance Program, municipalities can also apply disaster financial assistance deductibles into approved mitigation or preparedness projects through the Mitigation and Preparedness Program (MPP).

This initiative will invest millions into local projects that help municipalities prepare for any future natural disasters. 

To learn more about the MPP visit: www.gov.mb.ca/emo/mitigation/mpp.html.

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The Canadian Canola Growers Association(CCGA) was recently named one of Manitoba's top employers by the organizers of the annual Canada's Top 100 Employers project.

This is the third time CCGA has been given the award and Rick White, the President and CEO of CCGA says it speaks to the work they do within the organization.

"We're very proud of having that recognition for CCGA. What it means is we are on track and in tune with our employees. We make this a concerted effort to make CCGA an attractive place for employees, where they want to work, and then balance that off with happy employees and productive employees."

White says the benefit is not only to their employees but also to the farmers that CCGA serves.

"It works both for the employees we have here, and has benefits to the organization and the farmers that we actually serve, because our mandate is to help farmer succeed, and we do that with excellent staff, and this recognizes that we're on the right track with our staff."

Employers were judged on workplace, work atmosphere, benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications, performance management, training and development, and community involvement.

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Spring break is a great time to get the family together for some great activities, and the Dauphin Recreational Center has something for everyone to enjoy.

Throughout the break, the Rec Center will be hosting a wide variety of activities and events including:

  • Strathcona Trust Senior Men's Pharmasave Senior Women's Provincial Curling Championships through the weekend, with the finals on Monday, which is free to watch
  • Games 2 and 4 of Dauphin Kings Play-Off Hockey on March 25th, and March 31st
  • Free Parent and Tot Skating on Monday the 27th
  • a free public swim from 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm on March 29th
  • a hunter's safety course on April 1st
  • a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) course on April 2nd
  • and a wide variety of the regularly scheduled programming 

Assistant General Manager of Recreation Services Lindsey Kyle is looking forward to having a sizeable turnout for all of the events.

 "Get on out! there's lots of entertainment happing at the facility and of course there's lots of things for anyone, young, old, kids, adults, seniors, to do at our facility" 

For a complete list of all the programs available through the Dauphin Recreation Center, visit their website at dauphinrec.com

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Members of Assiniboine Community College (ACC) - Local 71, and Red River College Polytech (RRC) - Local 73 have voted strongly in favour of a strike mandate.

Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU) represents about 1900 members who work as instructors and in administrative and information technology roles at the colleges.

Members work at campuses across the province, including the ACC Parkland Campus in Dauphin, as well as Brandon, Winnipeg, Portage La Prairie, and Steinbach.

MGEU President Kyle Ross says in a statement that low wages have become a major issue at the schools, causing problems in staff recruitment and retention.

"Our members work hard to provide students with the very best education they can, but they have been struggling. Instructors and other support staff at the colleges are amongst the lowest paid in the country."

Ross says negotiations will continue, but they've started making arrangements for job action if any new offer comes in too low.

“We will continue to meet with the employer with the assistance of a conciliator. We’re hopeful that this strong strike mandate shows the strength of our resolve and provides the impetus for an improved offer,” Ross added. "However, we've already begun making arrangements for job action if any new offer from the employer remains insufficient."

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