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Manitoba is investing over $22 million to improve and create child care spaces, and give families for child care options.
The province is funding $8.5 million towards creating child care services for children, meeting the needs of under-served families, and supporting the long-term sustainability of child care providers.
Families Minister Heather Stefanson says “we are investing millions of dollars to ensure that parents have access to child care when they need it the most – so they know their children are safely cared for as they return to work and adjust to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition, the province is committing $4.7 million in new funding to expand the tax credits for employer-based child care centres.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Public Health officials have announced 22 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba today.
Also, one previously announced case from August 15th has been removed, which leaves the province with a total of 1,064 cases.
Officials are reporting another death linked to the virus, a woman in her 90’s from the Southern-Health region. This case is linked to the outbreak at the Bethesda Place care home in Steinbach. The number of deaths in the province related to COVID-19 is now 14.
Nine new cases of the virus are from the Prairie Mountain Health region, and Dr. Roussin says many of the region’s new cases are linked to testing campaigns at Hutterite colonies.
None of Thursday’s newly announced cases are in the Dauphin health district, where there continues to be a total of 7 cases.
There are now 6 people in hospital, with one in intensive care.
At this time, 407 of the province's cases are considered active, and 643 people have recovered from the virus.
A new public health order is going into effect on Friday, August 28. The order will require Manitobans to self-isolate for 14 days if:
• they have tested positive for COVID-19; or
• they have been exposed to COVID-19 by a close contact
Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin says all Manitobans that this order applies to would be contacted directly by public health to let them know, at which point they are expected to immediately self-isolate at their home or an approved location. Individuals will be subject to fines for non-compliance, up to $486 dollars — which could be assessed daily.
Dr. Roussin says the new order gives the province an easier way to penalize individuals break the health order, by issuing the fine.
As the province in increasing their messaging about the importance of mask-wearing, Roussin provided some tips on maximizing your mask’s effectiveness:
- Wash your hands with hand sanitizer immediately before putting on a mask
- Practice good hand hygiene while wearing a mask
- Ensure your mask fits well, and don’t share it with others
- Avoid touching your mask or face
For more information about COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
An employee at a personal care home in Brandon has tested positive for COVID-19.
The employee at the Rideau Park Personal Care home was a previously identified case in the region, according to a statement from Prairie Mountain Health’s CEO, Penny Gilson.
Gilson adds that the worker wore protective equipment and is self-isolating. Close contacts of the employee have been notified.
The site is moving to Critical (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. This means the site is putting additional measures in place to further reduce the risk to residents and staff, and is restricting visitation at the facility.
At this time no other cases are believed to be linked to this case, and risk of transmission is considered low.
This is the second case at a personal care home in Manitoba in the past month, occurring only days after an outbreak at Bethesda Place in Steinbach.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
In Manitoba, it’s up to individual First Nations communities to decide how they approach the school year for on-reserve schools.
Lake Manitoba First Nation, along with Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation and Lake St. Martin First Nation, will keep schools closed to start the year and provide remote learning virtually and via take-home packages.
Pinaymootang First Nation and Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation have decided to delay the start of school but plan to welcome students back on a staggered schedule later in September.
The schools in Bloodvein, Brokenhead, Dakota Plains, Dakota Tipi, Fox Lake Cree Nation and York Factory will be opening on September 8th.
Most schools are adopting a model similar to that of the DRCSS, where half of the students will attend class two days a week and work remotely at home for two days a week. The difference here is some schools on reserves will be closing on Fridays for deep cleaning, whereas for the DRCSS, Fridays are designated as follow up/administration time for teachers to contact students and have preparation time.
One problem facing schools on First Nations is that most only go up to grade 8 or 9, so high school students have to travel off-reserve and that worries some parents.
Masks and personal protective equipment will be supplied for all students and staff by the Manitoba First Nation School System. Physical distancing guidelines and enhanced cleaning protocols will be in place.
If a staff member or student were to test positive for COVID-19, there’s a possibility of a temporary shut down for the school until everyone has been tested, isn’t showing symptoms, and the school has had a deep clean.
There has yet to be a confirmed case of COVID-19 on a Manitoba First Nation.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Parents and teachers who are against the province's plan to re-open schools next month are holding multiple rallies in Brandon today.
A group called “Safe September Brandon “is holding the protests in hopes to have more health measures implemented in schools, before their reopening.
The protests began at 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning at City Hall, and a second rally will be taking place at around 3:45 p.m. at the school division offices.
While the Prairie Mountain Health region is currently under level orange restrictions, schools in the region are still allowed to reopen on September 8th.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Some temporary service interruptions are in store for Roblin, with diagnostic services being temporarily consolidated at the Russell Health Centre.
The change, set to take effect September 1st, is in response to “staff vacancies” in the area, according to a Shared Health spokesperson.
The spokesperson also stated that the vacant positions are a result of retirements, resignations, and maternity leaves — and that recruitment to fill these positions is ongoing.
In the meantime, officials are focusing on maintaining as many services as possible during the staff shortage.
ECG exams and phlebotomy (i.e. lab sample collection, including blood samples) will continue to occur in Roblin, with testing occurring off-site.
The Roblin District Health Centre is also dealing with interruptions of emergency department services, which a Shared Health spokesperson says is due to human resource shortages in various areas, including diagnostics and physician/primary care.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba has gained 25 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the provincial total to 1,043.
Eight of the 25 new cases today are in the Prairie Mountain Health region, with none in the Dauphin health district.
The total number of cases in Dauphin remains at 7, all of which are recovered.
Officials are advising of a potential COVID-19 exposure in Wasagaming, at the Foxtail Café from August 14th to 17th. Officials say that transmission remains low, and information is being given to help people assess their risk and seek testing if symptoms appear.
At this time, 8 people are in the hospital because of the virus, with one person in intensive care.
There are 408 active cases and 662 people have recovered.
For more information about COVID-19, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced yesterday morning, that the federal government will be giving the provinces and territories $2 billion to help reopen schools safely.
An extra $112 million will be doled out to First Nations communities for schools on reserves.
The money will be divided up based on student population per capita.
The base amount given out will be $2 million and the rest of the money will be based on the number of 4 to 18-year-olds in the province or territory.
Manitoba is getting the 5th most in the country, $85.4 million.
Half of the money is going out now and the other half will be in December after the provinces and territories tell the government what worked.
The money can be used to buy extra personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, or even improving air ventilation and adapting learning spaces.
On Monday, Manitoba announced the creation of the Safe Schools fund, which totals $100 million meant to ensure safe and healthy learning environments in the fall.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The province is encouraging businesses to bring old and new employees back to work by enhancing its Back to Work program.
Businesses will be reimbursed 50 per-cent of wage costs up to $5,000 for every employee hired or re-hired between July 16th and October 31st.
The government announced they`re doubling the number of employees that are covered under the program, from 10 to 20. This boosts the maximum level of financial support available to employers from $50,000 to $100,000.
In order to be eligible, businesses can`t have funding from another government program. The application deadline is October 1st.
For more information about the Back to Work program, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa says there’s an air of excitement in the Conservative Party of Canada following the election of new leader Erin O’Toole.
Dan Mazier tells CKDM he’d endorsed O’Toole throughout the leadership race “because he was, in my opinion, the best candidate.”
“I’ll have to admit that when Andrew Scheer stepped down, that sent our party into a particular direction that were kind of in purgatory until we had a leader. Having this done and put behind us in such a decisive vote, definitely sent us in a positive direction moving forward,” said Mazier.
Upwards of 175,000 Conservative party members cast a ballot in the election, in which O’Toole was announced as the winner in the early morning hours on Monday.
As the MP for the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa riding, Mazier also serves as Deputy Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, but says there could be some shuffles on the horizon with O’Toole starting to form his team around him in the leadership office.
“But he might leave a lot of us in the same positions too, so we don’t what the committees or shadow cabinet are going to look like. It’s a very exciting time, it’s like a whole new reset after an election.”
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The City of Dauphin has postponed the Canada Day fireworks celebration again.
The City is citing the region's current situation for the postponement.
The fireworks would have been held on Sunday, September 6th, but the restricted level from the Pandemic Response System doesn’t allow for the celebration to proceed.
The City will continue to follow all provincial public health orders and guidelines and is looking forward to celebrating our national pride, history, and unity when it is safe to do so.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
