RM Of Dauphin Attending AMM Convention

Roads are being brought up during the Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual convention.

“The one that has been the most hot topic is the elimination of the municipal roads and bridge program. A lot of municipalities relied on the funding that was provided by that. Now the government is switching to a federal program.

There hasn’t been a lot of details provided on that yet. So there is a little bit of hesitation from a lot of municipals as to what does this mean. But the AMM has presented a resolution on that as well. So, we’re hoping that we will be able to get some answers and hopefully the new program will suffice.”

Nicole Chychota says this is an excellent opportunity for our representatives to network and get a better understanding of what others are doing in their own areas. Using what they learned, they'll take the information back and see how they can improve things here at home.

“We’ve been preparing for the last few weeks. Looking into what is going to be discussed at the convention. We’ve had input from our local fire department on our resolution that’s being presented as well. So, we’re a little bit informed on their opinion on the matter. “

The convention takes place over the next three days in Winnipeg.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Nov 26, 2018 - 5:03 am

The RM of Dauphin received two awards recognizing their municipal roads.

Nicole Chychota says they received the Armtec Shield for Best Maintained System of Municipal Roads and the Hitrac Ltd. Shield for Most Improved Municipal Roads, both for District 5.

“Our public works staff is amazing! It’s not an easy thing to do, marinating our infrastructure. We have a lot of roads in the Rural Municipality of Dauphin. it takes a lot of hard work and dedication from the public works staff to make sure that roads are at a good quality.”

The awards were given out by the Manitoba Good Roads Association.

“This is the first time in a long time that it happened. Long before any of our staff was here, I think, was the last time. So it’s quite an honour.”

“I think ultimately, them winning this award just demonstrates our commitment and our public works department commitment to providing quality work to our citizens.”

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Nov 24, 2018 - 7:06 am

At this point in the year, the ice is not strong enough to be on. Falling through the ice and drowning is a very real possibility.

Before going on the ice there needs to have been a long steady freeze, which means no fluctuating temperatures, snow or flowing water under the ice.

In an area without moving water, you will have to wait at least 5 or 6 days with the consistent freezing weather before its safe.

Christopher Love, the Water Smart Coordinator for the Life Saving Society Manitoba Branch, says 70 percent of drownings occur between April and September.

Between 2009 and 2015 only 3 percent of all drowning deaths took place in the Dauphin area, which is a total of 5 people.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Nov 24, 2018 - 7:08 am

An open discussion about Climate Action is taking place in Dauphin tomorrow.

“We plan on having presentations on different aspects — for instance, housing. Home heating is a big user of energy. We’re bringing in somebody who is passive houses where no heating energy is required. So he’s all up on the latest on that. I’ll talk a little bit about the economy in general. We have somebody else talking about agriculture,” said Kate Storey, the prospective candidate for the Green Party in our riding.

They are holding an open discussion and inviting everyone in Dauphin and around the Parkland to come out.

“We’re talking about things that affect everybody. The changes that come with climate change will come slowly. But they are expected to have a big effect on our kids. The kids we have right now will be hugely affected. So we should be talking about ways that we can know what’s going on and we can help.”

Storey says it's taking place at the Watson Art Centre, in the old Firehall at 2.

“We would love to hear from people who are worried about how this might hurt what they do now. People’s jobs are important, and it’s good to get everybody there and talk about your fears and talk about the opportunities, and just have a discussion.”

The International Panel on Climate Change predicts that soon we will experience significant changes in the global economy.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Nov 24, 2018 - 6:16 am

The Ladies of the Parkland Christmas Show is on at 7 tonight at the WAC.

Melisa Stefaniw, Emma Peterson, Kayla Luky, and Desiree Dorian are performing.

All proceeds from the event go to the Parkland Crisis Centre.

Dorian says they are trying to do something positive in the community for women.

The show is exclusively Christmas music and is open to all ages.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Nov 23, 2018 - 1:22 pm

An oil leak and the plane crew deciding to land with both engines running caused a plane to drive off the runway a year ago in Thompson.

Investigators say that decision went against protocol.

Investigators also say the plane also was fitted with a flight management system capable of recording engine information, but it wasn't enabled.

The plane also had a cockpit voice recorder but didn't have flight data recorded, that equipment isn't legally required.

There were no passengers on the plane, two crew members sustained minor injuries, and the plane received substantial damage.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Nov 23, 2018 - 12:52 pm

The larger federal deficit is intended to keep Canada more competitive.

“We think the deficits, by G7 standards, is relatively modest and we see this as an opportunity to invest. We look at the economic results over the last three years where we have invested in Canadians, we’ve invested in skills development, we’ve invested in infrastructure, and we see that the results of these investments is that there are more Canadians working than ever before and they’re working with higher wages. So we’re encouraged by the path we’ve been on.”

Minister of International Trade Diversification Minister Carr says they are conscious of an appropriate level of debt and that the country is in good shape. The best example, according to Carr, is that Canada is doing better than our competitive partners.

Steel and aluminum tariffs have hit the Parkland and some of its businesses hard.

Even after the USMCA was signed the states continue to impose them.

“They are wrong. We were left no choice but to retaliate, which we did with 16.6 billion dollars of tariffs of our own. We continue to be hopeful that those tariffs will be eliminated. We have absolutely no business imposing those tariffs on each other."

Carr hopes calmer heads will prevail in the United States.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Nov 23, 2018 - 8:08 am

It’s moonlight madness in Dauphin.

Today and tomorrow businesses around town are taking in the Parkland version of Black Friday.

“Something to spark some ‘shop local,’ encourage some businesses to stay open later, hold different little programs and promotions. And on the other end have customers excited about some holiday shopping and get into some local stores at a later time.”

“The chamber also has, new this time, a VIP shopper card. When anybody wants to purchase these from the Chamber of Commerce they can have access to some special deals over a two-week span.”

Stephen Chycota explains that you go onto participating businesses on the back of the card and they can have access to the deals until December 8th.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Nov 23, 2018 - 7:30 am

In Winnipeg, there were reports that the percentage of babies addicted to meth and other drugs has risen by 42 percent at St. Boniface Hospital.

In response to that, Penny Gilson, Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) CEO, says PMH does not track numbers specific to Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome at this time.

However, they realize there are increased cases and staffing has been adjusted in the neonatal intensive care unit in Brandon in response to increased occupancy, of which this issue is a part.

Gilson also says PMH would echo comments made by Winnipeg Regional Health Authority relative to the fact that mothers are currently assessed for substance abuse and the appropriate referrals are made.

PMH takes its role seriously as a key player in educating the public about the health risks of substance use/abuse.

They also believe this is a community-wide issue requiring a community-wide response.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Nov 23, 2018 - 5:16 am

From 9 to 9 today there’s going to be a Christmas Bake and Craft Sale at the Dauphin Market Place Mall.

Joyce Huska, the coordinator of the Dauphin Farmer’s Market, says there will be tables on both ends of the mall so whichever way people come in they can check out the Bake and Craft Sale.

There will be lots of baking. Christmas cakes and puddings, pierogies, cabbage rolls, cheese rolls, and Huska is making dainties, tarts, and decorative cookies. There’ll be jams and jellies in with the relishes as well. The prices will be similar to the summer farmer’s market.

For the crafts there’s one guy who does woodworking, he’s also getting into foraging, another person does Christmas ornaments, and there’s a third person who mentioned to Huska, they were making crafts with recycling. Huska says the price of the crafts depends on a couple things.