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Good news for drivers in Manitoba as they’re about to receive their third rebate from Manitoba Public Insurance since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020.
The Public Utilities Board released its decision on the MPI rate application for 2022-2023 on Wednesday saying it has approved a 1.57 percent decrease in rates for all policyholders which totals around 312 Million dollars.
The board said that with the drop in the total number of claims during the pandemic they would offer the rebate to MPI.
MPI also had rebates come through in April and November of 2020 and they say that rebate cheques should be expected in February of 2022. The drop in rates will translate to approximately $16 less in premiums each year.
The new rates will take effect April 1,2022, but MPI said with some drivers having staggered renewal dates they may not see the decrease until March 31, 2023.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
The Federal Government is advising against any non-essential travel outside of the country due to the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant worldwide.
Manitoba announced its sixth confirmed case of the highly transmissible variant today, and Canada has already imposed a quarantine on anyone traveling from specified countries where there are higher numbers of the variant.
The Canadian Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos says now is not the time to travel, and travelers could get COVID-19 or get stranded abroad.
The Federal Government also announced that they will be sending shipments of booster doses and rapid tests to provinces and territories to help ramp up vaccination campaigns.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Before heading onto the ice this winter, it is important to make sure it's thick enough. CKDM talked to Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht from the University of Manitoba, who has been nicknamed Professor Popsicle for his work studying the effects of extreme environments on the human body.
Prof. Popsicle has performed hundreds of cold water immersion studies and he gave us some tips on how to prepare before heading onto the ice.
"If you are unable to find local information you trust about ice thickness, you should drill holes as you move further from the shore."
According to Prof. Popsicle, you need at least four inches to walk on, at least six to snowmobile, and at least 8 to drive.
"When you are heading out onto the ice, you should always be prepared to fall in,"
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If you're in a car you should undo your seatbelt and have the window open in case you fall through.
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If you're snowmobiling, each snowmobile should have 20 to 50 feet of rope, so you can pull out anyone if they fall through.
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While walking, if you fall through, you should figure out where the thickest ice is, early in the winter it will usually be back towards the shore.
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Then you should put your arms on the ice and kick your feet until your body is horizontal to the ice, do not try to just pull yourself straight up.
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Once you are horizontal to the ice, you can pull yourself onto it while kicking your feet to help.
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Finally, roll yourself away from the hole before standing up to spread your weight out.
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Through his work, Prof. Popsicle coined the 1-10-1 Principle meaning you have one minute to get control of your breathing, ten minutes of meaningful movement, and one hour before you become unconscious due to hypothermia.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
If you're planning on buying any gift cards this holiday season, assure they aren't tampered with before purchasing.
On December 14, Brandon Police was made aware of an attempt of defrauding the public using brand new, still in the package VISA gift cards. Fraudsters are taking the gift cards from the stores without purchasing them and they remove the card from the package. They would then cut off the card number and place the rest of the card back in the package.
At this point, the fraudsters would return the cards back to the shelf for purchase. Once the gift card is purchased and loaded with funds, the fraudsters use the gift card number that they stole to access the funds.
Even if the gift card looks in good shape, take an extra look and if you need extra assistance, ask a cashier.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The University College of the North campus in Swan River is getting some much-needed funding from the Manitoba government.
The funding is a part of an announcement that will see all three of the college's campuses receive funding to add 37 nurse training seats at UCN. The funding is worth 4.3-million dollars.
The money will go towards getting new equipment, classroom renovations and hiring more instructors. Across the province, there are more than 800 nursing seats.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
New figures tabled in Parliament estimate Ottawa's child care funding plan will create up to 5,750 new Manitoba jobs in early childhood education.
The new data are part of tabulations of the Trudeau government's 30-billion-dollar pledge to lower child care costs to an average daily cost of 10-dollars by 2025.
Previously, the agreement announced for Manitoba would create an estimated 23,000 child care spaces, but did not disclose the anticipated number of new staff.
Manitoba has also pledged to boost the hourly wage of child care workers to a threshold of 25 dollars, but it remains unclear when that would apply.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Municipality of Harrison Park near Riding Mountain National Park could see an end to short-term rentals soon.
Wednesday at a council meeting in Harrison Park local councillor Craig Atkinson is planning on tabling a motion to limit short-term rentals like Air BnBs to only units with residents living on site.
Atkinson is not looking to put the ban on all STRs but believes having owners or operators of the rentals on the site will help cut down on issues raised by his constituents.
Council is expected to vote on the matter Wednesday but it will not be known what the effects will be for rentals including those that are not compliant.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
A boil water advisory is in effect in the community of Ashern.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
2nd Ave NW from Main Street to 1st Street NW in Dauphin will be shut down for most of the day.
Crews are currently working on water repair.
If you normally use that route, you will be required to detour.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy is currently offering vaccines for kids between the ages of five and 12 and appointments are filling up extremely quickly.
Barret Procyshyn says if your kid has yet to get their first shot, now is a good time.
"Our phones have been ringing off the hook, we're doing our best to squeeze as many people in as possible," said Procyshyn.
Procyshyn estimates that the pharmacy has given out about 75 doses of the pediatric vaccine to kids in the age group and he says that number continues to grow every day. And with the holiday season right around the corner, Procyshyn says appointments can be booked during business hours.
"It's not just about the kid getting vaccinated, it's about the kid spreading it to a family member if they don't have it," said Procyshyn. "We know the vaccine doesn't completely stop the possibility of a spread but it does slow it down."
To book an appointment, you can call the pharmacy at 638-4602.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
UPDATE:
The provincial government has asked the federal government to send between 15 and 30 ICU nurses for approximately six weeks to help expand ICU Capacity.
There are currently 102 patients in Manitoba ICUs, which is up 17% from last week.
In the past week alone, 22 patients have been admitted to Manitoba ICUs for the treatment of COVID-19.
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Ten doctors from Manitoba have sent a letter to the provincial government asking them to call in the military to help with strained intensive care units.
With ICUs in multiple hospitals across the province nearly full, Dr. Dan Roberts, who wrote the letter that was signed by nine other doctors, says ICU capacity can not be expanded.
Opposition leader, Wab Kinew, says the government should listen to the doctor's pleas.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
