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Dauphin – Swan River – Neepawa MP Dan Mazier has strongly condemned the federal government’s decision to ban the sale, transportation, importation, and usage of a list of firearms that were previously legal to licensed gun-owners.
Minister of Public Safety, Bill Blair announced on May 1st that 1500 models and variants of firearms have been banned.
Mazier understands why Canadians are upset.
“Let me be clear, I will always support common-sense firearms policies that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals and combat gang-violence; however, this firearms ban will not do that.” Adding, “Look at the data; the vast-majority of gun crimes are committed with illegally obtained firearms. How does taking away a legally purchased firearm from a legal firearm owner address the problem?”
Some points Mazier has made are that strict requirements are already in place to own firearms in Canada, which requires the owner to have an up-to-date Possession and Acquisition License. Intensive training courses, frequent background checks, transportation and storage regulations, magazine capacities, and continuous eligibility requirements exist as well. Additionally, requirements to be a member of an authorized firearms range, additional training and safety courses, and registration of firearms is also mandatory for those who hold restricted firearms licenses.
Mazier points out that the Conservatives have already presented a plan to target crime and gang-violence including measures such as support focused on police anti-gang and gun units, action on rural crime, tougher sentences to violent offenders, a task force that focuses on the smuggling of firearms across the border, and increased access to mental health and addictions treatments.
“I can guarantee that if the government were to put forth funding for anyone of our proposed initiatives, it would do more to combat the root cause than a firearms ban ever will.”
Mazier is unhappy that the announcement was an Order in Council, which results in no parliamentary debate.
“The Trudeau Liberals have made it clear throughout this pandemic that they do not respect the democratic role of Parliament. That cannot continue, they need to be held accountable. The Prime Minister should have introduced legislation with debate on this matter.”
Mazier says his office has received nearly 100 emails and calls since Friday condemning the ban.
He’s encouraging constituents to put pressure on Liberal, NDP, and Bloc MPs by calling and writing to their offices expressing the same concern.
You can hear more from Dan Mazier when he speaks to CKDM’s James Blake in the Parliament and the Parkland feature at 8:15 Thursday morning.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced $252 million in funding to support the agri-food industry.
About $77 million of that will be directed to the food processing sector, to help promote physical distancing measures in the workplace, and for obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE).
In an effort to help pork and beef producers, a $125 million injection to AgriRecovery will aim to help farmers adapt to market changes.
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has been calling for $2.6 billion to bolster agriculture and food security.
Although today’s funding announcement falls well short of that $2.6 billion, Trudeau says this is “an initial investment, and if we need to add more, we will.”
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and Manitoba health officials are sharing some tips for preventing tick-borne diseases.
Blacklegged ticks can carry several diseases, such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and most notably Lyme disease. They are most commonly found within and along the edge of forests and in areas with thick, woody shrubs and other vegetation.
You can minimize your risk of tick exposure by:
• applying an appropriate tick repellent, following label directions, on exposed skin and clothing
• inspecting themselves, children and pets after spending time outdoors
• staying to the centre of walking trails
• removing ticks as soon as possible from people and pets
• wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts
• keeping grass and shrubs around homes cut short to create drier environments that are less suitable for blacklegged tick survival.
Dr. Roxanne Neufeld from the Dauphin Veterinary Clinic says you also need to be looking out for your pets.
“If you are taking your dog out walking in tall grass, brush, any of our bush trails or along the river, you need to be checking your pets to see if they’ve picked up any ticks”
Dr. Neufeld says it’s very important to check yourself and your pets daily for ticks, recommending "if you’re out and about, do a daily tick check on yourself, your kids and your pets, just to make sure no one has picked up any of these creepy crawlies.”
It can be difficult to spot these small ticks buried in our pet’s fur, but Dr. Neufeld says there are many tick-prevention products available, with pour-on and tablet options. She says the best products are available through veterinary clinics, and advises you to get in touch with your veterinarian if you have any questions
If you find a tick on your pet, Roxanne recommends (1) put on a pair of gloves, (2) gently remove the tick, (3) put the tick in a container of alcohol to kill it, and then (4) wash your hands with soap and water.
To learn more about blacklegged ticks, tick-disease, symptoms and prevention visit the Manitoba government website.
People who think they may have anaplasmosis, babesiosis or Lyme disease should contact a doctor. For more information, they may also contact Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) 1 888 315-9257.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Dauphin Fire Department was called to extinguish a grass fire shortly after 7 p.m. last night along the Vermillion River at the end of 3rd Avenue SW.
Firefighters were able to enter the area on foot and quickly put out the blaze.
They credit the caller's quick thinking and calling 911 for preventing the fire from spreading further into the brush on the riverbank.
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The City of Dauphin revealed the 2020 Financial Plan online Monday night.
City Manager Sharla Griffiths presented the budget, which was divided into the General Fund (public works, recreation, protective services, tourism, administration), and Utility Fund (water and wastewater systems).
The budget concentrates on infrastructure projects, and also features some measures to help Ratepayers — the tax due date will be delayed by 2 months (September 30), and the First Quarter Utility Bill due date has been delayed by 1 month (June 15).
How will the new budget affect my property tax as a homeowner?
Homeowners will see a property tax decrease of $144.67 per $100,000 of property value assessment.
How will the new budget affect my commercial property tax?
Commercial property taxes will decrease by $212.42 per $100,000 of property value assessment.
The City’s protective services expenditure (RCMP, Dauphin Fire Department) has increased by 5.29% overall.
Mayor Allen Dowhan mentioned the provincial government has confirmed there will be no cuts to their funding to municipalities.
You see the Financial Plan presentation in its entirety by clicking here.
Last night was the first reading of the bylaw associated with the Financial Plan. The 2nd and 3rd reading will happen at the next council meeting on May 11th, and then it will be sibmitted to the province.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A large quantity of cocaine, cash and a firearm have been seized from a home located on the Ebb and Flow First Nation.
On Friday, May 1st, St. Rose du Lac RCMP executed a search warrant.
As a result, 55-year-old Brian Cochrane has been placed under arrest and faces charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Unsafe Storage of a Firearm.
He’s scheduled to appear in a Winnipeg court today.
Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP continue to investigate.
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Manitoba’s COVID-19 case count continues to remain low.
No new cases have been identified by Public Health officials today. The total number of lab-confirmed and probable cases remains at 281.
There are 37 active cases in the province, and 238 people listed as recovered. The number of deaths in Manitoba due to the virus remains at 6.
The Prairie Mountain Health region has identified 17 total cases since the start of the pandemic.
Today is Phase One of Manitoba’s reopening plan to gradually restart the economy. Manitobans returning to work are now eligible to access the temporary child-care system to find a location that meets their needs.
Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin says it remains vitally important that people with respiratory symptoms refrain from going to work or other public areas. He advises anyone with symptoms to contact Health-Links at 204-788-8200, and toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.
You can view Manitoba's Roadmap for Recovery by clicking here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Directors Election for Fusion Credit Union begins today.
Voting closes on Friday, May 15th at 5 p.m.
There are two candidates running in the Catalyst East District. Albert Paziuk is this incumbent Director from Ethelbert, and the other candidate is John Orisko from Dauphin.
Voting is going to look a bit different this year, explains Chief Innovation Officer Michelle Mazurkewich. Members can now visit the Fusion Credit Union website, where there is a voting page to select either candidate.
Members will be required to submit their postal code and member number in order to place their vote online.
There will also be voting ballots in-branch, although traffic is limited to appointment-only at this time.
Mazurkewich says we can expect more information in the coming days about in-branch services gradually returning to normal.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Mountain View School Division is happy to hear the province’s announcement that it’ll be waiving student fees for InformNet.
Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen says the expansion of InformNet summer school will provide additional supports for students across the province during the coronavirus situation and allow students to be as prepared as possible for the next school year.
In addition to student fees being waived, InformNet won’t have a cap on enrolment.
InformNet summer school is available for grade 9 to 12 students who haven't completed a course during the regular academic year or wish to improve their grade.
Summer courses follow the provincial guideline of 45 hours of curriculum content.
A certified teacher with experience and expertise in the subject area facilitates all online courses.
MVSD Superintendent Dan Ward says the school division continues to provide programming for their high school students by distance and those students on track to graduate will graduate.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The average price of gas in Manitoba has risen by 6.3 c/L in the past week to average 77.07c/L.
In Dauphin, that’s no different as gas prices have climbed 6 cents to 79.9 c/L.
Nationally, gas prices increased by a nickel to average 82.75 c/L.
Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says it’s becoming clearer that the lowest gas prices from the COVID-19 pandemic are solidly behind us.
“While oil may continue to struggle, a disconnect between low oil prices and rising gasoline prices has emerged at the hands of refineries that have slowed production over the past month to avoid flooding the market with unwanted gasoline. As demand stages a rebound, it remains to be seen how quickly refiners will raise production to meet the locations that have or will begin to re-open in the days and weeks ahead. For now, expect prices to see upward potential as we await a boost in gasoline production."
Dauphin’s gas price of 79.9 c/L is higher than the average price of 79.47 c/L in Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg’s price of 73.89 c/L.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The first few people who applied for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will have to reapply today.
The program requires you to confirm your eligibility every four weeks, and first began for some Canadians during the week of April 6th.
The CERB helps workers who have lost work because of the pandemic, providing $500 per week.
To be eligible for the benefit, you must be a Canadian resident that’s at least 15 years old, and has stopped working because of COVID-19; not because you voluntarily quit your job. You also must have an income of at least $5,000 in 2019, or in the 12 months prior to the date of application.
You can view the application page on the Government of Canada website.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
