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The province is spending $50 million to address a backlog of surgeries and procedures.
Manitoba premier Brian Pallister announced the funding on Wednesday afternoon, and said this major investment will address wait times for priority procedures and services, as well as hip, knee and cataract procedures.
Pallister also called on the federal government to “come to the table as a true, reliable funding partner on health care” in the face of “ever-increasing health-care wait times in this country.”
More details on this new funding will be announced following the release of Budget 2021.
(The story title has been corrected to show the correct funding amount)
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
On Wednesday health officials in Manitoba announced 71 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 variants of concern.
There was one death reported, a man in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region.
Today’s new non-variant COVID-19 cases are in the following health districts:
• two cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 24 cases in the Northern health region
• two cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• five cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 38 cases in the Winnipeg health region
Today’s new variant cases are in the following health districts:
• four cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 13 cases in the Winnipeg health region
There have been a total of 34,122 cases of COVID-19 identified in the province, and 935 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
There are 1,181 active cases and 32,006 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
The total number of confirmed variant of concern cases of B.1.1.7 is 232, the total number of variant of concern cases of B.1.351 is 120, and the total number of variant of concern cases that have not been categorized is 15, bringing the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases to 267.
There are 63 people in the hospital with COVID-19 and 83 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 146 hospitalizations.
There are 12 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 and 16 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 28 ICU patients.
According to the province’s data, there are active cases of COVID-19 in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (0), Riding Mountain (1), Duck Mountain (1), Porcupine Mountain (28), Asessippi (3). Brandon has 1 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has no active cases of COVID-19. Fisher/Peguis health district has Five active cases.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Three drivers who were caught speeding on Friday were all coming from a party in Clear Lake the night before, according to RCMP.
On March 26th at around 7a.m. RCMP stopped a vehicle that was travelling at 133km/h in a 100km/h zone on Highway 16 near Neepawa.
On Mar 26, at around 7 am, #rcmpmb stopped 3 speeding vehicles within an hour. All 3 vehicles were coming from Clear Lake, where they attended a party the night before. All 3 drivers were found to have alcohol in their system & were charged accordingly. https://t.co/aO9uolu423
— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) March 31, 2021
The 24-year-old driver was issued a $482 speeding ticket, a $113 fine for driving impaired, and a 24-hour license suspension.
Shortly after, the same RCMP officer came across a vehicle travelling east on Highway 16 near Minnedosa, going 177 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.
A second vehicle was following dangerously close behind the first at 176 km/h.
The driver of the first vehicle, a 20-year-old man only had a learners license, meaning he’s required to have a supervising driver in the front seat with him at all times. The driver failed a roadside breath test and was arrested.
He was charged with Impaired Operation of a vehicle, operating a vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Concentration equal to or over 0.08, and Dangerous Operation of a vehicle.
The driver of the second vehicle, a 21-year-old man, didn’t have a valid driver’s license. He was also given a roadside breath test, and his blood-alcohol level was between 0.05 – 0.079. He was charged $1,045 for speeding, $298 for driving without a valid driver’s license, and $113 for an unlicensed driver operating a motor vehicle while having alcohol in his blood.
He was issued a 15-day license suspension a Serious Offence Notice to report to MPI within 5 days for a license review, and his vehicle was impounded for 3 days. He was also issued.
Unit Commander for the North West Traffic Services, Sergeant Mark Hume says this incident should serve as a reminder that a few hours of sleep after a night of drinking doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
A 51-year-old man is facing multiple charges after Russell RCMP responded to a report of a disturbance at a local business on Main Street in Inglis on March 24.
When officers arrived on the scene, they learned that the male entered the business without a mask, and when he was reminded that masks are mandatory at this time, he proceeded to get angry and belligerent.
The 51-year-old began banging his fists on the counter and against the plastic partition, where the employee was standing. He would leave the store for a few minutes before returning where he continued being belligerent.
Officers located the suspect a short time later at his own place of business where he was yelling, swearing, and being belligerent towards officers, and he was arrested.
He faces charges of mischief, Causing a Disturbance along with Failing to wear a Mask x2 ($298) and Failing to wear a mask in his own business ($5,000). He's scheduled to appear in court on June 23, 2021.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
An amber alert has issued by Winnipeg Police on Tuesday night for a two-year-old boy has been called off.
The Winnipeg Police Service issued the alert shortly after 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening.
Police now say the boy's mother turned herself into the RCMP in Amaranth.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Manitobans will soon be able to book reservations for provincial campgrounds and cabins.
Bookings will begin on April 5th with staggered dates.
The Manitoba parks reservation system will accept bookings in three phases:
• April 5th at 7 a.m. – campsite reservations open for the Birds Hill Provincial Park campground
• April 7th at 7 a.m. – campsite reservations open for the Winnipeg Beach, Betula Lake, Big Whiteshell, Brereton Lake, Caddy Lake, Falcon Beach, Falcon Lakeshore, Nutimik Lake, Opapiskaw, Otter Falls, West Hawk Lake and White Lake campgrounds
• April 12th at 7 a.m. – campsite reservations open for all remaining provincial park campgrounds
Phone lines to book a reservation will be open at 7 a.m. April 5th. You can call centre services at 204-948-3333 (Winnipeg) or 888-482-2267 (toll-free).
Online reservations can be made here.
Campers are reminded that on top of current public health orders, travel is restricted north of the 53rd parallel, with exemptions for essential travel.
Manitobans may travel to a cottage, cabin, provincial park, campground, or hunting or fishing lodge in northern Manitoba as long as they aren’t showing any symptoms of COVID-19, travel directly to their destination, and limit the use of local services.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
On Tuesday health officials in Manitoba announced 77 new cases of COVID-19, and 11 variants of concern.
No new deaths have been reported.
Today’s new non-variant COVID-19 cases are in the following health districts:
• one case in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 27 cases in the Northern health region
• one case in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• five cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 43 cases in the Winnipeg health region
Today’s new variant cases are in the following health districts:
• one case in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• three cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• seven cases in the Winnipeg health region
There have been a total of 34,052 cases of COVID-19 identified in the province, and 934 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
There are 1,197 active cases and 31,921 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
The total number of confirmed variant of concern cases of B.1.1.7 is 199, the total number of variant of concern cases of B.1.351 is 14, and the total number of variant of concern cases that have not been categorized is 37, bringing the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases to 250.
(The province is saying that yesterday’s bulletin showed an incorrect breakdown and total of variant cases because of a processing error. They also say that today’s numbers are correct as the error has been fixed.)
There are 64 people in the hospital with COVID-19 and 86 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 150 hospitalizations.
There are 13 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 and 18 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 31 ICU patients
According to the province’s data, there are active cases of COVID-19 in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (0), Riding Mountain (1), Duck Mountain (1), Porcupine Mountain (30), Asessippi (3). Brandon has 1 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has no active cases of COVID-19. Fisher/Peguis health district has seven active cases.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
COVID enforcement officials handed out 49 warnings and 38 tickets in Manitoba last week.
From March 22nd to March 28th, a total of $47,536 in fines was issued to Manitoba businesses and individuals.
There were 22 tickets issued to individuals for various offences, 13 for not wearing a mask in indoor public places, and two to Manitoba businesses.
15 of the fines issued to individuals were in relation to private gatherings that went against current health orders.
One $5,150 fine was issued for breaking the Federal Quarantine Act.
A total of 3,541 warnings and 1,120 tickets have been issued since April 2020, resulting in over $1.5 million in fines.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The Manitoba government is investing $6 million in support of the province’s arts and culture sector, and local arts groups hope to get some of the funding.
Peter Nadolny, the coordinator for the Watson Art Centre in Dauphin, was previously successful in getting provincial funding for the centre and plans to apply for the new Arts and Culture Sustainability Funds if the centre qualifies.
“A lot of these grants are geared towards the artists themselves,” said Nadolny, “where we’re just a building that facilitates the arts.”
Whether the centre can get funding or not, Nadolny is happy if the artists at the centre qualify because as he says, “helping the artists helps the art centre, because this is their home.”
On top of dealing with the pandemic, the Watson Art Centre suffered a flood last month. Nadolny says even if they were given the go-ahead to open their doors, they wouldn’t be able to for a while because they are dealing with repairs.
The Dauphin and District Allied Arts Council, which runs the Watson Art Centre, aren't sure yet how the funding could benefit Dauphin.
Yvonne Lillie, president of the Dauphin and District Allied Arts Council, says “I would hope that we would be able to access some of this, especially given the fact that the flood has taken over our building right now,” she adds, “we’re in a very unique position that we’re going to have to work hard to make sure things are still available for people to use that building.”
When the Watson Art Centre is open, Nadolny says it’s used every day and is home to nine partner groups that include dance, theatre, and art.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Shortly before 3:30 on Tuesday morning, the Sifton and Dauphin Fire Departments were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover about 3.5 miles southeast of Sifton.
The road conditions and visibility made responding to the scene difficult.
Once Sifton Fire arrived on the scene, they determined that there were no serious injuries and no extrication was needed.
Cam Abrey, Fire Chief, says being extra safe on the roads while driving is critical.
"In weather conditions like this, it can be unpredictable, and change quickly at times," said Abrey. "We understand people have to travel for work but if you are doing so, be careful, and be prepared."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The winter storm warning for the Parkland was ended by Environment Canada earlier this morning.
Heavy snow and blowing snow will continue but end later today.
In addition to the heavy snow, moderate to strong winds gusting as high as 60 km/h will also lead to reduced visibility in blowing snow on Tuesday morning.
You should consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow.
After today, the forecast will improve drastically. The high will be zero on Wednesday before it skyrockets to a high of 10 on Thursday followed by a high of 16 on Friday.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
