Canada Introduces COVID Tracing App

The federal government announced they will begin testing a new app that will notify you if you’ve come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave details this morning, saying “other users who have the app and have been in proximity to you will be alerted that they’ve been exposed to someone who has tested positive. The notification will encourage them to reach out to their local public health authorities.”

The app is completely voluntary, and Trudeau is encouraging people from all over the country to download it, saying the app is most effective when as many people as possible have it.

The prime minister said the app will be tested in Ontario first and will be introduced to other provinces in the coming weeks.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Jun 18, 2020 - 12:13 pm

Last night a STARS Air Ambulance was dispatched to the Minnedosa area.

Around 7:45 there was a single-vehicle rollover at the junction of Highway 16 and Highway 10.

STARS and EMS rendezvoused at the Minnedosa Hospital before transporting an 8-year-old girl to the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg.

She was in serious but stable condition at the time of the transport.

Patients were also transported by ground to Brandon.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Jun 18, 2020 - 10:03 am

If you’re looking forward to enjoying some popcorn and seeing a movie on the big screen, you’ll still have to wait a bit longer.

While the idea of opening movie theatres was included in Manitoba's draft plan for Phase Three, Public Health officials have decided to hold off.

General Manager of the Countryfest Community Cinema Ron Suchoplas explains that while they can’t reopen the theatres at this time, they are continuing to sell concession snacks through curbside pick-up.

“We started opening up Friday and Saturday nights. We tried a couple of Sundays but they are pretty slow.”

Right now cinema staff are working to develop safety measures, installing plexiglass shields, and buying masks.

Ron says he’s looking forward to fully opening once it’s safe to do so.

For more information, or to order, you can go to the cinema website.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Jun 18, 2020 - 5:00 am

Riding Mountain National Park will be partially reopening camping services on Monday, June 22.

Reservations for select areas of Wasagaming campground will reopen late June to early July. Other areas of the campground are already completely booked to near capacity until early September.

Camp Kippichewin will open for reserved camping (3 sites only) on June 22.

All oTENTiks, and other roofed accommodations remain closed until July 15, while Parks Canada assesses how these services might resume. Also, all large events are still suspended until further notice.

Reservations from international visitors -- including those from the U.S. -- are still cancelled until at least August 7th.

All national parks in Canada were closed at the end of March to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Recreational boating and watercraft activities have been allowed on park waters since June 12. Before watercrafts are permitted in park waters for fishing or other leisure activity, visitors must undergo a mandatory watercraft inspection.

For more information, visit the National Park website.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 17, 2020 - 2:09 pm

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is announcing today the province will move into Phase Three of reopening, as of Sunday, June 21st.

Earlier last week, the province released the Draft Plan for the next phase of relaxing restrictions, and have developed the plan with feedback from the public.

Key changes coming into effect in Phase Three include:

Lifting capacity limits for restaurants, bars, microbreweries and distilleries, as long as tables and seating are arranged so there is two metres of separation between people sitting at different tables.
Allowing people from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and people living in the area of the northwestern Ontario (west of Terrace Bay) to visit Manitoba without having to self-isolate for 14 days.
Allowing child care centres can return to their regular licensed capacity.

To view all the changes coming into effect on June 21 with Phase Three, click here.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 17, 2020 - 1:27 pm

As of 12:48 p.m., Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Ashern, Eriksdale, and Portage la Prairie.

Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may create damaging winds, hail, and torrential rain.

Portage la Prairie is also under a heat warning today, with daytime highs in the low 30’s and humidex values in the upper 30’s.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Jun 17, 2020 - 1:13 pm

Two new cases have been identified in Manitoba today, taking the total number of cases to 306.

There’s still no one in the hospital and the number of deaths remains at 7.

The province currently has 6 active cases and 293 people have recovered.

For more details about COVID-19, you can go to manitoba.ca/covid19.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Jun 17, 2020 - 12:44 pm

MPI has announced they’re requesting an overall rate decrease of 10.5% with the Public Utilities Board.

It would be the largest rate decrease in three decades if it gets approved.

The average passenger vehicle owner will pay about $130 less in premiums per year.

In a press release, Ben Graham, President and CEO with MPI, says the historic rate decrease shows the strong recent performance and financial position of MPI.

“While many private auto insurers across Canada are asking for double-digit rate increases, Manitobans are receiving the benefits of a well-executed public auto insurance model.”

The PUB hearings typically begin in October, concluding later in the month. The board typically issues its order in December.

The proposed rates would be effective April 1, 2021, but because renewal dates are staggered, some vehicle owners won’t pay their new rates until March 31, 2022.

Requested Rate Changes by Class

Major Use	Applied for Rate Changes
Private passenger	-11.0%
Commercial	-4.8%
Public	-6.1%
Motorcycles	1.8%
Trailers	-11.4%
Off-road vehicles	0%
Overall (applied for)	-10.5%

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Jun 17, 2020 - 11:16 am

Students graduating from the English Ukrainian Bilingual Program (EUBP) in Dauphin will have a special event this weekend to mark the occasion.

A grad parade has been organized by Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education (MPUE).

President Paulette Monita and Vice President Barb Thiessen will bring their Ukraine-ified Chevrolet to Dauphin on Saturday.

“We’re going to show up at the doorstep of our grads. We’re going to hop out, we’re going to cheer and honk. We have a gift and a certificate to give to the graduates.”

The organization usually hosts a family celebration to celebrate graduation.

“When we determined we had to cancel that, we thought, ‘how can we honour these kids and give them something special and unique?’”

Graduates include Grade 8, who are finishing the English Ukrainian Bilingual Program at MacKenzie Middle School. Grade 5 from Smith Jackson will be graduating and moving on to the middle school.

The parade gets underway at 1 p.m.

For more information, you can head to the MPUE website. They'll also post photos along the way at the MPUE Facebook page.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 17, 2020 - 5:55 am

The provincial government is expanding its Risk Recognition program to include more front line workers affected by COVID-19.

The program is a federal cost-share program meant for workers who’ve continued to work and face risks throughout the COVID-19 situation.

The payment is available to part-time and full-time front line workers in various positions including health care, social services, justice, transportation, food and beverage, and essential retail.

The $120 million program has now been expanded to hotel workers (reception, cleaners, maintenance, kitchen staff, servers) and business improvement zone staff (patrol, graffiti removal, street cleaners, distributors of COVID-19-related education material and Personal Protective Equipment).

The province has extended the application deadline until Monday, June 29 at noon.

You can view the full list of workers that qualify here.