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Today the Government of Canada released its mandatory vaccine policy.
It was announced that it will be mandatory for all federal public servants to be vaccinated.
Starting on October 30th, the government will require federal employers to establish vaccination policies for their employees.
Federal contractors, like cleaning staff, must also be fully vaccinated to enter government buildings.
The estimated 267 thousand employees covered by this policy must report their vaccination status by October 29th.
If employees haven't had their vaccine or received an accommodation under the Canadian Human Rights Act two weeks after that date, they could lose their job.
The employees who are affected by this mandate won’t have to produce their proof of vaccination documents.
Instead, they will have to sign a form, that will be audited by their managers, certifying that they've had the necessary shots.
If an employee submits a false statement it could result in termination.
Also effective on the 30th, travellers departing from Canadian airports, and travellers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains will be required to be fully vaccinated in order to travel.
There will be a short transition period for travellers who are in the process of being vaccinated.
These travellers will be able to travel if they can show a valid COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours of travel.
The transition period ends on November 30th.
The government of Canada is advising any Canadians planning to travel by plane or train this Holiday season to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
A standardized, pan-Canadian proof of vaccination document for international travel is being developed.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The province has extended the Healthy Hire Program to November 15th, and the application deadline to October 30th.
This program allows employers to apply for up to $50 thousand to help cover the wages of new employees who are or are planning to get vaccinated.
Eligible employers will receive a grant equal to 50 percent of wages for a maximum of 10 employees, with a maximum of $5 thousand per employee.
More information can be found here.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
This is Mental Health Awareness Week, and there are several ongoing mental health events in the Parkland with Peer Connections Manitoba.
Eleanor Snitka who’s a community support worker with Peer Connections Manitoba says it’s been a long time, but she can finally start her peer support groups again.
“It’s on the third Monday of every month at the dauphin Senior Centre at 7 o’clock. There’s no diagnosis required. Anybody who’s experiencing some sort of mental health distress can come and share it, and get support.”
Eleanor says that she also has a grief and loss group that runs on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m., that’s also taking place at the Senior Centre.
“By grief and loss it doesn’t mean that people who’ve only experienced death in their families or with their loved ones can come. Loss can mean anything. Loss can mean the loss of a job, it can mean the loss of innocence if people have been abused.”
Peer to Peer support is available to those who live in Ste. Rose and area on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. People can show up from 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Another option for people who need support, but don’t want to participate in a group setting is individual peer support.
“So if people are struggling, and they’re not ready for groups and they need some individual support I’m available to do it.”
Eleanor Snitka can be reached at 431-345-0353.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
A 16-year-old was issued tickets and a Serious Offence Notice after a speeding incident south of Roblin.
After midnight on September 26th, RCMP caught the driver going 170 km/hr in a 100 km/hr zone.
The teenager, who had a Class 5I licence, was issued tickets for speeding and driving with more than one person after midnight on a 5I licence, and given a Serious Offence Notice for a licence review with MPI.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Damage occurred to the Minell Pipeline, just west of McAuley, causing the shut-off.
The damage is reportedly due to an excavator coming into contact with a natural gas pipeline on the site.
Russell, Inglis, Roblin, Riding Mountain West, Grandview, Gilbert Plains and Dauphin are served by gas from the Minell Pipeline.
Manitoba Hydro reports no injuries and that this incident poses no threat to nearby communities.
Natural gas is venting safely, and local staff are on the scene with emergency personnel to ensure the site remains safe.
Specialized gas crews will begin repair work tomorrow morning.
Because of the warm weather we are experiencing and low natural gas usage, it's anticipated that residential customers will not experience a disruption to their service.
Manitoba Hydro has sent a compressed natural gas trailer to Dauphin from Winnipeg to help supplement gas service.
An early estimate indicates the damage will take two to three days to repair.
Manitoba Hydro said in a press release that they would update the situation further once staff performed a more thorough examination.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Manitoba Hydro released news tonight via Twitter regarding disruption to a natural gas pipeline that serves the communities of Roblin, Inglis, Gilbert Plains and Dauphin.
Manitoba Hydro tweeted the following information,
“We are aware of a service disruption on a natural gas pipeline serving the communities of Russell, Inglis, Roblin, Gilbert Plains, Dauphin and rural service in between those communities. Local staff are responding, and we are getting in touch with communities impacted by the disruption along with local media outlets. More information to follow as it becomes available.“
CKDM will provide more information on this matter as it becomes available.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
17 more winners were announced today in the province's Vax to Win Lottery.
Adult winners won $100 thousand, and youth won $25 thousand scholarships.
James Hopfner is the winner in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
To be eligible for the lottery Manitobans had to have had their 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on or before September 6th.
Manitoba currently sits at 85.2 percent with one shot and 81.1 percent with both doses.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
A resolution was passed at last night's City of Dauphin Council Meeting, not to hold a by-election after the passing of Mayor Allen Dowhan, due to public health concerns.
This was done for public health concerns.
The resolution is subject to approval by the Minister of Municipal Relations.
The council meeting was open to members of the public and was well attended.
Four councilors voted in favor of the resolution, while two voted against it.
Councilor Kathy Bellemare, who was in favor of this order, says that a big concern of hers is keeping people safe.
“We just moved back up to code orange again in the province. Leaders are obviously concerned with what’s happening with Manitoba’s data, and with other provinces close to us.”
Councilor Patti Eilers said that having a by-election would be the democratic thing to do.
“There’s no reason we can’t have a safe by-election. We just had a federal election, and I don’t think this is a concern of our citizens.”
According to the Municipal Act, if there’s no by-election, a current councilor would be appointed by the current members of the council. This would happen once the resolution is approved by the Minister.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
In a move he says is effective immediately, Brain Pallister is stepping away as a member of the Manitoba legislative assembly.
This news comes one month after Pallister's decision to resign as Premier of the province.
Mr. Pallister extended his gratitude to Manitobans in a press release issued earlier in the day,
"The greatest honour of my life has been serving as Manitoba's 22nd premier. I am incredibly optimistic about our future as a province, and that is why I say to you: the only thing better than today in Manitoba is tomorrow in Manitoba."
Pallister has served as Fort Whyte's MLA since 2012 and was voted the province's 22nd premier in 2016, serving in that role until September of this year.
Kelvin Goertzen is Manitoba's interim Premier, but the PCs will select a new party leader and Premier on Oct. 30th.
The two choices for the PCs, Heather Stefanson, Manitoba's former cabinet minister and Shelly Glover, one of Stephen Harper's former cabinet ministers.
The next provincial election is set to take place in 2023.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Two women were injured after shots were fired in Duck Bay.
On Saturday, at around 2:40 p.m., Winnipegosis RCMP received a report of a disturbance.
When RCMP were on their way, another report came in that shots had been fired at the location.
When officers arrived on the scene, they immediately arrested a 48-year-old woman without incident.
A rifle was located and seized.
The investigation determined that a fight had occurred between the woman in custody and another 48-year-old woman. She was also arrested without incident.
Both women had minor physical injuries.
They’ve been released pending a court appearance on multiple charges.
On Sunday, at around 4:30 a.m., Winnipegosis RCMP attended a house fire on South Bay Street in Duck bay.
The structure was completely burned to the ground.
The residence belonged to the second woman arrested in relation to the shots fired incident on Saturday. She was still in police custody at the time of the fire.
RCMP say that the fire appears to be suspicious at this time.
The investigation is continuing.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
New health orders come into effect Tuesday that include reducing gathering sizes when unvaccinated people are present.
CKDM asked Manitoba's chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin how the government feels it can effectively enforce these new rules.
“The big thing is that enforcement is only one part of the puzzle. So certainly enforcement has always been a part of it, enforcement does occur and will continue to occur, but it’s only one part of it. That outreach that’s occurring from many of our partners in all regions is going to continue, our public health messaging is going to continue, and our messaging about the significant climb in cases and hospitalizations.”
Roussin says that it’s understandable if people aren’t happy with the new rules.
“I think there’s a lot of fatigue out there, but it’s just a matter of alternatives. So with these restrictions in place, this is really to do what we can to avoid over-running the health care system, so that it’s there for both the vaccinated and unvaccinated, and COVID care and non-COVID care.”
The new health orders include limiting private indoor gatherings to guests from one other household when an unvaccinated person who’s eligible for the vaccine is present.
Gatherings on outdoor private property will be limited to 10 people when any unvaccinated people who are eligible are present.
Indoor public gatherings are being reduced to 25 people or 25 percent capacity, whichever is lower when any unvaccinated people who are eligible for the vaccine are present.
Outdoor public gatherings are being reduced to 50 people, regardless of immunization status.
The new orders will come into effect on Tuesday, Oct. 5th at 12:01 a.m.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
