News briefs for September 25, 2018

Police said victims in two homicides — one Sunday and one Monday — are victims of violence.

On Sunday at about 2:15 a.m., a 73-year-old man was assaulted outside a residence on the 300 block of Redwood Avenue and later died in hospital. Officers arrived while the attack was in progress and arrested a male youth who was later charged with second-degree murder.

Police are still looking for the attacker in the second incident in which a male victim was assaulted on Monday about 4 p.m. in the underpass at Logan Avenue and McPhillips Street. He died in hospital.

Police said they have few details to share at this time and ask that anyone who saw anything or has information to call (204) 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-TIPS (8477).

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The province has laid out new regulations giving police officers more leeway to enforce rules about cannabis and public intoxication, among other offences. 

Community safety officers, First Nation safety officers, Winnipeg Police Service cadets and the river patrol unit will be able to enforce provincial laws prohibiting cannabis use in public places, possession under the age of 19 and providing cannabis to someone under 19.

WPS cadets will also be allowed to apprehend people who are trespassing and to enforce bans on tobacco smoking in enclosed places. 

The regulatory changes come into effect Oct. 17, the same day non-medicinal marijuana is legalized in Canada.

Five people were arrested and charged with theft-related offences after general-patrol officers spotted a stolen vehicle about 1:50 a.m. Monday in area of Notre Dame Avenue and St. James Street.

Police followed the vehicle to the 300 block of Blake Street where it was abandoned. Officers arrested two men, two women and a 16-year-old girl without incident. Three of the suspects are alleged to be involved in liquor store robberies.

David Ackabee, 21, and Manny Rae Chudrick, 19, each face multiple charges, including 17 thefts from liquor marts of merchandise worth more than $10,000.

The 16-year-old girl was charged in connection to 38 separate thefts from liquor marts where $18,500 in booze was stolen.

Two women, aged 19 and 21, also face theft-related charges and were released on promises to appear.

A woman is in stable condition in hospital after being robbed and attacked by two unknown males, one armed with a gun, on Monday morning.

Police said the woman was walking northbound about 7 a.m. on the east side of Osborne Street near Maplewood Avenue when two males knocked her to the ground and tried to take her backpack.

One male produced a firearm and pointed it at a man walking by who stepped in to intervene. The suspects ran off.

Anyone with information is asked to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Construction workers and labour representatives gathered at the 1919 General Strike monument Tuesday to protest the provincial government’s pending implementation of Bill 28. 

Sudhir Sandu, CEO of Manitoba Building Trades, said the bill could jeopardize Project Labour Agreements that have historically been used on major construction projects to ensure at least some local workforce participation. He cited the Red River Floodway extension project and Manitoba Hydro’s Keeyask generating site as examples of PLAs. 

"We’re loudly and clearly sending a message that publicly funded construction projects should put Manitoba workers and communities first," Sandu said.

Bill 28 will be debated during the fall legislative sitting that begins next Wednesday.

Mayoral hopeful Jenny Motkaluk is promising to overhaul 311 if elected Oct. 24.

Wait times for the city’s 311 line have become alarmingly high, according to Motkaluk, who said the queue can sometimes be 30 or 40 minutes long and often does not lead to results.

“Whatever happened to the good old days of calling with a concern or service request and actually speaking to someone that can help you?” Motkaluk said.

Motkaluk said she plans to modify the 311 system so calls are answered live by department staff.  

Three local community and business leaders have agreed to throw their weight behind Mayor Brian Bowman’s re-election campaign.

On Tuesday, Bowman announced that Gail Asper of the Asper Foundation, former Winnipeg Harvest CEO David Northcott and Sandy Riley, a lawyer and former chair of Manitoba Hydro’s board of directors, are all serving as honourary campaign chairs.

“These individuals have a wealth of experience as community and business leaders. For years they have been committed to building a stronger Winnipeg,” Bowman said.

The number of children in the care of Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFS) has decreased for the first time in 15 years, the provincial government says.

Numbers from March 31, 2018, show 10,328 children in care, a reduction of 386 or 3.6 per cent from the March 31, 2017, count.

An additional 448 were reported in non-paid care, either reunited in their own home (living with a parent, guardian or a lifelong family member) or placed in supervised adoption, without government financial support.  The total of 10,776 open files is a reduction of 576 from last year, or 5.1 per cent overall.

Family reunifications have increased by more than eight per cent across Manitoba and apprehensions have decreased by more than nine per cent over the last year.

Of the 10,328 children in care, 87 per cent are Indigenous.  The province says it supports 77 per cent of children in care while the federal government funds 23 per cent.

Workers at Manitoba’s Superstores, Extra Foods and No Frills, all stores owned by Loblaw, voted 99 per cent in favour Monday of giving a strike mandate to their UFCW bargaining committee.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

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The collective agreement expires on Thursday for the 3,500 workers at the Loblaw-owned stores in Winnipeg, Brandon, Steinbach, Winkler, Dauphin, Swan River and The Pas. 

In a press release from UFCW Local 832, the union said it will be back at the bargaining table with Loblaw “around the clock if necessary” until the contract expiration date.

 A strike deadline has not yet been set.