News briefs for January 25, 2021

A Winnipeg man has died after a single vehicle collision on the Perimeter Highway between Roblin Boulevard and Portage Avenue Monday morning.

Headingley RCMP responded to a report of the collision around 8:30 a.m. Monday, and determined the vehicle had been travelling southbound when the driver lost control and collided with a pole.

The driver and sole occupant, a 28-year-old man from Winnipeg, was pronounced dead at the scene. RCMP said road conditions were slippery and alcohol is not a factor in the collision.

Both southbound lanes of the Perimeter Highway have now been reopened.

The investigation is ongoing.

Manitoba’s police watchdog has launched an investigation into a fatal motor vehicle collision.

On Jan. 22, an officer with the Morden Police Service attempted a traffic stop in Morden. The suspect vehicle fled from the scene. The officer pursued the vehicle but stopped for safety reasons. 

The suspect vehicle was later found flipped on its side in a field. The driver and passenger were found injured outside the vehicle and were taken to hospital. The passenger, an adult male, died.

Morden police notified the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba of the matter on Jan. 23. The IIU announced its investigation Monday.

Police announced on Tuesday that a Joseph Dettanikkeazw, 42, who had last been seen in the West End area of Winnipeg on Jan. 16, has been safely located.

Swan River RCMP responded to a report of a break-in at the Kenville post office in Kenville, Man.

Around noon on Saturday RCMP received a report that the post office had been broken into, several packages had been torn open and items had been taken, RCMP said. 

Police are asking anyone with items missing or whose mail was gone through to call Swan River RCMP at 204-734-4686, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Provincial health officials announced 113 new cases of COVID-19 and 5 more deaths in Manitoba Monday.

There are 3,542 active cases in Manitoba, with 272 people in hospital, 30 of them in intensive care.

The five-day test positivity rate is 10.8 in Manitoba, and 6.8 in Winnipeg.
The new deaths include:
• a woman in her 70s from Prairie Mountain Health region
• a woman in her 80s from Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre
• a man in his 80s from Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at the medical unit at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre
• a woman in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region
• a woman in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Concordia Place

Of the new cases announced Monday, 33 are in the Winnipeg health region, 6 in Southern Health; 10 in Interlake–Eastern; 6 in Prairie Mountain; and 58 in Northern Health.

Manitoba may be forced to postpone some second dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments as deliveries of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine come to a halt. 

In a release, the provincial government said it is likely that “some second-dose appointments” will be delayed in Winnipeg and Brandon. 

“The number of appointments affected and length of the delay will only be determined by Manitoba once the federal government confirms the amount of vaccine delivered the week of Feb. 8 and which day it will arrive,” the province said. 

More information about the size of the next Pfizer shipment is expected later this week. 

Due to the disruption, no new appointments are being booked at the Winnipeg and Brandon clinics. However, appointments are being accepted for the opening of a clinic in Thompson on Feb. 1. The province also plans to give shots at clinics in Flin Flon and The Pas beginning Feb. 8 for eligible health care workers. 

According to the province, beginning this week, every dose of vaccine given at a clinic will be a second dose. Also this week, the province intends to offer first dose immunization at 62 personal care homes, concluding the first round of the campaign to immunize long term care residents.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested after Thompson RCMP seized cocaine, weapons from his vehicle in a traffic stop near Paint Lake.

Around 10:30 a.m. Saturday RCMP stopped a vehicle on Highway 6, and after a search officers seized 280 grams of cocaine, weapons, money and drug paraphernalia, RCMP said. 

Matthew Governeau, 32, was also found in violation of the public health emergency order for travelling above the 53rd parallel, RCMP said. Governeau has been charged with numerous offences including trafficking, weapons possession, unlawfully transporting liquor in a vehicle and failure to comply with the emergency health orders.

He is currently in custody, RCMP said, and the investigation is ongoing.

A federal-provincial program that tops up wages to caregivers has seen $35 million disbursed to more than 21,000 persons, Families Minister Rochelle Squires says.

The Caregiver Wage Support Program completed its first intake in December 2020, when more than $16.3 million was distributed to 19,400 applicants — each of whom received an average payout of over $850.

A recently completed second intake saw more than 20,000 claims worth $19 million.

The program launched in November to recognize low-income and middle-income workers who have been integral in protecting Manitobans during the province’s pandemic response.

The Manitoba government provided $18 million, while the federal government has contributed the remaining $17 million. 

Caregivers received an hourly $5 top-up to their wages based on the number of hours worked during the intake period.

The benefit has been paid directly to eligible Manitobans working in 24-7 group care settings including health-care aides, direct service workers, recreation workers, housekeeping staff and others who provide direct care to vulnerable Manitobans at personal care homes or in disability services, child welfare services, homeless and family violence prevention shelters, and long-term care facilities.

Both southbound lanes of the Perimeter Highway between Portage Avenue and Roblin Boulevard have reopened after a morning crash.

One lane reopened to traffic late this morning, while the second reopened early this afternoon, the provincial government said.

The American Association’s Winnipeg Goldeyes have signed former major league pitcher Ryan Dull.

The 31-year-old right-hander from Winston Salem, N.C., spent five seasons in the big leagues, registering a 4.31 ERA, 170 strikeouts in 171 1/3 innings, for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.

Dull last pitched in 2019.

The provincial government is providing up to $100,000 to The Forks to help create, maintain and expand The Winnipeg Foundation Centennial River Trail.

The trail this year is one of the largest ever created on the city’s rivers, with provisions for cross-country skiing, cycling along with a widened skating path.

New sections will continue to be added throughout the winter and the trail will be groomed daily, the provincial government said in a news release.

The trail can be accessed from The Forks and access points will be added as conditions allow.

Updated conditions, including what sections of the trail are open or closed, can be found at theforks.com/skate.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires will be holding a press conference Monday morning to announce a provincial wage support program. 

Manitoba RCMP are searching for an inmate who escaped from Stony Mountain Institution’s minimum-security unit.

Owen Spence was missing from the unit’s head count at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the Correctional Service of Canada said in a news release.

Spence is described as 5-11, about 188 pounds, with a medium complexion, brown eyes and black hair.

He might be on his way to Brandon, the RCMP tweeted. The RCMP said Spence has a history of violence.