News briefs for Tuesday, November 4, 2025

NDP house leader urges PCs to vote for Bill 48

2:35 PM

Government house leader Nahanni Fontaine has written to the Progressive Conservatives, urging them to help lessen a “public health crisis” by voting for a bill that would allow intoxicated people to be detained for up to 72 hours.

“Every day, Manitobans encounter individuals in public spaces who are severely intoxicated, including those experiencing meth-induced psychosis, and in need of care, not criminalization,” Fontaine wrote in a letter dated Tuesday.

“Our current system is not equipped to respond effectively or humanely. Bill 48 offers a new path forward, one that prioritizes safety, dignity and access to care over punitive measures.”

Premier Wab Kinew said Monday he would extend the legislative session “as long as it takes” to pass Bill 48, the Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act. He railed against the Tories for refusing to vote on until their proposed amendments to it are debated.

“Prorogation will not occur until this work is complete. Do not block the passage of this bill,” Fontaine wrote. “Every day Bill 48 remains blocked is another day the most vulnerable are left without the care and protection they need, and another day we risk losing lives on our streets.”

Ex-cabinet minister Cullen pays ethics fine

2:16 PM

Former MLA Cliff Cullen has paid the $12,000 he was fined for violating ethics rules when he served in then-premier Heather Stefanson’s cabinet.

Speaker Tom Lindsey told the Manitoba Legislative Assembly Tuesday that Cullen has fulfilled his obligations related to an ethics commissioner’s report released May 21. The deadline to pay was Thursday.

Stefanson and another former cabinet minister, Jeff Wharton, had already paid their respective fines of $18,000 and $10,000.

The report found the three Progressive Conservatives tried to push through a licence for a Sio Silica sand mine project after losing the October 2023 provincial election. Of the three, only Wharton remains an MLA, representing Red River North.

Shots fired at police vehicle

2:02 PM

Three people have been charged after a gun was fired from a stolen automobile at a pursuing police vehicle.

The Manitoba First Nation Police Service tried to stop a vehicle on Lake Road in Sandy Bay First Nation at about 4 a.m. Monday. The vehicle did not stop and sped away, and a passenger fired a gun towards the officers.

Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP were called in to help, and the vehicle was spotted on Provincial Road 278 by Reedy Creek at about 2 p.m. One of the vehicle’s tires was flattened when it went over a spike belt placed on a roadway, but the driver continued south towards Silver Ridge.

RCMP were able to stop the vehicle. The driver — a 21-year-old man — and the two women passengers, ages 35 and 22, have been charged with several offences each. All three people are from Sandy Bay.

STARS, Keewatinohk sign health deal

1:23 PM

STARS and Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin have signed an agreement for the not-for-profit organization to enhance health care in two remote First Nations.

The initiative will begin with a six-month trial period that will give health-care teams in Tataskweyak Cree Nation and Manto Sipi Cree Nation 24-7 virtual access to a STARS doctor. The doctor will offer virtual consultations and help with decision-making. STARS will work with the province to arrange patient transport if necessary.

The physician support will be funded by Keewatinohk and is separate from the air ambulance services STARS provides under contract with the Manitoba government.

“This partnership addresses long-standing gaps in access to emergency care for First Nations in northern Manitoba,” Dr. Barry Lavallee, Keewatinohk’s chief executive officer, said in a news release.

Keewatinohk supports health and wellness services for 23 First Nations communities in northern Manitoba.

Economic development agency releases five-year strategy

12:44 PM

An economic development agency has released a new five-year strategy charting a course for the city’s economic and tourism growth.

Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism, formerly known as Economic Development Winnipeg and Tourism Winnipeg, launched the strategy at the Leaf on Tuesday morning.

President and CEO Ryan Kuffner outlined the strategy’s three goals: boost competitiveness by developing Winnipeg into one of Canada’s most investment-ready and economically vibrant cities; elevate the city’s global profile to attract people, investment and opportunity to the city; and harness Winnipeg’s business and tourism community to drive citywide prosperity.

Targets for 2026 to 2030 include creating 11,000 jobs and a $3.4-billion impact on the city’s GDP.

The agency developed the strategy through collaboration with business, tourism, Indigenous government and community partners.

“This strategy is grounded in our mission and vision, guided by three interconnected goals that will move Winnipeg forward — and when Winnipeg moves forward, Manitoba does too,” Kuffner said in a news release. “It’s our roadmap for protecting what’s at risk and building the kind of prosperity our city and province deserve.”

Woman shot at Wellington Crescent apartment, boyfriend arrested next day: police

12:31 PM

A man is charged with aggravated assault after a woman suffered “a life-altering injury” after being shot.

The woman, 25, was rushed to hospital in critical condition early Sunday and remained there Tuesday morning, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release.

Police said the man, 28, and the victim were “involved in an altercation” at an apartment on the 200 block of Wellington Crescent at about 2:15 a.m. The man pulled out a handgun, and the woman was shot at close range during the altercation, the WPS said.

“Seriously injured, she escaped the building and waved down members of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service in the area, who provided her with emergency medical care,” the release said.

The man got in a vehicle and drove away before police arrived at the apartment. The WPS major crimes unit obtained a warrant of arrest for Machuor Machar Akau.

Police were told Monday afternoon that Akau was in the area of Fermor Avenue and Beaverhill Road in Southdale, and officers arrested him there at about 1:40 p.m.

Akau was detained in custody. A WPS spokeswoman said she could not say whether he possessed the gun legally.

Saskatoon’s Sheepdogs coming to Burt in April

11:26 AM

Four-time Juno winners the Sheepdogs are bringing their guitar-driven barroom rock to the Burton Cummings Theatre on April 17.

With 13 releases under their belt — the most recent being the companion EPs Paradise Alone and Hell Together — the band members have honed a harmony-laden blues-rock sound that frontman Ewan Currie says aims for “the sweet spot in between Led Zeppelin and Crosby, Stills & Nash.”

Tickets for the show — prices TBA — go on sale Friday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.ca.

No charges warranted in Lake St. Martin incident: IIU

11:11 AM

No charges will be laid against an RCMP officer after a man arrested in March was found to have multiple facial fractures.

The incident happened in Lake St. Martin First Nation on March 21. Gypsumville RCMP went there to arrest a man wanted on a warrant for domestic violence and found a vehicle in a ditch and a man fleeing on foot, Mounties told the province’s police watchdog. He ran into a home, where police used a Taser on him

“Following due consideration of all the circumstances, the civilian director will not be authorizing charges,” the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba said in a news release Tuesday.

The IIU report on the incident has not yet been released because charges against the man arrested remain before the court.

RCMP have few details in Flin Flon shooting

10:59 AM

RCMP are investigating after a shooting victim showed up at Flin Flon’s hospital.

Police were contacted at  5:15 a.m. Saturday and spoke with the victim, who did not tell officers much other than he was shot in that city.

The man, 41, was later flown to Winnipeg in unstable condition, where he remained Tuesday morning, RCMP said in a news release.

Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to call Flin Flon RCMP at 204-687-1422 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Train ‘made contact’ with person at east Winnipeg crossing

9:59 AM

Police were sent to a railway crossing in east Winnipeg after a train ‘made contact with a person’ Monday evening.

Winnipeg Police Service officers arrived at the intersection of Munroe Avenue and Prevette Street at about 6:10 p.m. to help Canadian Pacific Kansas City police with an investigation, a WPS spokesperson said.

A CPKC spokesperson confirmed one of their trains “made contact with a person” along the tracks in the area and that its police service is investigating. The train moved on from the area shortly after.

Shots fired in West Broadway, woman arrested

9:25 AM

City police have a woman in custody after gunshots were fired in the West Broadway neighbourhood Tuesday morning.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said multiple police units, including a tactical team and drone unit, were sent to a home on the first 100 block of Furby Street.

No injuries were reported, Chancy said.

The Cornish Child Care Centre, located inside an apartment building at 25 Furby St., was placed on lockdown while police dealt with the incident. A staff member there said the lockdown lasted about 45 minutes. She did not hear any shots fired.