News briefs for October 2, 2018

A wate- main break flooded the Portage Place Shopping Centre parkade Tuesday afternoon.

The parkade and food court for the downtown mall have both been closed while repairs are underway.

The flooding reportedly began sometime between 11 a.m. and noon, rising to levels that were knee-deep in some areas of the parkade.

Justice Atamanchuk, a 15-year-old Tec Voc High School student, is the honorary campaign chair for mayoral hopeful Jenny Motkaluk.

Motkaluk, considered a front-runner in the 2018 mayoral race, introduced the straight-A, Grade 10 student at a press conference Tuesday. 

She said Atamanchuk, who volunteers on her campaign, symbolizes why she is running for mayor.

"This bright, talented, soft-spoken and energetic young man, he is our future. He’s Winnipeg’s future," she said.

The Manitoba NDP is accusing a Progressive Conservative cabinet minister of accepting an illegal corporate political donation.

The party has written letters of complaint to Manitoba’s commissioner of elections and its conflict of interest commissioner over an apparent donation made by the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba to a PC golfing fundraiser on Sept. 19 hosted by Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer.

The NDP, citing event advertising and social media posts, said the IBAM was a $500 hole sponsor at the event.

NDP MLA Andrew Swan said this is a conflict for Mayer in her cabinet role since IBAM is a registered Manitoba corporation that has lobbied government, including on issues related to the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act.

In a letter to conflict of interest commissioner and lobbyist registrar Jeffrey Schnoor, the NDP said it was inappropriate for Mayer and her party to accept what appears to be illegal corporate contributions from a group that has a vested interest in the decisions she makes as a cabinet minister.

The Manitoba government has appointed an independent advisor to investigate the province’s purchases of flood-fighting equipment and security services, dating back to 2008. 

Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced Umendra Mital, an engineer with an extensive history working with government, will conduct the independent audit.

"As an independent advisor, Mr. Mital will help our government, and Manitobans, develop a good understanding of the issues and actions taken since 2008 by the Manitoba government to fight floods and how our government can learn from them," Schuler said. "The results of this review will help us determine what actions should be taken to better protect Manitobans in the case of natural disasters."

A 16-year-old boy was threatened with a handgun, sprayed with pepper spray, physically assaulted and robbed of his backpack by two suspects on Monday at about 2:10 p.m. in the area of Portage Avenue and Vaughn Street.

Police said the boy had encountered the suspects, whmo he had not known prior to the incident, inside a nearby shopping centre. Once they were outside, the two suspects allegedly attacked the boy.

Patrol officers chased down two suspects and arrested them in the area of Qu’Appelle Avenue and Balmoral Street. The victim was taken to hospital in stable condition.

Brock Bentley Mann, 18, of Winnipeg is facing multiple robbery and weapons-related charges and is being held in custody. A 17-year-old boy has been charged with similar offences and is being held at the Manitoba Youth Centre.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

A 54-year-old man was arrested on Sept. 20 after he was pulled over for allegedly driving 132 km/h on Highway 6 near Lundar and allegedly found to be in possession of about 2 kg of vacuum-sealed marijuana and a large amount of Canadian cash, RCMP said.

Officers smelled marijuana inside the vehicle, and when they asked the man about it, he showed them a burned marijuana cigarette.

Anthony Ross of The Pas was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, speeding and driving while disqualified.

Many of us think controlled burns are just for national parks, but that’s what will be taking place in the city over the next month, the City of Winnipeg says.

The city, aided by the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service, will be conducting controlled burns of various natural prairies inside the city from Oct. 2 to Nov. 15, weather conditions permitting.

The burns will be performed under suitable wind conditions and bordered with fire guards.

Fire plays an important role in the preservation and restoration of prairies, the city said in a press release. Lack of fire allows the proliferation of weeds.

Controlled burns have been conducted by the city’s Naturalist Services Branch on Winnipeg’s tallgrass prairies since 1986.