News briefs for July 15, 2020

The City of Winnipeg is one step closer to using a COVID-19 grant to build public washrooms downtown.

On Wednesday, council’s executive policy committee unanimously approved a motion to devote up to $620,000 to create one or more permanent public washrooms with handwashing stations. The facilities would be open 24/7, with a target completion date of February 2021.

Supporters of public washrooms have long argued they could ensure all Winnipeggers, including the homeless population, have access to safe, clean “places to go.”

That plan would be paid for through a $670,000 grant the city recently received from the Community Response Fund for Vulnerable Populations (CRFVP). Its remaining funds would be used to rent additional temporary, portable washrooms and handwashing stations that serve the homeless population.

City council doesn’t look set to strike a deal on its next Winnipeg Goldeyes stadium lease just yet.

On Wednesday, council’s executive policy committee voted to lay over its vote on a lease proposal until September, while the public service seeks annual financial statements from the team.

The city’s public service had proposed a 15-year lease agreement for Shaw Park, which would replace the current $1-per-year lease. The team would pay an annual rent of $75,000 in Years 1 to 5, $85,000 in Years 6 to 10 and $95,000 in Years 11 to 15.

The deal would also offer the team annual grants that equal the amount of entertainment tax the Goldeyes pay each year, at least until Nov. 14, 2029, a benefit that amounted to $325,000 in 2019.

Any actual changes to the lease would require full council approval.

The Canada West Conference, which includes the universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba among its members, is planning to go ahead with golf and swimming championships for the 2020-21 season; however, the conference cross-country championships will not be held after the 17 member schools voted Wednesday following the recommendations of Canada West’s board of governors.

Whether the championships eventually take place is contingent on health and safety considerations of individual jurisdictions.

A 29-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with online child luring.

On June 25, the Winnipeg Police Service internet child exploitation unit became involved in an investigation of alleged online luring involving a child under the age of 14, police said during a news conference Wednesday. 

The suspect had been posing as a 14-year-old boy and was in contact with the victim for about a month before parents learned of the conversation and alerted police, police say. A 29-year-old man was arrested July 14, after an undercover investigation.

Kenneth Dale Emerson faces two counts of luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication. He has been released on a recognizance.

Winnipeg’s mayor says he won’t support appealing the court ruling that deemed the city’s impact fee invalid, which includes an order to refund the $32 million of revenue it collected so far.

Mayor Brian Bowman said he would prefer to work with the development community to ensure new builds pay for their demands on city services and infrastructure. The mayor said he would be required to sign off on a city appeal, so his decision means that won’t take place at this time.

The decision should clear the way for the city to start issuing homeowners impact-fee refunds, as long as the developers who raised the legal challenge don’t appeal the ruling themselves.

To celebrate the Legislative Building’s 100th birthday, Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon and Premier Brian Pallister joined Speaker Myrna Driedger at the Louis Riel statue on the bank of the Assiniboine River in a rededication ceremony.
The lieutenant-governor unveiled a plaque to mark the 100th birthday of the opening of the building on July 15, 1920.

“The Manitoba Legislative Building is more than just a meeting place,” said Lt-Gov. Filmon. “It is a symbol of our democracy. It contains our dreams of a society governed by principles of fairness, equality and wisdom. Beauty, hope and inspiration live within its walls. May this grand building continue to inspire Manitobans young and old throughout its second century.”

Today also marks the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of The Manitoba Act, which created the Province of Manitoba. The Manitoba Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada and received royal assent on May 12, 1870. It was then proclaimed on July 15, 1870.

No new cases of COVID-19 were reported today in Manitoba, say provincial health officials. Even after five new cases were reported Tuesday, the current five-day test positivity rate is low at 0.16 per cent, according to a press release.

An additional 505 tests were completed on Tuesday, bringing the total number of tests performed since early February to 72,308. 

The province is reporting just five active cases, with 318 people recovered from COVID-19. The number of deaths remains at seven. The total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba is now 330.  
 
WestJet flight information related to Tuesday’s positive case is updated and available here. 

Thirty volunteers from Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba helped build a new condominium on Templeton Avenue on Wednesday, marking the first time volunteers were allowed on site to help with a Habitat for Humanity Manitoba project in 2020.

Volunteers usually begin working on site in April, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed construction back. Habitat for Humanity Manitoba plans to build 12 homes this year, with nine in Winnipeg, two in Brandon and one in Selkirk.

The provincial government is expanding a wage subsidy program that encourages businesses to hire Manitobans.

Premier Brian Pallister said the enhanced back to work program will reimburse up to $5,000 for up to 10 new workers to a maximum of $50,000 per business, not for profit or charity.

Businesses that have already benefitted from provincial summer wage subsidies are eligible for this new wage subsidy benefit to hire or bring back an additional 10 employees.

The program will now reimburse half of all wages for those newly hired until Oct. 31.

Employers who have received financial support fom other provincial and federal programs are all eligible, Pallister said.

Proponents of the $400-million Portage Place Mall redevelopment project are asking for $60 million of public funding to support the effort.

But Winnipeg’s public service suggests the city pay just $5 million of its requested $20-million share of that ask, which council’s executive policy committee will consider on Wednesday.

Starlight Investments requested $20 million each from the city, province and feds over the next five years, arguing their project would have several community benefits.

The city’s public service suggests council instead approve a maximum of $5 million over up to 10 years, with the yearly amount capped at 80% of municipal property taxes from the 245 Portage Ave. site.

If approved as is, that city offer would also hinge on Starlight completing the entire project within four years of when it secures financing, as well as the province and feds matching the city’s grant for the project.

Council approval would be required to provide any of the funding.

Twelve Manitobans have been announced as this year’s recipients of the province’s highest honour.

The Order of Manitoba, established in 1999, is usually announced on Manitoba Day, May 12, but was delayed due to COVID-19. Members of the Order of Manitoba are chosen by the chancellor of the order and an advisory council, and can then use the initials ‘O.M.’ after their names.

This year’s recipients are Director and CEO of the Winnipeg Art Gallery Dr. Stephen Borys; co-founder of Bear Clan Patrol Mitch Bourbonniere; Indigenous educator Elder Mary Courchene; medical advisor Dr. Krishnamurti Dakshinamurti; FortWhyte Alive founding executive director Bill Elliott; CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation Richard Frost; Health Sciences Centre Foundation board chair Tina Jones; founder of the Winnipeg Rh Laboratory Dr. Marion Lewis; Manitoba’s first speech therapist Margaret Morse; 1999 World Junior Hockey Championship chair Stuart Murray; Hockey Night in Canada sportscaster Scott Oake and philanthropist Dr. Ernest Rady.