News briefs for Thursday, October 6, 2022

The largest union representing City of Winnipeg employees has set a date for a potential strike.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500 has set a strike date for this Wednesday.

About 5,000 city employees have been without a contract since February 2021. Its members rejected the city’s last offer on July 12 and voted to authorize strike action.

The province appointed a conciliation officer to assist with negotiations on July 26, and the latest talks made public in mid-September were unsuccessful. The union represents city water and waste workers, recreation services employees, 311 and 911 operators, streets maintenance and traffic signals workers.

Manitoba’s COVID-19 death toll increased by 17 people in the last week of September as the virus’ spread appeared to plateau.

According to the province’s latest weekly COVID-19 report, deaths related to the virus increased from 2,160 to 2,177 between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1, including three people who died during the reporting period.

As COVID-19 cases are no longer reported directly to public health, officials say delays in reporting deaths are to be expected.

The province also reported a slight increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and test-positivity rates.

The test-positivity rate increased from 22.2 per cent to 23.4 per cent and 305 people were confirmed to be positive for COVID-19, compared to 283 in the previous week.

Seventy-seven people were admitted to hospital with the disease, including 13 to intensive care. In the week prior, 73 people were admitted to hospital.

Wastewater samples collected in Winnipeg until Sept. 27 indicated ongoing COVID-19 spread at a lower level, according to the province.

RCMP major crimes investigators have arrested a second person accused in a June homicide in Powerview-Pine Falls.

A 20-year-old man was killed after he was intentionally struck by a vehicle on an off-road trail near Dupont Street in the community on June 3. A 27-year-old woman was also injured.

Mounties arrested a 15-year-old girl from nearby Sagkeeng First Nation, who they allege was behind the wheel, and charged her with second-degree murder and assault with a weapon shortly after the collision.

On Oct. 4, RCMP charged an 18-year-old woman from Sagkeeng with second-degree murder and assault with a weapon. Mounties allege she was a passenger in the vehicle. The woman, whose name has not been released, was expected in court in Winnipeg Thursday.

Goaltender Mikael Berdin won’t be part of the Winnipeg Jets or Manitoba Moose for the upcoming hockey season, the NHL team announced Thursday afternoon.

Through a press release, the Jets said Berdin, per the advice and recommendation of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, will not remain with the club for the 2022-23 NHL season. There was no additional information on which part of the program applied to Berdin, though reports suggest it has nothing to do with substance abuse.

Berdin had been away from the team the past week, the Jets citing “personal reasons” for his absence. The release added that the “rights of the club and player will be consistent with the treatment of a suspended player, so (Berdin) will not be paid by the club and his salary will not count against the salary cap.” As part of an agreement between the club, NHL, NHLPA and the player, Berdin is now clear to sign a one-year contract to play outside of North America for the 2022-23 season.

Berdin was selected by Winnipeg in the sixth round (157th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft. The 24-year-old has spent all of his time in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, including seeing action in 32 games last season, posting a 2.40 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.

 

Hockey Manitoba has joined the growing list of provincial bodies to call for change within Hockey Canada’s brass.

The organization tweeted a statement earlier today.

“Hockey Manitoba board of directors support the call by members of Parliament for a change in Hockey Canada’s leadership at the senior staff level and board of directors,” the statement reads. “Further, Hockey Manitoba calls for a review of the Hockey Canada action plan to include consultation from experts or organizations working in education, awareness and prevention of sexual violence, abuse, bullying and discrimination.”

The statement comes one day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for “profound changes” within the national body’s brass, a sentiment that was echoed by federal Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge.

Hockey Québec and the Ontario Hockey Federation also announced Wednesday they would stop sending a portion of registration fees to Hockey Canada.

Hockey Manitoba said it will not comment further on the issue until there is an update.

Thompson RCMP are investigating after someone shot up two float planes on Assean Lake in Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

Police were called Wednesday about the damage to the two planes, which were riddled with bullet holes. One of the planes is privately owned, while the other is owned by the First Nation, which is about 125 kilometres northeast of Thompson.

Both of the planes, valued at about $850,000, will likely be declared total losses, according to the RCMP.

Policve ask anyone who has information about the incident to call the Thompson detachment at 204-778-3050 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Veteran defenceman Carson Lambos is the new captain of the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice.

The 19-year-old Winnipegger, chosen 26th overall by Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Draft, was returned to the Ice Wednesday after appearing in three pre-season games with the Wild.

The club, which had not named a captain since the departure of centre Peyton Krebs to the pro ranks following the 2020-21 season, also made right-winger Connor McClennon, centre Owen Pederson and defenceman Ben Zloty alternates for 2022-23.