News briefs for Friday, August 25, 2023

Liberals promise same-day housing for homeless people

11:23 AM

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont has vowed to house homeless people within one day of them applying for assistance by 2025, among other policy changes for tenants, if his party wins the next election.

“Manitoba Liberals are committing to bringing in… same-day housing in Manitoba,.” Lamont said in a news release. “We want to end homelessness in this province, and that means treating it as the emergency it is.

“For a person who doesn’t have a roof over their head, every single day is an emergency — for them, and the community we live in.”

By 2025, the Manitoba Liberals said no one would be sleeping in parks or bus shelters under their program if they formed government.

The party also committed to bringing in tough new rules at the “(Residential Tenancies Branch) to crack down on ‘reno-victions.’”

MPI under strike notice, walkouts begin Monday

11:24 AM

The union representing workers at Manitoba Public Insurance will strike next week, interrupting a raft of insurance services.

The Manitoba General Employees Union announced official strike action will begin Monday at 7:30 a.m., it said in a release Friday.

“The bargaining committee remains open to bargaining over the weekend, but if no settlement is reached, the strike on Monday will be a full walkout by the entire membership at MPI,” the union said.

MGEU represents roughly 1,700 MPI workers. The strike will affect the Crown corporation’s services, including its call centres, claim processing, damage estimates and driver and vehicle licensing.

The news comes one day after a significant storm battered parts of north Winnipeg, downing trees, smashing windows and damaging vehicles with hail and wind.

MGEU president Kyle Ross is to host a media availability Friday afternoon with more information.

Manitoba NDP pledge to boost renters tax credit, tackle above guideline rent increases

12:11 PM

Renters would see their education property tax credit restored to $700 if the Manitoba NDP are elected, leader Wab Kinew said Friday.

“Everyone deserves an affordable place to call home. But under (Premier) Heather Stefanson, renters are being priced out,” Kinew said in a release.

The NDP leader promised to increase the credit from $525 to $700. The credit was gradually reduced under the Tory government.

Kinew also promised to amend laws governing the Residential Tenancies Board and above guideline rent increases.

The changes would tip power balance back towards tenants by preventing landlords from applying for unnecessary increases or passing along increases that have not been approved, Kinew said.

Jets add new ECHL affiliate

1:09 PM

The Winnipeg Jets have welcomed a new addition to their hockey family.

An ECHL partnership with the Norfolk Admirals will give the organization another option in which to send their young prospects. The ECHL is one step below the American Hockey League, where the Manitoba Moose reside.

Winnipeg hasn’t had a formal ECHL affiliation for the past two years, instead loaning players to various teams around that league when necessary. Ten skaters appeared in games for both the Moose and in the ECHL last season.

West Nile virus case confirmed in Manitoba

2:13 PM

A Manitoban was hospitalized with what turned out to be the province’s first confirmed case of West Nile virus this season.

The confirmed case was detected along with three other probable cases, the provincial government announced Friday. The patient lives in the Winnipeg health region and is in their 40s.

“The individual experienced neurological symptoms and was hospitalized. They were most likely exposed to WNV sometime in late June to early July. A public health investigation has been completed. More information about the other cases will be posted on Manitoba Health’s WNV web page if they are confirmed to be infected with WNV,” the provincial government stated in a news release.

In 2022, there were seven cases of West Nile virus in Manitoba, and five of those cases required hospitalization.

The province stated 45 pools of mosquitoes infected with WNV have been identified in Manitoba so far this year, with eight pools identified the week of Aug. 13 to 19. Weekly West Nile updates with information about confirmed cases and regional surveillance are posted at www.gov.mb.ca.

Man, 51, found dead near vehicle in RM of Norfolk Treherne

2:29 PM

Portage la Prairie RCMP are investigating after a man was found dead near a vehicle in the Rural Municipality of Norfolk Treherne on Thursday morning.

Officers were called to the scene, near Municipal Road 44 W in the RM, at about 10:10 a.m.. They found the body of a 51-year-old man, RCMP say.

The body has been sent for an autopsy and the cause of death is not yet known.

Portage la Prairie officers, along with major crime Mounties and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, are investigating.

Two men stabbed near Main Street hotel

3:41 PM

Two men were stabbed near the Northern Hotel on Winnipeg’s Main Street early Friday morning.

Winnipeg police were called to the 800 block of Main Street at about 2 a.m., spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said, where they found the two men.

The victims were transported to hospital in unstable condition, Chancy said.

Police have not made any arrests and the investigation is in its early stages, said Chancy.