Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On December 1, 2020, shortly after 7:00 am, police responded to a report of an assault, which occurred in the common area of an apartment building in the 700 block of Louise Ave. An unauthorized individual was found inside the building by a resident and confronted. The suspect then assaulted the victim by kicking and punching them several times. As the suspect left, he was holding a screwdriver, and threatened harm to the victim. The victim did not require any medical attention. Police located the 22-year-old male suspect several blocks away where he was arrested. In his possession was stolen mail. The suspect appeared in court later in the day on charges of Assault, Possess Weapon Dangerous, Uttering Threats, Fail to Comply with Release Order, and Possess Stolen Mail.

The Manitoba government is furthering its commitment to protecting safe and healthy learning environments by mandating a two-week remote learning period for grade 7 to 12 students and offering the same remote learning period for kindergarten to Grade 6 students, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced today. This two-week remote learning period will begin Jan. 4, 2021, following the regularly scheduled holiday break. “Current data indicates the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our schools remains low and we want to ensure the return to the classroom is as safe as practically possible,” said Goertzen. “By moving our grade 7 to 12 students to remote learning for the first two weeks of the new year and offering remote learning options to kindergarten to Grade 6 students, we are reducing the risk that may be posed as a result of a change in students’ close contacts during the winter break.” Students in grades 7 to 12 will move to remote learning for a two-week period from Jan. 4 to 15. Optional remote learning will also be available to kindergarten to Grade 6 students during this period should families wish to keep their children at home following the holiday break. Regular, in-person classroom learning will be available during this period for kindergarten to Grade 6 students, as well as for any grade 7 to 12 students with special needs that must be accommodated in the school or classroom setting. This two-week remote learning period for grades 7 to 12 will keep close to half of the student population in Manitoba at home following the winter break. Evidence suggests that older students have a higher incidence of contracting the virus, a larger number of close contacts and are more likely to transmit the virus to others as a result. Moving this group to remote learning will reduce the risk of transmission in schools while minimizing the impact on kindergarten to Grade 6 students and their families. Manitoba school divisions have made significant enhancements to the remote learning experience in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are well equipped for this mandated period of remote learning, the minister said. The Provincial Remote Learning Support Centre will be available to assist school divisions and educational staff during this remote learning period. In addition to this remote learning period, Goertzen also announced that the Manitoba government is further protecting Manitoba schools by confirming the full allocation of the Safe Schools Fund. “The pandemic situation is evolving and the Manitoba government recognizes that our schools may face extraordinary funding pressures in the 2020-21 school year,” said Goertzen. “We are pleased to confirm the full allocation of our government’s $100-million investment, along with $85.4 million in federal funding, to keep our schools healthy and safe.” The $100-million Safe Schools Fund, established in August 2020, included $48 million in school division savings from the 2019-20 school year and additional $52 million in provincial funding. In late August, the federal government also announced COVID-related funding for education. This total pool of $185.4 million will be used to augment staffing, health and safety, learning and technology. Staffing is a key component of the government’s COVID-19 education measures, Goertzen said. School divisions continue to recruit additional teachers, educational assistants, substitute teachers, custodial staff, bus drivers, clinicians and other critical staff. As of Oct. 31, over $9 million had been invested in additional staffing, with a total investment of over $67 million already projected to be spent by June 2021. The confirmed allocations to support schools are: • 2019-20 savings by school divisions – $48 million; • per pupil allocations for school divisions and independent schools – $76 million including $44 million to specifically address staffing needs; • Safe Restart Contingency Fund, application-based funding to support emerging needs – $39.4 million; • Manitoba Remote Learning Support Centre – $10 million; and • personal protective equipment – $12 million. School divisions and independent schools will be able to apply for additional funding for needs not covered by their Safe Schools allocation through the Safe Restart Contingency Fund. The contingency fund will cover incremental expenditures to meet health and safety requirements, address extenuating public health conditions in the region/area that may entail unique cost pressures, and support innovative approaches that may support outcomes for a broader school community, region or the province as a whole. “Our government is committed to protecting our schools and providing the resources needed to keep students learning and staff supported during these difficult times,” said Goertzen. “Manitobans can count on us to support our staff, students and their families as we navigate this unconventional school year together.” (Province of Manitoba News Release)

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been signed to enable nursing staff from across the health system to be redeployed to areas of priority, as part of Manitoba’s response to the pandemic, including personal care homes, intensive care units (ICUs) and designated COVID-19 units. The agreement was announced today by Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen and Darlene Jackson, president, Manitoba Nurses Union. “Thousands of nurses working in personal care homes and hospitals across the province are making an enormous difference in our province’s fight against COVID-19,” said Friesen. “Our government’s top priority is ensuring patients and PCH residents are provided with the best possible care. Working with nurses, we are taking every possible step to meet the needs of Manitobans with COVID-19 in our PCHs and acute care facilities. This agreement also recognizes many nurses on the front-line of the COVID-19 response for their dedication, commitment and compassion at a critical time.” The MOA, signed today, permits health-care employers to make changes to nurse work assignments, work locations, schedules, shift patterns and/or hours of work in order to support the changing and evolving patient/resident care demands resulting from COVID-19. In consideration for this flexibility to meet changing needs, the agreement establishes allowances for nurses who are affected by a disruption in their normal work schedule, travel associated with a reassignment or for redeployment to a personal care home, intensive care unit or designated COVID-19 unit, and the nurses working together with redeployed and reassigned staff. The benefits also extend to nurses working in units or facilities where an outbreak of COVID-19 is declared. “Nurses have played a critical role on the front line of Manitoba’s pandemic response, and they have stepped up to the challenge, working countless long hours to provide quality care for patients and residents,” said Darlene Jackson, president of MNU. “Given the unprecedented circumstances we’re facing, we believe this MOA will support nursing recruitment and retention efforts in areas of significant need, and provide a clear process for redeployment that offers some security, certainty and recognition for affected nurses.” The MOA further establishes a COVID-19 northern allowance, including travel reimbursement, with compensation for staff redeployed to the north, as well as an allowance for current northern nurses who work in one community but pick up additional shifts elsewhere in the region. “Today’s agreement supports our efforts to increase and stabilize the health-care workforce that is supporting the needs of patients and residents in these priority areas,” said Lanette Siragusa, chief nursing officer, Shared Health. “It recognizes the dedication, commitment and sacrifices of nurses who are caring for our sick and our most vulnerable in personal care homes and in hospital, and who are adapting to changes in duties or work location in order to fight the devastating effects of COVID-19.” As part of any reassignment or redeployment, each individual nurse’s training and skill level, as well as the region in which they work, will be taken into account. Staff are assigned according to skillset and area of greatest need, and are provided with appropriate training and orientation to their new work environment and team. They are also provided with the necessary personal protective equipment for the setting in which they will work. The MOA is in place for the duration of the pandemic response. (Province of Manitoba News Release)

Manitoba RCMP have arrested a 24-year old male suspect from BC after officers executed a search warrant and turned up a handgun, drugs, and drug related paraphernalia. RCMP said on Nov 28, they executed the search warrant at a residence on Rosser Ave in Brandon & seized a loaded handgun, 189 grams of cocaine, cash & drug related paraphernalia. RCMP continue to investigate.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Around 12:30 pm on Monday, an officer stopped a vehicle in the 1900 block of McDonald Ave that did not have license plates. The female driver did not have a valid drives license when questioned. She was removed from the vehicle along with two passengers. The female passenger, a 27 year resident of Waywayseecappo, was in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine. She was arrested for Possession of a Methampehtamine. The male passenger, a 33 year old from Waywayseecappo, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and was arrested. The female driver, a 25 year old from Waywayseecappo, had over 10 grams of methamphetamine and over $250 cash in her possession. She was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine for Trafficking and Possession of Proceeds of Crime. All three subjects were released to appear in court in 2021.