Federal, provincial and municipal leaders have formed a task force to address and respond to the rapid increase in the distribution and use of methamphetamine and other substances. The creation of the Illicit Drug Task Force was announced today by Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen, Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman and Robert-Falcon Ouellette, member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre. “The problems associated with illicit drug use destroy families, hurt communities, cross all jurisdictional boundaries, and require a collaborative and co-ordinated response from all levels of government,” said Friesen. “We look forward to working together with our federal and municipal partners to find solutions and build on recent initiatives of the Manitoba government, such as Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinics.” “After a unanimous vote by our City of Winnipeg council to create a tri-level government task force, I am very pleased to see our government partners join forces to help address this crisis,” said Bowman. “Police continue to identify methamphetamine as a key driver of violent crime in our city and, by themselves, no one level of government can successfully address the challenges of methamphetamine as well as other illicit drugs. It requires a commitment from all levels of government to find ways to strengthen prevention and treatment, as well as enforcement, and this task force is intended to do just that.” “The federal government understands methamphetamine and other illicit drugs are destroying the lives of our youths, families and continues to have a negative impact on communities throughout Manitoba,” said Ouellette. “We see the creation of a joint task force as an opportunity for all three levels of government to work collaboratively and put forth concrete solutions to combat opioids and other illicit drugs. We need to listen to the people doing the work on the ground.” The task force will determine practical short- and long-term recommendations to combat the use and distribution of illicit drugs, such as methamphetamine, opioids, cocaine and hallucinogens. It will include an oversight committee comprised of members from all three levels of government and be chaired by Karen Herd, deputy minister of Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living and Michael Jack, the City of Winnipeg’s chief corporate services officer. The co-chairs, in consultation with the oversight committee, will determine members of a working group that will: •    identify areas to improve existing programming relating to the prevention, treatment and deterrence of illicit drug use; •    identify areas to improve enforcement, such as looking at practices employed in other jurisdictions, and explore Criminal Code changes that could further deter and combat the illicit drug trade; •    seek advice from experts including health professionals, social service providers, law enforcement officials, first responders and the legal and academic community; and •    provide recommendations on how government can better communicate with the community, the business sector and vulnerable populations on the dangers of illicit drug use. The task force is expected to produce and publicly release a report in June 2019.

Yesterday Premier Brian Pallister announced that the Brandon Police Service will receive over $65,000 in its efforts to reduce repeat offences and skyrocketing bicycle thefts in the city. Bicycle Theft Prevention Strategy The Brandon Police Service will received $43,100 to reduce bicycle theft in the City. There has been a 90% increase in reported thefts of bicycles in 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. Trends across Western Canada indicate that bicycle thefts are related to the rise in drug addiction, with bicycles becoming a form of street currency. Theft of bicycles is a way to make quick cash, comes with a very low risk of being caught and is a low priority for most law enforcement agencies. Strategy components: Bicycle registry: Online bicycle registry through Project 529 Garage. This app service can provide police with our own branded bicycle registry. This app will greatly improve our chances to return stolen bicycles to their owners. Partnerships with the City of Brandon, local bicycle shops, educational institutions, COPP, Bear Clan and other organizations to distribute bicycle theft prevention information and promote registration. Improve bicycle-parking in high-traffic areas: We are currently working with Area Planning to study the availability of bicycle parking structures in high-traffic areas. We would like to also install signage and camera surveillance in high-risk areas. Recidivism Rate Reduction Strategy  The Brandon Police Service will also receive $22,100 for the Recidivism Rate Reduction Strategy. The funds will help offenders released from the Brandon Correctional Centre find permanent employment and reintegrate into society. The pilot project will target 10 individuals seeking to reintegrate into the Brandon community within a year, and it will rely on community partners to ensure its success.

Brandon Transit is, once again, pleased to provide New Year’s Eve revellers a safe, FREE ride as they ring in the New Year at festivities across Brandon on December 31st. From 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31st (New Year’s Eve) to 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1st (New Year’s Day), Brandon Transit will run its buses on a regular modified (hourly) service. During those hours, it will be free to get on or off the bus at any regular route’s designated stops. This is the eighth consecutive year Brandon Transit has offered its free New Year’s Eve Ride Program in the community, a service which wouldn’t be possible without program sponsor, Manitoba Public Insurance. Brandon Transit also thanks this year’s local media partners 96.1 BOB FM/101.1 The Farm and the Brandon Sun for their extra assistance in promoting this important public service to the community. To plan your NYE travel route or for more information on Brandon Transit’s regular modified service routes, visit www.brandontransit.ca.

Brandon Fire and Emergency Services along with Brandon Police Service responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Victoria Ave and McDiarmid Dr near Tim Hortons. The crash occurred during the early afternoon rush, which caused traffic to come to a standstill. Traffic from 27th to McDiarmid on Victoria was blocked off, and rerouted north on 27th St. Sand was deployed to soak up fluids that had leaked from one of the vehicles, and it appeared that nobody was injured in the crash.   Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.

BRANDON—Dialysis services are being expanded in Brandon, launching new options for Westman residents living with kidney failure, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced here today. “Providing more options for dialysis closer to home will allow Brandon and Westman-area residents to manage their own care without having to travel or temporarily relocate to Winnipeg for home training and support,” said Friesen.  “Receiving services closer to home is a cornerstone of our government’s approach to improving Manitoba’s health system and this significant measure will benefit patients in the region in a variety of ways.” The province is investing more than $500,000 annually to support the expansion, which will make home dialysis training and ongoing support more accessible for patients in the region. The home peritoneal dialysis program, which launched this fall, will initially accommodate up to 12 patients.  Peritoneal dialysis cycles a solution into and out of the stomach through a tube to collect and get rid of waste and fluid.  It can be done with a machine at night or manually several times a day. The home hemodialysis program, which will launch in 2019, will initially accommodate up to six patients.  Hemodialysis uses a machine to remove blood from the body, clean it and return it to the body.  Patients and family members receive training and supports to perform the treatment at home, rather than in the hospital. “Together with our health partners, we continue to enhance dialysis services within the health region,” said Penny Gilson, chief executive officer, Prairie Mountain Health.  “The Brandon Regional Health Centre has been offering hemodialysis service for more than 30 years.  We are now very pleased to be in a position to offer all three renal therapies through the Brandon unit.” The site in Brandon is the only one in the province operating seven days a week to treat a growing number of patients with kidney failure.  It is also the only site outside Winnipeg with nephrologists (kidney specialists) on staff. “There are many benefits for patients who are able to receive dialysis at home including more independence, less travel, fewer hospitalizations, less exposure to infection and fewer dietary restrictions,” says Dr. Mauro Verrelli, medical director, Manitoba Renal Program.  “It’s a way for people to live with kidney failure, stay out of a hospital, and remain within their communities and at home with their families.” There are currently more than 1,700 people with kidney failure receiving life-saving dialysis treatment in Manitoba, including 385 patients on home dialysis.  An additional 5,495 people in Manitoba are being treated for stages one to five chronic kidney disease. For more information on the Manitoba Renal Program, visit www.kidneyhealth.ca/wp/.