Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living is reminding Manitobans of health concerns related to colder temperatures, expected to occur within the coming days. Exposure to cold can result in health problems such as frostbite or hypothermia, which can be life threatening. Anyone who isn’t dressed for the cold weather is at risk, although health risks are greatest for: •    older adults; •    infants and young children; •    people with chronic illnesses, such as a heart condition; •    newcomers to Canada; •    people who are homeless or transient; •    people living in homes that are poorly insulated; •    outdoor workers; and •    outdoor sports enthusiasts. Check on neighbours, friends and older family members regularly, especially those who are ill or living alone. The health effects of cold can be reduced by: •    dressing in multiple layers and covering exposed skin; •    wearing wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers of clothing as they hold more body heat than cotton; •    wearing waterproof and windproof outer layers; •    choosing warm mittens instead of gloves; •    never leaving infants and young children unattended, and ensuring they are dressed appropriately; •    having a buddy when enjoying winter weather activities who can offer immediate assistance in an emergency; and •    avoiding alcohol consumption before going out in the cold as alcohol increases the risk of hypothermia by contributing to heat loss. Watch for symptoms of cold-related illness: •   frostbite: ­    - discoloured skin (whitish, yellow, grey, or blistered); ­    - tingling, burning sensation or numbness to exposed areas; •   hypothermia: ­    - uncontrollable shivering, drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, or slurred speech. Infants may have very low energy and bright red cold skin.  A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing.  If emergency medical care is needed for someone who may have frostbite or hypothermia, move them to a warm place if possible and call for help. Take action to stay safe in extreme cold: •    Check the weather report before going outside and prepare accordingly. •    Warm up by taking regular breaks in heated buildings such as libraries and malls. •    Bring pets and other animals inside or to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water. •    Reschedule outdoor activities and/or limit time outdoors if severe weather is forecast. •    Stay on the approved paths when participating in outdoor activities. Check road conditions before departing by calling Manitoba Highways at 511 or visiting www.manitoba511.ca/en/. Winterize vehicles by keeping gas tanks full, using winter tires and keeping a well-stocked winter safety kit in vehicles.  More information can be found at www.getprepared.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx. If stranded, remain in the vehicle if possible until help is available.  Avoid driving or travelling by car in bad weather or when roads are very slippery. Take action to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.  Have a properly installed carbon monoxide detector in homes and make sure to maintain properly any fuel-burning equipment.  Do not use generators, barbeques or other fuel burning appliances indoors.  More information can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/environmentalhealth/indoor.html#co2. Keep homes warm with a properly installed and maintained heat source.  If heating in a home is not sufficient: •    Dress in layers, as if outdoors. •    Use a blanket to cover bodies and elevate feet as the air is colder near the floor. •    Try not to sit for more than an hour.  Get up and walk around or consume a hot drink.  Move arms and legs and/or wiggle fingers and toes while sitting. Consider staying with a friend or family member.  Find out if the local community has a plan for warming shelters and how they can be accessed. For more information on cold and health, call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release On Thursday evening, a woman reported being involved in an altercation with her sister at a residence in the 700 block of 10th St.  During the argument, one of the women armed herself with a machete and cut the left hand of the victim, causing an injury that required several stitches.  The accused, a 19 year old woman from Sioux Valley, was located nearby, arrested for Assault with a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for A Dangerous Purpose and released to appear in court in February.

It’s estimated that auto insurance fraud costs every Manitoba Public Insurance ratepayer about $50 a year for an overall impact of $50 million. In order to raise awareness about the costs related to auto insurance fraud, Manitoba Public Insurance releases its annual top five fraud list. The list is compiled based on the unique circumstances of each fraud, financial savings to MPI ratepayer, and investigative excellence in unearthing the fraud. In addition, next month Manitoba Public Insurance will be launching a new public awareness campaign to continue raising awareness about the cost of auto insurance fraud and what Manitobans can do to help keep these costs in check. Anyone with information about auto insurance fraud is encouraged to call the Manitoba Public Insurance TIPS Line: 204-985-8477 or toll-free 1-877-985-8477. All calls are anonymous. Suspicious claims are handled by Manitoba Public Insurance’s Special Investigation Unit. As of the end of this November, claims savings are more than $10 million with the SIU closing 1,600 investigations. No. 1: “Comic Con Job” A devout fan of Comic Con, the 25-year-old woman was observed walking around Winnipeg’s Convention Centre for six hours, enjoying her favourite superheroes, wizards, spaceships, and zombies. An investigator also observed the woman going on numerous shopping trips and driving the two-hour round trip from her rural home to Winnipeg. Just one problem: the woman was collecting income replacement payments after stating she was unable to work due to injuries from a motor vehicle collision. She told her MPI case manager she could only walk a maximum of 15 minutes before getting dizzy and was unable to drive for long periods of time. After receiving information via the Tips Line, an investigation was opened. With all the conclusive evidence in hand, Manitoba Public Insurance terminated the woman’s income replacement payments and demanded repayment of $34,000 in benefits already paid out. No. 2: “Polite Arsonist” The registered owner opened a theft claim, telling her MPI adjuster she had given her car to her 22-year-old son, who reported the keys were stolen while he was attending a house party. The truth would become evident days later thanks to a number of witnesses, who had quite the story to share with police and MPI investigators. One witness stated that while driving down a road in rural Manitoba around 7 a.m., he was shocked to see a man deliberately light a fire within his vehicle which was parked in a ditch. As the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames, the witness stopped and asked if the man was okay. The young man replied, “Yes, thanks. And have a nice day,” before running off into the bush. The witness contacted RCMP. The investigation would also uncover that the same vehicle had been involved in a hit-and-run collision the previous evening in Winnipeg. After being awoken by the loud crash, a neighbour quickly attended to the crash site where he came upon a young man who told the neighbour “not to speak to police.” The man, who appeared highly intoxicated, then quickly drove away in a Dodge Nitro ─ the same vehicle which was burned hours later in the rural ditch. Police showed photos of several individuals to the witnesses, who were able to conclusively identify the driver. With the evidence in hand the claim was denied for false statement, resulting in a savings of $57,000 to Manitoba Public Insurance ratepayers. No. 3: “Breakfast Blunder!” The registered owner of the vehicle opened a total theft claim with her MPI adjuster after police found her vehicle badly damaged. She reported she had given her vehicle to her son, who told MPI staff he had gone for breakfast with his brother at a downtown hotel. The son, 45, claimed that after breakfast he went to the washroom while his brother also left their table to play VLTs. The son presumed an opportunistic thief must have taken the vehicle keys out of his unattended sweater which had been left on a chair. The man’s story quickly unravelled when hotel staff confirmed the restaurant hadn’t served breakfast in a number of years and the brother stated he hadn’t seen his brother in over nine months. MPI subsequently filed a Statement of Claim for repayment of the $22,800 already paid. No. 4: “Not So Jolly Christmas Party” The Winnipeg man told his adjuster that while he and his girlfriend were attending a Christmas party, someone stole his vehicle from a parking lot. He confirmed that he was missing a key. The man’s Dodge Journey was recovered not far from the man’s residence ─ badly damaged after crashing into a tree. An investigation was launched after several suspicious circumstances came to light. Investigators would learn the man and his girlfriend did return home from the party, with the male appearing highly intoxicated and agitated. Shortly after arriving home the 22-year-old vehicle owner was seen driving off in his vehicle. When presented with all the facts the vehicle owner withdrew their claim. Savings to Manitoba Public Insurance ratepayers: $22,600. No. 5: “Vehicle Technology Tells All” Thanks to an anonymous call to MPI’s Tips Line, Autopac ratepayers were saved nearly $40,000. The vehicle owner opened a claim after his 2014 Nissan Titan was badly damaged after crashing into a ditch in rural Manitoba. The man claimed that he was driving at the time of the crash. However, due to tips/information provided, investigators believed the man’s wife was actually driving and was heavily intoxicated at the time of the crash. However, police were unable to place her at the crash. The vehicle owner was told that the vehicle’s onboard Crash Data Recorder had been removed and staff with MPI’s Training and Research Unit were going to download the data which would confirm occupants’ weight in the front seat at the time of the crash. The man then withdrew his claim.

Individuals and businesses will benefit from taxation changes coming into effect in 2019, Finance Minister Scott Fielding said today. “We are putting money back on the kitchen table for families, seniors and households across the province,” said Fielding.  “Our government will continue to take action to reduce taxes and ensure Manitoba is a competitive and affordable place to live, work and raise a family.” Manitoba legislated the indexing of the basic personal amount and personal income tax brackets to the rate of inflation beginning in 2017.  This ends bracket creep for Manitoba taxpayers, ensuring individuals and families keep more of their income. The minister noted the basic personal amount will increase from $9,382 in the 2018 tax year to $9,626 in 2019.  Since 2016, the basic personal amount has increased by $492. In 2018, indexing removed an estimated 1,740 Manitobans from the tax rolls and saved residents more than $17.5 million annually.  In 2019, indexing will remove an additional 3,810 Manitobans from the tax rolls for an additional annual savings of $38 million. To support growth and investment in Manitoba’s economy, Budget 2018 increased the small business income limit eligible for the zero per cent small business rate from $450,000 to $500,000 in 2019. This will bring Manitoba in line with other provinces and the federal government on the income threshold. In addition, the new Child Care Centre Development Tax Credit is now in place. This refundable corporation income tax credit supports the creation of licensed childcare centres in workplaces. The Manitoba government is accepting applications from private corporations that intend to create new infant and preschool childcare spaces as part of a centre. A total benefit of $10,000 per new space created is available, claimable over five years. Fielding noted the province remains committed to rolling back the retail sales tax from eight per cent to seven per cent by 2020. “It will save families and businesses more than $300 million a year and improve Manitoba’s competitiveness,” said Fielding.  “In 2019, we will continue our work to fix the province's finances, repair services and rebuild our economy.” For more information, visit www.gov.mb.ca/budget2018/index.html. For more information about the Child Care Centre Development Tax Credit, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childcare/resources/centre_dev_tax_credit.html.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 930 pm on December 26th, residents in the area of the 500 block of 12th St reported a man appeared to be looking in vehicles and was acting suspicious.  The man, a 25 year old with no fixed address, was located nearby by police and had in his possession a knife, a hammer and a flashlight.  He matched the description provide by the witnesses.  He was arrested for Trespass by Night, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Possession of break in instruments.  He was lodged to appear in court on Thursday morning.  A second caller reported his vehicle was broke into overnight and a knife and flashlight stolen.  These items were recovered from the accused and he was also charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.