BRANDON—Two more Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinics have opened in Brandon and Thompson, offering front-line help for Manitobans in different regions of the province suffering from addictions, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced here today. “RAAM clinics provide assessment, counselling, the prescribing of appropriate medication, and connections for patients to community treatment programs and primary care physicians,” said Cullen.  “The clinics are key elements in the provincial effort to help Manitobans seeking treatment for addictions or substance-related concerns including opioids, methamphetamine and alcohol.” “We’ve already seen RAAM clinics in Winnipeg assess and connect a number of patients with addictions services in the short time they have been open,” said Greg Nesbitt, legislative assistant to the minister of health, seniors and active living.  “Opening these new locations in Brandon and Thompson will expand our abilities to get help in a timely manner for those seeking it.” The 7th Street Access Centre will house the Brandon RAAM clinic, while the Thompson clinic will be located at the Addiction Foundation of Manitoba’s Eaglewood site.  The clinics are designed to help patients more easily navigate the health system, moving them between addiction medicine specialists, primary care providers and community supports.  The clinics are typically staffed by an addictions physician and a combination of clinicians, counsellors and outreach workers. “RAAM clinics work closely with hospitals, emergency departments, crisis services and primary care centres to quickly assess patients, then provide the appropriate services and treatment,” said Ben Fry, executive director for the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM).  “By reducing long waits and lineups, these clinics will have a positive effect for Manitobans seeking help for their addiction issues, such as opioids and methamphetamine.” In addition to working with patients, RAAM clinical teams provide support to primary care providers including the mentoring, reassessment and referral of patients.  Clinical teams will collaborate with regulatory bodies to ensure appropriate education, tools and ongoing support are provided to health-care professionals. “Prairie Mountain Health and AFM have been actively engaging stakeholders in a collaborative approach toward enhancing access to addictions and substance-related support and treatment services within our health region,” said Penny Gilson, CEO of Prairie Mountain Health.  “This collaboration and the many harm reduction strategies will help to achieve better integration of addiction care across the continuum – from hospital to primary care to longer-term treatment.” Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living provided $1.237 million for the creation of the clinics.  The clinics were highlighted as a successful model during extensive public and stakeholder consultations through the development of the Virgo report.  Released in May, the report outlined a mental health and addictions strategy for Manitoba.  A plan for implementing other recommendations outlined in the report will be announced later this fall, the minister said. Two RAAM clinics opened in Winnipeg in the past two months.  A RAAM clinic is slated to open in Selkirk later this year.

Changes under The Highway Traffic Act and the Drivers and Vehicles Act that come into force Nov. 1 will allow for short-term roadside licence suspensions for using a cellphone or other hand-operated electronic devices while driving, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today. “Our government is focused on keeping Manitobans safe, and we are determined to reduce the growing threat posed by distracted driving that adversely affects Manitoba’s citizens and communities,” said Schuler.  “By using the right combination of tools such as public education, legislation and enforcement, we aim to change public perception and make distracted driving as socially unacceptable as impaired driving.” The amendments mean drivers will be subject to a three-day roadside licence suspension for the first time a driver is caught using a cellphone or other hand-operated electronic device, and a seven-day suspension for a subsequent occurrence within 10 years.  Suspended drivers will be required to immediately surrender their driver’s licence at roadside.   The amendments will also require officers charging a driver with careless driving to immediately notify Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) to review the driver’s record in order to determine if further penalties may be required.  As part of the changes for roadside license suspensions, MPI will collect a $50 licence reinstatement fee on behalf of government. “These stricter penalties mirror those for impaired driving because the consequences are just as serious,” said Schuler.  “This legislation underscores the seriousness of distracted-driving infractions and enacts stricter penalties for this behaviour.” Further distracted driving penalties will also come into force on Nov. 1 including an increase in the fine for using a hand-operated electronic device while driving to $672 from $203 and an increase in demerits for careless driving to five points from two for each infraction. Distracted driving is a serious road safety risk in Manitoba and was a lead cause of collisions causing serious injury in 2017, and increases the risk of collision by nearly four times.  Thirty people lost their lives and 184 people were seriously hurt last year because someone chose not to put their cell phone down or engaged in other distracting behaviours while driving, Schuler said. MPI will be undertaking a public awareness campaign on the dangers of distracted driving once the legislation is in force on Nov. 1.

Budget 2019’s pre-budget consultations will soon be underway and Manitobans are encouraged to take the opportunity to share their ideas and views for the upcoming provincial budget, Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced today. “From health care to public safety and infrastructure investments, we understand that fiscal sustainability is essential to protecting our ability to invest in the priorities of Manitobans,” said Fielding.  “The work of government directly affects households and communities throughout the province, and we want to hear Manitobans’ advice on the choices we must make as we prepare the 2019 budget.” Manitobans are invited to share their views in different ways, including public consultation meetings, to give people the chance to provide their feedback to the minister.  Public meetings will be held on: Monday, Oct. 15 in Selkirk from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Selkirk Inn and Conference Centre, Salon A, 162 Main St.; Tuesday, Oct. 16 in Thompson from noon to 2 p.m. at the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre, Multipurpose Room, 4 Nelson Rd.; Wednesday, Oct. 17 in Brandon from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Riverbank Discovery Centre, Multipurpose Room, #1 – 545 Conservation Dr.; Thursday, Oct. 18 in Winnipeg from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Maple Grove Park Clubhouse, 100 Frobisher Rd.; and Thursday, Oct. 25 in Winnipeg from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Golden Boy Dining Room (Room 50), Legislative Building, 450 Broadway.  This meeting will be fully accessible and bilingual. To encourage as broad an engagement as possible, Manitobans unable to attend a public meeting can fill out an online survey to share their views.  The survey seeks feedback from Manitobans on several topics including balancing the budget, sustaining health care and funding education.  In addition, written submissions on all subjects can be sent directly to the minister of finance. For more information on the pre-budget consultation meetings and to access the survey, visit www.manitobansmakingchoices.ca.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release On Sunday evening at approximately 9:37pm, a panic alarm was received from a business in the 000 block of Willowdale Crescent. Staff indicated there was a robbery in progress. A second call was received of a robbery in progress. The suspect entered the business, grabbed items from a victim who was leaving the business. The suspect approached  the counter and produced an edged weapon at which time the staff member ran to the back of the business and pushed the panic alarm. Police attended and the suspect immediately surrendered to Police. A 23yr old Brandon man was arrested for Robbery with Violence, Robbery while Armed with Offensive Weapon and the male was found to an outstanding  Warrant of Arrest for Breach of Statutory Release. The male was lodged at BCC to appear in Court on October15th.  

Since its introduction four years ago, more than 100,000 low-interest loans have been processed under the province’s Winter Tire Program, Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer and Manitoba Public Insurance announced today. “Prior to this program, Manitoba had one of the lowest rates of winter tire use in all of Canada,” said Mayer. “Thanks to this program, which is administered by Manitoba Public Insurance, and an increase in overall awareness about the safety benefits of winter tires, that number has grown significantly, which enhances road safety and helps to keep our auto insurance rates in check.” Winter tires have a cold weather rubber compound and tread patterns designed to perform on wet, snow-covered and icy surfaces. Numerous road safety studies confirm that winter tires reduce braking distances by lessening sliding on ice and snow. “Loss prevention strategies of this nature ultimately benefit Manitoba Public Insurance customers through lower rates,” said Satvir Jatana, vice-president responsible for communications, Manitoba Public Insurance. “Our historic data shows an increase in collision claims during the winter months,” said Jatana. “Many of these collisions are fender benders, where one vehicle is unable to stop due to snow or ice, so as more vehicles in Manitoba are equipped with winter tires, we expect collision rates will ultimately decrease.” Nearly 700 participating retailers The program provides loans of up to 48 months at prime plus two per cent, up to $2,000 per vehicle. Participation is as easy as going to any one of 695 participating winter tire retailers throughout the province to confirm eligibility and have the loan authorization processed. Eligible tires display a snowflake symbol, as endorsed by Transport Canada. This symbol indicates that the tires have met specific snow traction performance requirements and are designed to be used in severe snow conditions. Financing is available to eligible customers for the purchase of winter tires in addition to associated installation costs including rims, tire pressure monitoring system, addition of studs to tires (some limitations apply), mounting and balancing, wheel alignment and shop supplies. Customers interested in participating in the program are encouraged to visit Manitoba Public Insurance’s website at mpi.mb.ca for more information on program rules and to select a participating retailer. Quick facts: The average length of a winter tire loan is currently about three years. The average loan amount is approximately $1,200. At temperatures just below freezing on dry pavement, winter tires have been shown to reduce stopping distances by as much as 30 per cent compared with all-season tires. Winter tires offer significantly better traction on snow-covered or icy road surfaces at temperatures well below -30 C than all-season tires have at 4 C.