Regulations bringing the registered nursing profession under The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) are now in effect, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced today. “The RHPA sets out consistent rules and processes for governance, registration, complaints and discipline, and regulation and bylaw making authority,” said Goertzen.  “The College of Registered Nurses has done a great deal of work to make this possible and I congratulate them for their commitment to this process and their hard work in making this possible.” The RHPA sets out a new way of regulating who does what in the provision of health services by designating ‘reserved acts’, which are specific health procedures that pose a significant or potential risk to the public if they are not performed by competent and trained professionals.  These include activities such as ordering screening and diagnostic tests, diagnosis, and prescribing and administering drugs.  Registered nurses will be authorized to perform 14 of 21 categories of reserved acts.  All reserved acts are subject to limits and conditions set out in the regulations. “We are excited about the work we have accomplished together with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living to come under the RHPA.  This new legislation optimizes registered nurse scope of practice and allows RNs to continue to work in collaborative practice to support sustainable health-care delivery for Manitobans,” said Marie Edwards, president, College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.  “The RHPA supports our regulatory mandate to serve and protect the public interest.” The regulations also create a new designation of registered nursing – the registered nurse authorized prescriber. These nurses will be able to independently order diagnostic tests and prescribe medications for patients that require registered nursing care related to travel health, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, blood-borne pathogens and diabetes. For more information on the RHPA, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/rhpa. For more information on the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, visit www.crnm.mb.ca/.

Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 11:00 a.m., Police responded to a park in the 1500 Block of Princess Avenue after receiving a report that a male approached a female and some children. The male exposed himself while conducting an indecent act in front of the female and children. The 17-year-old male youth from Brandon was located a short distance away and found to be highly intoxicated. The youth was arrested for Indecent Act and lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center. He is scheduled to be released from custody when sober with a Court date in June.

Recent rain and improving weather conditions have allowed the province to lift travel restrictions in the eastern, central and western regions of the province with the exception of the Duck Mountains.  Motorized backcountry travel is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., and campfires are only allowed between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. in the Duck Mountains.  Provincial resources including Manitoba Sustainable Development, Emergency Measures Organization and the Office of the Fire Commissioner continue to work on a number of fires around the province.  Ontario has provided 120 firefighters and Quebec has sent four water bombers. Fire crews continue to work on the fire between the Little Grand Rapids First Nation and the Pauingassi First Nation, which covers over25,000 hectares andis about four kilometres from Pauingassi.  Some light rain has fallen on the area, which has helped the efforts but the fire is still not under control.  Crews have now completed the work of setting up sprinklers to protect homes at both the Little Grand Rapids First Nation and the Pauingassi First Nation.  Power remains out to the area and the evacuation order remains in effect for both communities. The fires near the community of Ashern are considered under control, with crews remaining in the area to monitor and address a few hot spots. Recent rain and high humidity assisted suppression efforts on fires near the community of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation but the community remains evacuated. One new fire started yesterday and the total number of fires in Manitoba to date is 186, well above the 20-year average of 114 for this date. A list of parks with campfire restrictions can be found at www.manitobaparks.com.  Visitors to provincial parks should check with park staff for the most up-to-date information. A map of the areas affected and a detailed description of the provincial fire and travel restrictions can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/sd/fire/Restrictions/index.html.  Local municipalities may also implement burning bans or fire restrictions.  Check with local municipal offices or visit www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html for more information. For further general information on fire status, maps, burning permit cancellations or other restrictions go to www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire/or follow the Twitter account at www.twitter.com/mbgovnews. For additional information on these restrictions, contact the nearest Manitoba Sustainable Development office.  To report a wildfire, call 911 or the T.I.P. line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076.

Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 5:00 a.m., Police stopped a vehicle in the 1100 Block of McTavish Avenue with a male driving and a female occupying the passenger seat. Officers detected a strong odour of Marihuana emanating from the vehicle and both individuals were taken into Police custody. The male was found to have a can of bear spray concealed on his person, a search of the vehicle recovered small amounts of Marihuana, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine all prepackaged for distribution. Officers also located $300 and an expandable baton in the vehicle. A 32-year-old man and 30-year-old female both from Brandon were arrested for Possession for the Purpose Trafficking Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Marihuana as well as Possession of Prohibited Weapons and Possession of Proceeds of Crime. Both subjects have been released from Police custody and are scheduled to appear in Court in July.

Brandon Police Service Media Release A 20-year old female from Sapotawayak First Nations was arrested Saturday afternoon just prior to 2:30 PM in the 2200 Block of Victoria Avenue after another female victim had been slashed in the face with a glass earlier in the afternoon at a residence in the 100 Block of Princess Avenue East.  The victim was transported to BRHC for treatment of her injuries.  The suspect will appear in court today charged with aggravated assault.