Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 6:00 p.m., Police responded to a residence on Cornell Bay after receiving a report that three males broke into the residence and one of the males had a small handgun. Police arrived and the residents were outside holding the door preventing one of the suspects from leaving. The other two suspects fled prior to Police arrival. Investigation determined that one of the suspects showed up at the residence and was known to at least one of the tenants. This suspect was allowed into the residence and pulled out the handgun. The other two suspects then forced their way in with both wearing masks. Once inside the residence, one of the other suspects brandished a hatchet and began damaging items including a television. The three suspects then began taking items including an Xbox, electronics, jewelry, cell phone and a guitar. The 20-year-old male suspect who was being held inside the residence was arrested for Robbery While Armed with an Offensive Weapon, Mischief to Property and Wear Disguise with Intent. Police then attended a residence in the 1500 Block of 22nd Street and located the male suspect who was originally allowed into the residence. A search recovered a loaded handgun and jewelry taken during the robbery. The 24-year-old man from Brandon was arrested for Robbery Using a Firearm, Pointing a Firearm and Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition. Both arrested suspects were lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center and are scheduled to appear in Court on Wednesday. Investigation continues in order to identify and locate the third male suspect. There were three victims inside the residence with no injuries sustained.

In preparation for the federal legalization of recreational cannabis, the Manitoba government is moving forward with further legislative amendments that would responsibly regulate use of the drug in public places and on roads, Justice Minister Heather Stefanson and Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced today. “Our government is committed to protecting the public health and safety of Manitobans as we address the federal government’s decision to legalize recreational cannabis,” said Stefanson. “Manitobans of all ages deserve to be protected from people impaired by cannabis.” Changes to The Non-Smokers Health Protection and Vapour Products Act are consistent with the approach taken to alcohol consumption under The Liquor and Gaming Control Act. Once proclaimed, the bill would prohibit smoking and vaping cannabis in outdoor public places once recreational use of the drug is legalized, including: streets and sidewalks; parks and beaches; school grounds; restaurant patios and decks; the grounds of health-care facilities; and any additional places that may be specified by regulation. The changes build on The Cannabis Harm Prevention Act passed last year, which prohibits smoking or vaping of cannabis in enclosed public places, indoor workplaces and other areas, with the exception of designated rooms in a hospital’s palliative care unit or an end-of-life hospice. Those amendments will come into force on April 1, said Goertzen. “Ensuring the health and well-being of Manitobans is of utmost importance to our government in moving forward with this legislation,” said Goertzen.  “We also have concerns about ‘normalizing’ this activity in public places, as it could encourage children and youth to use cannabis.” Meanwhile, The Impaired Driving Offences Act responds to the impaired driving provisions in the federal government’s Bill C-46. It introduces new provincial sanctions for drivers who fail oral fluid drug screening devices and for drivers who commit one of the new Criminal Code offences outlined in Bill C-46. The Impaired Driving Offences Act would establish tough provincial sanctions meant to ensure no one gets behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming cannabis, said Stefanson. The proposed amendments to The Drivers and Vehicles Act and The Highway Traffic Act would include new administrative driver’s licence suspensions for impaired driving. Novice drivers would also be prohibited from driving if they fail a roadside drug screening test, Stefanson said. Other changes include: updating the list of offences that must be reported to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, along with the list of suspensions and disqualifications that can be appealed to the Licence Suspension Appeal Board; revising the list of offences for which a conviction reduces or cancels the entitlement to receive compensation underThe Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act; and making related amendments toThe Blood Test Act and The Provincial Offences Act. “Drugged driving is every bit as dangerous and potentially harmful as drunk driving,” said Stefanson. “These changes will allow our province to move in lockstep with other jurisdictions and ensure drugged drivers face stiff consequences for their actions.”

The Manitoba government is introducing legislation that would extend parental leave provisions and leave for individuals to care for a critically ill adult family member, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today. “We know that raising a family is one of life’s most rewarding challenges,” said Pedersen.  “We are pleased to introduce measures to provide additional flexibility for parents to care for their children, and make it easier for families to care for loved ones who are critically ill.” The minister noted the proposed legislation would make several changes to the Employment Standards Code, including: extending parental leave from 37 weeks to 63 weeks to care for a new child in the family; establishing a new 17-week leave to allow employees to care for an adult family member who is critically ill; raising the minimum age for employment from 12 to 13, to bring it in line with the United Nations’ International Labour Organization Minimum Age Convention 138, which came into force in Canada in June 2017 with unanimous support from all provinces and territories; eliminating the requirement for employers to obtain a permit before employing someone under the age of 16, instead requiring employers to ensure a young person between the ages of 13 and 16 has a certificate verifying they have completed an approved work readiness course online; introducing a new process to allow an employer and an employee or group of employees to enter into an agreement on averaging hours of work, without requiring approval from the director of employment standards; authorizing the director of employment standards to refuse frivolous or vexatious complaints; and clarifying unionized employees would no longer have the ability to file a complaint with the director of employment standards since collective agreements include grievance processes for handling disputes between employers and employees about wages or other terms of employment. “These additional measures include red tape reduction initiatives and opportunities to modernize departmental functions,” said Pedersen.  “From day one, our government has worked to repair the services we are entrusted to provide and ensure the regulatory system is fair, accountable and responsive to the needs of Manitobans today and into the future.” The coming into force date for changes to protected leaves is set at royal assent, while the remaining proposed changes would take effect upon proclamation.

At 1:14pm this afternoon, Rivers/Daly Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire approximately 1/2 mile east of the Highway 259 and 250 junction near Rivers. Upon arrival, heavy smoke could be seen from the rear of the structure as well as fire coming through the roof. Firefighters set up defensive and offensive firefighting operations, but then pulled out of the structure due to safety concerns and continued the defensive operations. The road to the property was lined with personal vehicles of volunteer firefighters who responded to the scene. Whitehead Fire Department, Rapid City Fire Department and Deerboine Hutterite Colony were called in for mutual aid to help battle the fire and bring in water tankers. Water tankers made close to 20 trips for water, as there were no hydrants in the area of the fire. Thankfully nobody was injured in the fire. Crews finally cleared the scene at 8:20pm.  Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.

Brandon, MB – After cleaning up from Brandon’s recent March snowstorm, staff in the City of Brandon’s Streets & Roads Section have turned their attention to patching the growing number of spring potholes popping up on City streets. Potholes are prevalent in the spring due to the season’s freeze-thaw cycles. Crews are currently using a temporary winter asphalt and tar mixture to address potholes until more consistently warm temperatures arrive, at which time they can also begin using the City’s in-house asphalt reclaimer and asphalt pre-mix heater to patch potholes more permanently with hot mix. Later in the spring, the Public Works Department will be able to secure a commercial supply of hot mix asphalt. Motorists are encouraged to help crews out where possible and report problem potholes by calling the City of Brandon’s 24-hour Pothole Hotline at 204-729-2200. While the phone line is monitored for issues to be addressed, calls are not returned. Residents can also alert Street & Roads staff to problem potholes by submitting an online report on the City’s website by following this link: http://www.brandon.ca/report-an-issue. The City of Brandon reminds its residents that a number of roads within City limits, including Victoria Avenue, Richmond Avenue, First Street, and 18th Street (including the bridges), are under the jurisdiction of the Province of Manitoba and, therefore, do not fall within the City of Brandon’s pothole patching program. Residents wishing to report a pothole or unsafe driving condition on a Provincial roadway can call 1-866-MANITOBA (1-866-626-4862). Residents should also note that the City of Brandon’s pothole patching program does not apply to the aprons (sloped approaches) leading into private driveways, nor does it apply to the accesses/approaches or parking lots of private businesses. Finally, the City of Brandon cautions all motorists that you should never swerve to avoid a pothole in your path! Drivers are advised to reduce their speed when approaching a pothole, but don’t brake when driving over the pothole as this can cause more damage. More pothole navigation pointers can be found by visiting the Manitoba Public Insurance website’s pothole page here: http://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/Rd-Safety/Tips/60-Sec-Driver/Pages/Potholes.aspx.