Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 06, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A4 A 4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 MANITOBA winnipegfreepress. com WATERFIGHT VIDEO AT - 40 The whole story... AND MORE Use Blippar. There's more to the story above embedded in this page. TWO veterinarians, 10 volunteers, 60 dogs and just two days. This is the entourage, the goal and the time frame for the first Get Fixed Manitoba, a program in which volunteers will set up temporary spay and neuter clinics in remote communities in Manitoba that don't have access to veterinary care. The first clinic will be held in Norway House in April, when volunteers will set up a temporary clinic at the arena. Veterinarians Dr. Alison Litchfield of the Dakota Veterinary Hospital and Dr. Manjit Sra of the Southglen Veterinary Hospital will volunteer their time to perform the surgeries on 60 to 80 dogs. Owners will be asked to pay a subsidized rate of $ 50 to have their dogs spayed or neutered, as sponsors and donations will cover some costs. Each dog will also be vaccinated against rabies and parvo/ distemper and given an identification tattoo. Rebecca Nordquist, executive director of Manitoba Mutts, said " overpopulation is at a crisis level," as it has been estimated Manitoba's stray dog population is 10,000. Children in those communities are often in danger of being attacked or bitten by stray dogs that form packs. Homeless dogs are often freezing to death or suffering from starvation or diseases. " It's a runaway train that's easy to start and extremely complicated to stop. The issue is a hot topic politically," Nordquist said in a statement. " Snap judgments and oversimplified solutions don't help solve the problem we have. Communities that sign up for this program are aware they need help. They deserve respect for taking the right steps." Some northern communities have resorted at times to shooting dogs in large numbers, called culls. These mass dog shoots have produced only shortterm results and have resulted in pain and suffering for the animals, as remaining dogs and new dogs brought into the community continue to reproduce unabated. " After seeing so many animals and the effects of overpopulation, especially in our province, this is a small start but every bit makes a difference," said Litchfield, who will volunteer for the first time at a remote clinic. " I've worked with ( Manitoba) Mutts and they would come into our clinic with some of the worst scenarios of what happens. I've always been interested in rescue medicine and this is a chance to make a difference for these animals and the communities." Mallory Fleming, the program manager of Get Fixed Manitoba and assistant director of Manitoba Mutts, said the program's goal for its first year is to spay and neuter 250 dogs across Manitoba. If even half of those are female dogs that might have had litters of six puppies, the program's pilot year could prevent the births of about 750 unwanted dogs. " In three years, one rescue alone, we've re- homed over 2,000 dogs. There's over 35 rescues in the province, so I don't know how many dogs have been re- homed from all of them in a year," Fleming said, as Manitoba Mutts celebrated its third year of operation last month. " Winnipeg has a bylaw of three ( dogs per home) and people are getting up to two and three dogs. People are capping out on dog ownership. The problem can't continue. We need a permanent solution to dog overpopulation." Stray dogs cannot be the target of this clinic since the after care involved with surgery on dogs requires owners to look after for the animals and for the incisions to be kept dry during the healing process. Fleming said she hopes to be in contact with other communities in the coming weeks to arrange clinics in other remote locations. For information or to make a donation to the project, email getfixed@ manitobamutts. org or go to www. manitobamutts. org. ashley. prest@ freepress. mb. ca SCAN PAGE TO SEE PHOTOS OF MANITOBA MUTTS RESCUES By Ashley Prest Volunteers have a fix for stray dog problem S ANDY Bay First Nation, which has been accused of not paying its teachers, is rejecting help from Ottawa to manage its books. Sandy Bay Chief Russell Beaulieu held a news conference in Winnipeg on Wednesday to lash out at the Manitoba Teachers' Society ( MTS) for its demand Tuesday that Ottawa place the reserve north of Brandon under third- party management. " I'm here to point fingers," said Beaulieu, who said his council inherited a $ 19- million debt from the previous administration and has already paid off $ 6 million. " We admit there have been sporadic paydays when we've missed one," Beaulieu said, but insisted teachers' earnings are up to date and they'll get their pay due this Friday. Beaulieu did acknowledge, however, the band has not paid its contribution to teachers' benefits, nor has it forwarded the teachers' contributions to the Canada Revenue Agency for 2013 and 2014, though it has caught up on 2012 non- payments his council inherited. " These are debts we have inherited," he said. He said the band sold 10 houses in Brandon, Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg to meet its last three payrolls. The houses were originally intended 25 years ago for band members living off- reserve, but have been rented out for many years, the chief said. Beaulieu said Sandy Bay has laid off 23 employees to help pay down the debt and councillors have trimmed their salaries 15 per cent. He said Sandy Bay's debt is currently $ 13 million. Beaulieu refused to say what the band's annual budget is, and what percentage of revenue the debt represents. He said after Sandy Bay covers payroll and its social services costs, there isn't much left. Beaulieu could not say how the band had run up $ 19 million in debt, except for several millions of dollars awarded for unjust dismissals to employees let go by the previous administration. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Minister Bernard Valcourt issued a statement Wednesday but didn't mention third- party management. Valcourt said teachers would be paid, but did not say if they would be paid on time and said nothing about teachers' benefits. Ottawa assured students they would receive their education - which was never in doubt, since the Manitoba Teachers' Society has said teachers would never withdraw their services during the school year. The Manitoba Teachers' Society said the 55 teachers on the reserve are owed at least $ 737,000. It also alleges conditions at the school are deplorable, with broken fire alarms and bathrooms without toilet paper. Sandy Bay education director George Beaulieu slammed MTS for " having painted a bad picture of Sandy Bay. It's a very excellent school" that does not have the deterioration and maintenance problems the union claims, he said. " We're on track for a ( record) 50 graduates this year," said George Beaulieu, who denied MTS claims the reserve's teachers have a morale problem. The education director said Ottawa's funding failed to cover two school buses the band operates, and funding this year was for 100 students fewer than the 1,100 the band says are enrolled. Russell Beaulieu said third- party management would force widespread layoffs in the community at a time when the band is close to getting a repayment and financial plan finalized, with the help of new professional advisers. The band's lawyer, Norman Boudreau, said thirdparty management would be disastrous, leading to significant job losses to cut costs: " Third- party management for First Nations is a kiss of death. " What about all the other employees? The economy will crash," Boudreau said. " MTS is infringing on ( the band council's) constitutional right to selfgovernance." MTS president Paul Olson stood firm Wednesday - it's about education funding going to education, not self- governance, he said. " We don't have any other option. They are the current government - they have the responsibility to deal with it," he said. - with files from The Canadian Press nick. martin@ freepress. mb. ca Debt blamed for paycheque dispute Former chief denies racking up debt Former Sandy Bay chief Irvin Mc- Ivor denied Wednesday he left the band any more than $ 4.78 million in debt when he left office in the fall of 2012. " There are blame games being put out. It's causing a rift and bad blood," said McIvor, rejecting Chief Russell Beaulieu's claim his council inherited a $ 19- million debt from McIvor. Chief from 2003 to 2007, and 2010 to 2012, McIvor said when he took office in 2010, " We were $ 6 million in debt and had $ 4 million in unpaid bills." In addition, McIvor said, the band is still owed $ 3 million in government flood compensation and is embroiled in lawsuits with a construction firm. He said court awards for unjust dismissals of band employees go back to thirdparty management in 2002 and had nothing to do with his administration, regardless of when the awards came down. McIvor said Ottawa covers Sandy Bay's health- care costs and provides $ 2 million a month for all other programs. There is also VLT and other gaming revenue, he said. As for teachers' pay, " We never missed a payday, never." Minister ignores issues in Sandy Bay statement A statement issued Wednesday by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Minister Bernard Valcourt, which does not address third- party management, debt or most other issues raised this week by the Manitoba Teachers' Society or Sandy Bay First Nation: " Ensuring that First Nations have access to a quality education is a priority for our government. This situation is completely unacceptable and we encourage the First Nation to resolve their financial difficulties as quickly as possible. This is a perfect example as to why we are working to improve First Nation education; to ensure that teachers receive pay and benefits, and that First Nation students have access to a good education." ' I'm here to point fingers' - Sandy Bay Chief Russell Beaulieu, who says his council inherited a $ 19- million debt from the reserve's previous administration Reserve fires back after teachers' union demands feds step in By Nick Martin MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Sandy Bay First Nation Chief Russell Beaulieu admits the band has missed teachers' pay periods in the past. SUPPLIED PHOTO A temporary spay and neuter clinic for dogs is being held in Norway House in April. A_ 06_ Feb- 06- 14_ FP_ 01. indd A4 2/ 5/ 14 9: 11: 08 PM ;