Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 26, 2020, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A3 SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020 ? WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM A 3NEWS I LOCAL . CANADA COVID-19 cases in Canada There are 45,354 confirmed and presump- tive cases in Canada. ? Quebec: 23,267 confirmed (including 1,446 deaths, 5,057 resolved) ? Ontario: 13,995 confirmed (including 811 deaths, 7,509 resolved) ? Alberta: 4,233 confirmed (including 73 deaths, 1,471 resolved) ? British Columbia: 1,948 confirmed (including 100 deaths, 1,137 resolved) ? Nova Scotia: 865 confirmed (including 22 deaths, 412 resolved) ? Saskatchewan: 349 confirmed (includ- ing 4 deaths, 288 resolved) ? Manitoba: 267 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 199 resolved) ? Newfoundland and Labrador: 257 con- firmed (including 3 deaths, 208 resolved) ? New Brunswick: 118 confirmed (including 107 resolved) ? Prince Edward Island: 26 confirmed (including 24 resolved) ? Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved) ? Yukon: 11 confirmed (including 8 resolved) ? Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved) ? Nunavut: No confirmed cases ? Total: 45,354 (0 presumptive, 45,354 confirmed including 2,465 deaths, 16,438 resolved) - The Canadian Press TRUDEAU ? FROM A1 The situation is far worse in Quebec, where 65 per cent of the province's 1,446 COVID deaths have occurred at long-term care facilities, many of which are severely under- staffed. Another 15 per cent of the province's death total comes from senior homes. In Ontario, front line health-care workers in facilities such as long-term care homes, will receive a raise of $4 per hour for the next four months, Premier Doug Ford announced Sat- urday. Aside from the long-term care homes, the premier said the bonus will be available for workers in senior resi- dences, emergency shelters, supportive housing, social services congregate care settings, corrections institutions and youth justice facilities, home and community care providers and some staff in hospitals. The premier made the announce- ment as dozens of protesters took to the provincial legislature to defy physical distancing measures set by the province. "It just burns me up," said Ford, who called the protesters "reckless" and "selfish." "We have health-care people work- ing tirelessly, but then we have a bunch of yahoos sitting there protesting as they're breaking the law and putting workers in jeopardy." - The Canadian Press JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says none of the plans to reopen from pandemic lockdowns hinge on people being immune to catching COVID-19 twice. TAYLOR ALLEN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A protester drives by the Manitoba Legisla- tive Building Saturday evening with a sign that reads 'Bad Move Brian.' A N RCMP constable's final - and fatal - decision removed a killer's most potent advantage, likely saving many lives, the president of the National Police Federation said Saturday. "She was a hero," said Brian Sauve, head of the union representing 20,000 RCMP members across Canada. Const. Heidi Stevenson, 48, was killed last Sunday in a confrontation with a man driving a mock police car and wearing an RCMP uniform while carrying out a murderous rampage that left 22 victims dead. According to a timeline released by the force Friday, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman had already killed a number of people and burned homes in several communities by the time Const. Chad Morrison saw the shooter's car - be- lieving it to actually be Const. Steven- son because they had agreed to meet. The gunman pulled up beside Mor- rison and immediately opened fire, wounding the officer, who managed to drive away to a local hospital. He noti- fied other officers and dispatch that he was shot and that he was en route for emergency medical attention. Stevenson then encountered the sus- pect, and their vehicles collided head on. "She realized it was the bad guy, and she rammed him, from my under- standing," Sauve said. "I recognize she did something that probably saved countless lives. I don't know, five, 10, 20, how far this guy was going to go," he said. After the collision, Stevenson's vehicle and the killer's replica vehicle were burning, and the shooter was no longer able to take advantage of the pa- trol car that RCMP officials have said was virtually identical to an authentic vehicle. According to her obituary in The Chronicle Herald, Stevenson leaves behind her husband Dean and children Connor and Ava. She was described as a caring wife and mother, and a dedi- cated police officer with a strong work ethic. The notice said Stevenson was deter- mined to join the RCMP after graduat- ing from Acadia University in 1993. She took on a number of roles with the force, including community poli- cing, communications, drug recog- nition expert and representing the RCMP as part of the Musical Ride. Off the job, the notice said, Steven- son "was the busy parent who volun- teered at the school. She was the friend who delivered cinnamon buns and homemade bread. She was the second mom to many kids who came over to play. She was the gentle smile when you needed it most.'' Stevenson's move to take her killer's car out of commission was crucial. Police have said some of the mur- ders occurred because the gunman had used the vehicle - which was equipped with a replica light bar - to pull over victims before he shot them. On Friday, Supt. Darren Campbell spoke about the impact of Wortman having the replica police cruiser. "I don't think it's difficult for non- police personnel or the public to under- stand that it would obviously compli- cate things," he said. "You know, I've been a police officer for almost 30 years now and I can't imagine any more horrific set of cir- cumstances, than when you're trying to search for someone that looks like you and the dangers that causes, the complications that causes." The shooter managed to get out of his car, kill Stevenson and take her sidearm. A passerby, Joey Webber, stopped and was fatally shot by the gunman. Webber had gone on a family errand toward Shubenacadie, N.S. The gun- man would later be killed by police in Enfield, N.S. A private family service for Steven- son will be held in the days to come. Stevenson would normally receive a regimental funeral, but COVID-19 makes that impossible. Meanwhile, families of the victims continue to make arrangements to lay their loved ones to rest. Obituaries posted in the Chronicle Herald say close friends and relatives are holding private funeral services for many of the victims. - The Canadian Press Stopping killer's fake police car likely prevented multiple deaths, union says Mountie's actions saved lives KEVIN BISSETT AND ADINA BRESGE RCMP / THE CANADIAN PRESS RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson was killed in a confrontation with mass-killer Gabriel Wortman, who was driving a fake police car. DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS BRINGING BIRTHDAY WISHES Relatives and friends help Za'najha Swan-Nault celebrate her 15th birthday in a safe and socially distanced way Saturday by taking part in a birthday parade down Lipton Street in Wolseley. Za'najha's mom, Angel Swan, says most family gatherings are big affairs, but they had to do things differently this year because of measures implemented due to the novel coronavirus. IT won't go down in history as one of the rowdier protests ever, but the people who honked their horns on Sat- urday hope their message gets through to Premier Brian Pallister. Over a week ago, the Progressive Conservative government asked man- agers in the civil service, at Crown corporations, universities and else- where to make temporary job cuts of 10, 20 and 30 per cent. One of the employees affected by these cuts is Ryan, a 39-year-old Winnipegger who works for a Crown corporation. Ryan, who asked that his last name not be used, will be laid off from his job this week. Disagreeing with the cuts being made, Ryan took to Reddit and Face- book on Saturday morning to organ- ize a protest outside the Manitoba Legislative Building Saturday night, asking people to stay in their cars and drive around the loop in front of the main entrance while honking their horns. "This isn't normally something I'd do or get involved in, but the frustra- tion started to go overboard for sure," Ryan said. "I understand some of the things that have to be done... But the delivery and the way it's being an- nounced to you, there's no compas- sion. Brian Pallister likes to talk about how we're all a family, but smiles and laughs as he says he's going to cut a bunch of jobs." There were approximately five cars that showed up around 6 p.m. to make some noise and drive the circle. Ryan said the plan is to do it again today at 6 p.m., but hopes it's only the beginning and would like to see the protest con- tinue moving forward. Ryan was asked what he'd like to see Pallister do differ- ently. "If you're trying to repair an econ- omy, the best way isn't to take money out of it," he said. "If you're trying to repair small businesses, you have to make sure I have money or your small businesses don't have money. For instance, at MPI or Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, and those kinds of things where the work- load is reduced, shift those jobs to other places. Take those people and take them to the places that need support. Use the work-sharing program or build our own, but don't just put those people on the street." Meanwhile, four new cases of COVID-19 infection were identified in Manitoba Saturday morning, the provincial government said, bringing the total of lab-confirmed and prob- able positive cases in the province to 267. Of that 267, there are seven people currently hospitalized, including two in intensive care. Sixty-two cases are con- sidered active, while 199 people are re- covered. Six people have died from the virus in the province. In a news release sent out Saturday afternoon, the province said 435 tests were conducted at Cadham Provincial Laboratory, bringing the number of tests since early February to 22,598. The public health office is reminding Manitobans to continue their adherence to physical distancing and stay-home measures; travel should be limited to essential trips only, and trips to cottag- es or outside of one's home community shouldn't be made. The rationale behind that order is that smaller health centres or commun- ities could become strained if seasonal visitors become ill, the public health of- fice says. - with files from Ben Waldman taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @TaylorAllen31 Provincial layoffs drive protest at legislature TAYLOR ALLEN A_03_Apr-26-20_FP_01.indd A3 2020-04-25 10:06 PM ;