Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 23, 2020, Winnipeg, Manitoba <s> ■e-C MHK ■e- PAGE B2 B 2 NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM 0 Task force to modernize Vulnerable Persons Act KEVIN ROLLASON THE provincial government has created a task force to help Manitobans with intellectual disabilities live as independently as they can. Families Minister Heather Stefan-son announced Tuesday that the task force, made up mostly of people who have been or are with disability organizations, will look at modernizing a law that hasn’t been reviewed in 13 years: The Vulnerable Persons Living With a Mental Disability Act. Stefanson appointed Jessica Croy, who lives with an intellectual disability and is first vice-president of People First Manitoba, special adviser to the minister. “Our government is committed to making Manitoba a better place, which includes ensuring that Manitobans with disabilities have as much independence and ability to make decisions as possible,” Stefanson said in a statement. “This new task force will review policies and practices affecting adults with intellectual disabilities to ensure we can achieve this goal. The new special adviser to my office will also provide an important perspective and help guide our government’s work on a broad range of issues.” Dale Kendel, task force chairman, said its members have diverse backgrounds and expertise. Other members of the task force include former provincial ombudsman Irene Hamilton, John Leggat, CEO of St. Amant, Margo Powell, executive director of Abilities Manitoba, and Seine River MLA Janice Morley-Lecomte. Kendel, the former executive director of Community Living Manitoba, said the task force’s recommendations are due March 31. “We’ve been asked to make practical suggestions that are doable,” he said. “There are 10,000 adults eligible (under the law) and (of those) there are almost 2,000 people under substitute decision-maker orders. “We will endeavour to produce a plan for the minister within six months that will improve practices in the field.” kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The city's review into agreements with the Winnipeg Football Club and Triple B Stadium Inc., which owns IG Field, was meant to mitigate future financial risks to taxpayers. City review into Bombers deal delayed JOYANNE PURSAGA CITY bureaucrats have been given more time to review agreements with the Winnipeg Football Club and Triple B Stadium Inc., including what it would take to end them. Council’s executive policy committee granted the extension Monday. In July 2019, EPC ordered the review, which is to offer steps to “potentially remove” a city representative from those organizations’ boards and divest the city of its membership in- terest in Triple B. Triple B, which owns IG Field, includes representatives from the Winnipeg Football Club, the city and the University of Manitoba. The public service review was expected to explore the city’s financial arrangements with those organizations. The report was expected in November 2019. Mayor Brian Bowman, who spearheaded the review, blamed the delay on extended talks between the province, the football club and the city. “My understanding is there’s ongoing dialogue right now with multiple parties, including the province of Manitoba... and so the public service has asked for that extension so that they can properly have dialogue with others,” said Bowman. When the mayor introduced the motion in 2019, he questioned the logic of having political appointments on the board of a professional sports team, in this case the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The review was meant to mitigate future financial risks to city taxpay ers, including any costs to maintain the stadium, which opened in 2013 and cost $209 million. The mayor said the financial impact of the stadium is complicated under the current arrangement. In 2019, the province converted its $35.3-million loan guarantee for the football stadium into a direct loan to the owner, after writing off a separate $200.7-million loan for IG Field. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga 0Reporting for special duty: police taking extra jobs again JOYANNE PURSAGA THE Winnipeg Police Service is once again accepting some special-duty policing jobs, after pausing new bookings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board said. Coun. Markus Chambers said WPS is booking a limited number of special duty jobs. Chambers noted public health limits on gatherings prevent the need for police to help monitor large crowds. “It’s based on demand ... We don’t have any (Winnipeg) Jets games or (Winnipeg Blue) Bombers games for crowd control and traffic,” he said. “The requests that were previously facilitated by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, now that they’ve got their controlled entrances, they’re (also) not requiring police officers to stand duty at liquor stores anymore.” Under the program, officers are hired to provide security at special events and stores, and as traffic escorts. Police stopped taking new bookings for that service in late April, due to the pandemic, though some long-term contracts continued. Chambers said police did not confirm the date the service began accepting new special-duty bookings. Under the current fee structure, officers can complete special-duty shifts during their time off, with the City of Winnipeg charging about $116/hour per constable. Chambers said he is concerned police will lose revenue due to the reduced demand for the service. “It’s something that we may need to address and figure out a strategy on because there will be shortfalls,” he said. Chambers said he would like to start discussions about focusing the special duty shifts on large events (once the pandemic risk id lowered), instead of allowing officers to be hired by individual retailers. “To have it in retail is a concern for me, because I don’t want there to be a two-tier system of policing in our city. It should be accessible to everyone or every business,” he said. Chambers said he fears smaller businesses can’t afford to hire special duty officers. Meanwhile, council’s executive policy committee approved a motion that would give police Chief Danny Smyth the authority to raise special duty policing fees beyond the rate of inflation. Council must give final approval. The service says that would allow the rates to keep pace with union wage increases. Coun. Sherri Rollins cast the sole EPC vote against that change. Rollins said she felt police shared too little financial information about the program itself. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Coun. Markus Chambers: special duty bookings demand-driven. #GIVELIFE Mondays and Fridays Need You Most! For the week of Sept. 24th - Sept. 30th Every Wednesday the Winnipeg Free Press, in co-operation with Canadian Blood Services, publishes the current appointment progress and blood donor clinic information. Winnipeg Blood Donor Centre - 777 William Ave APPOINTMENTS NEEDED - 223 Winnipeg Blood Donor Centre - Oct 2nd APPOINTMENTS NEEDED - 71 St. Pierre Recreation Centre - Sep 25th APPOINTMENTS NEEDED - 21 a 6 6 WE ASK THAT YOU HONOUR YOUR APPOINTMENTS. THANK YOU! Canadian Blood Services 777 William Avenue Winnipeg free Press Canadian Blood Services it's in you to give Please book your appointment online @ www.blood.ca IN BRIEF FOUR LOCKED IN SHED AND BEAR-SPRAYED A MAN from Norway House is facing a number of charges after allegedly locking four people in a shed and dousing them with bear spray. On Sept. 20, RCMP charged 21-year-old Isaiah Cromarty with four counts of assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and administering a noxious substance, plus possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a weapon contrary to an order. Police say around 7:30 a.m. they were called to a disturbance at a home. When officers arrived, they heard screaming and calls for help. Police found three women and a man locked in a shed, and broke the door to let them out. The four people had been bear-sprayed and were provided first aid at the scene. Police believe the victims were in the shed when the suspect allegedly locked them inside and sprayed the bear spray through a window. Cromarty was arrested at the scene and remanded into custody. FOUR SLAPPED WITH DRUG CHARGES FOUR Winnipeggers are facing drug charges after a traffic stop by RCMP in Pine Falls resulted in a drug bust. Powerview RCMP said on Tuesday that after stopping the vehicle on Sept. 20 at about 1 a.m., officers seized about 28 grams of methamphetamine, weapons, and drug paraphernalia. Erin Courchene, 34, Victor Favel, 36, and Vincent Raven, 33, have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a dangerous weapon. Courchene has also been charged with driving while disqualified. They were all detained in custody. A 36-year-old woman faces a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking. She was released on a promise to appear in court. Ur ■ ;'¡'U k Skilled Volunteers Needed! Order Fillers | Reception/Call Centre | Team Leads Apply at WinnipegHarvest.org or Call & & & Winnipeg' 204-982-3663 & & & . & & & w & & & BlNC Jtiji&LKC} }ka^e\, mJL & & & Hope, ■e- -e- B_02_Sep-23-20_FP_01.indd B2 0 2020-09-22 9:33 PM ;