Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 26, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba WHEN Nina Condo learned her organization would receive nearly $650,000 to support gender-based violence programs for new- comer Canadians, she let out a sigh of relief. “This funding means I can finally breathe,” said Condo, executive director of the Elmwood Community Resource Centre and Area Associ- ation. “It’s giving people the hope and strength to not give up.” The centre was one of 17 organizations to share $7.4 million from the federal government that’s been earmarked combat gender-based violence in the Prairies. The announcement, made Monday in Winnipeg, includes more than $5.1 million to support pro- jects at 11 Manitoba organizations. The remain- der is dedicated to six groups in Saskatchewan. The money will help the recipients prevent and address gender-based violence by building cap- acity, providing better supports and resources and bolstering research and data collection, the federal government said. Condo said it means she will be able to con- tinue to help the 160 South Asian, Black and Arab women who rely on the resource centre — an im- portant hub for immigrants who’ve been victim- ized by violence. They often have limited social connections and language barriers. “Because of that gap in service, newcomers often are left behind. Within those commun- ities, we will work on building their capacity and understanding of what’s going on and what bar- riers they are experiencing,” Condo said, describ- ing how the centre offers cultural, educational and job programs. “We know if we are helping one woman, we are helping a whole tribe behind her. She will be able to help her daughter or her neighbour, so it’s a whole village.” The funding is part of the Liberal government’s action plan to end gender-based violence, which includes bilateral agreements with the provinces and territories. In Manitoba, the support is especially import- ant: the province had the second-highest rate of intimate partner violence in 2022, as per data from Statistics Canada. Saskatchewan had the highest rate. “Gender-based violence knows no boundaries… It tears at the fabric of our communities and undermines the principle of justice,” said Mani- toba’s senior federal cabinet minister Dan Van- dal, a Winnipeg MP. “The federal government is committed to pro- viding the resources and support necessary to address this issue at its core. We will work hand- in-hand with all of our partners to develop innov- ative solutions, share best practices and ensure that no survivor is left behind.” At the news conference at The Forks, he was joined by Ben Carr, a Winnipeg Liberal MP; Marci Ien, minister of women and gender equal- ity; and Leah Gazan, a Winnipeg NDP MP. Ien, who helped spearhead the national action plan, described gender-based violence as a non-partisan issue, noting that establishing the funding agreements in Manitoba and Saskatch- ewan involved co-operation from politicians of various stripes. Ending Violence Association Canada — Mani- toba will receive the bulk of the funding, with more than $1 million dedicated to supporting its online reporting tool. Other Manitoba beneficiaries include: Aborig- inal Council of Winnipeg; Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad; Wahbung Abinoonjiiag; Tunngasugit; The Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres; The Pas Family Resource Centre — Minisewin Waska; Circling Buffalo; and Southern Chiefs’ Organization. The organizations applied for support between Jan. 27 and March 10, 2022, when the federal gov- ernment asked for proposals. Around $55 million was included in the 2021 federal budget to sup- port front-line organizations. The money was reserved for organizations that support the Indigenous and LGBTTQ+ commun- ities and people of colour. tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca TUESDAY MARCH 26, 2024 ● ASSOCIATE EDITOR, NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM SECTION B CONNECT WITH WINNIPEG’S NO. 1 NEWS SOURCE ▼ CITY ● BUSINESS City asks labour board to settle Transit safety team dispute T HE City of Winnipeg is seeking help from a third party to resolve a labour dispute over community safety officers, who began patrolling Winnipeg Transit buses and stops last month. The dispute first made headlines in January, when the Winnipeg Police Association, a union that represents officers, filed a grievance that ac- cuses the city of violating its collect- ive agreement by forming the com- munity safety team. The union claims the team performs duties that should be seen as the do- main of police. The grievance is ex- pected to be heard by an arbitrator on Aug. 12 and 13. However, the City of Winnipeg has now filed an application to the Mani- toba Labour Board, which asks it to confirm the current 20 safety officers should continue to be represented by the Canadian Union of Public Em- ployees Local 500 and the team’s two supervisors should remain with the Winnipeg Association of Public Ser- vice Officers union, which it believes is central to the dispute. “We would simply be asserting the position that our determination is cor- rect and that we can proceed (with the) status quo… We would continue to operate the community safety team as we have been,” said Michael Jack, the city’s chief administrative officer. However, the union stresses its com- plaint is about the type of work safety officers perform, not which union rep- resents them. “Rather than try to resolve matters, the city has inexplicably chosen to file an application with the labour board, seeking an order that these ‘safety officer’ positions belong to CUPE… We have repeatedly advised the city that the positions may remain with CUPE, but the police duties that are assigned to them should be removed,” wrote union president Cory Wiles, in an emailed statement. He argued safety officers are put at risk by their current tasks. “Although these officers are not police officers, they are arresting, detaining and dealing with criminal activity within our city… The city is putting these ‘safety officers’ and the public in a very real and unsafe pos- ition, as they are lacking the full set of tools and training required to do what everyone with common sense can rec- ognize as police work,” wrote Wiles, who was not available for an interview. Jack said the city will ask the arbi- trator to adjourn the arbitration hear- ing slated for August, since the city believes the labour board has jurisdic- tion on the matter. Both Wiles and Jack stressed they would prefer a negotiated solution. “We are continuing to try and have discussions among the parties just to see if there is some path through this that doesn’t involve either a grievance arbitration or a labour board hearing. (We) haven’t found that path yet. At the city, we would certainly like to just focus on the successful operation of this new team,” said Jack. The Manitoba Labour Board con- firmed it received an application from the city but noted it has not yet deter- mined if the matter will be set for a hearing. Meanwhile, Jack said the dispute is “not in the least” holding up the community safety team’s work, not- ing safety officers and police officers have been working well together. “The community safety team has re- ceived wonderful support and co-oper- ation from the Winnipeg Police Ser- vice… In practical terms, it’s been a very good relationship,” he said. The CAO also rejected the union argument that community safety offi- cers perform police duties. “The province specifically created these designations to not be police of- ficers… We think we’ve already dem- onstrated that the work they are doing out in the community is fundamental- ly different, even if they share some powers at law with the sworn police officers,” said Jack. The head of CUPE local 500 said his organization has applied for inter- venor status, should there be a labour board hearing, and agrees with the city that safety officers should con- tinue as members of their existing union. “These community safety officers most certainly are not police but po- lice are important to have within our community. There’s a time and a place and a need for them and we’re grateful for the roles they play… I (also) think the community is quite happy with the role of what a community safety officer is,” said union president Gord Delbridge. The community safety team began operating on Winnipeg Transit buses and at bus stops on Feb. 20, with the goal of addressing an increase in vio- lence against Transit drivers and rid- ers. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga Safety officers at risk in duties, police union says JOYANNE PURSAGA Winnipeg woman sues Uber after alleged sex assault ERIK PINDERA A Winnipeg woman has filed a pro- posed class-action lawsuit against Uber Canada, accusing the company of negligence after she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a driver in De- cember. Consumer Law Group, a firm based in Ontario and Quebec that specializ- es in class actions, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the woman, who’s referred to in the statement of claim by the in- itials C.K., in Manitoba Court of King’s Bench on March 15. If approved to proceed, the class action would allow anyone who was re- portedly sexually assaulted or subject to other sexual misconduct or kidnap- ping by an Uber driver in Canada to sign onto the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined by the court — including general damages for harm, special damages for medical expenses and punitive damages — because of Uber’s “high-handed, cavalier and arbitrary attitude” toward alleged victims of sex- ual misconduct. Uber Canada and several other sub- sidiary defendants have not filed state- ments of defence. A spokeswoman for the company, Keerthana Rang, said Uber would not comment on pending litigation but that safety is “at the heart of the Uber platform.” “We take the utmost care to make sure we follow processes set out by the law,” Rang said Monday. “In Manitoba, a driver must complete a police back- ground check with vulnerable-sector search and a child-abuse registry ap- plication before starting to drive with Uber.” The spokeswoman said operators’ driving records are checked and screenings are conducted annually. The court papers claim the com- pany knew as early as 2014 that Uber drivers had committed acts of sexual violence on passengers. The suit notes Uber has been the defendant in “num- erous civil lawsuits” and arbitration related to similar misconduct in other jurisdictions. The company, which was founded in the United States, began operating in Winnipeg in 2020 after launching in Toronto in 2012. C.K. alleges in the court documents that she used her Uber smartphone ap- plication to request a ride just after 4 a.m. on Dec. 3, 2023. A receipt indicated the ride began at 4:05 a.m. and was officially considered finished by Uber at 4:29 a.m., when the driver arrived at C.K.’s home. C.K, who had fallen asleep, woke up and tried to get out of the back passen- ger door, the lawsuit alleges, but the driver got out and stood in front of her, grabbed her by the shoulders and for- cibly kissed her on the mouth. ● UBER, CONTINUED ON B2 TYLER SEARLE Manitoba groups share $5M to battle gender-based violence Giving ‘hope and strength’ JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS Nina Condo, executive director of Elmwood Community Resource Centre, says that the $650,000 her organization received will help them help newcomers who are often left behind. ;