Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 21, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba SERVING MANITOBA SINCE 1872 PROUDLY CANADIAN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025 TODAY’S WEATHER PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH 7 — LOW 0 BUSINESS BAKERIES RISING / B5 Liberals plan rules for banks to fight fraud OTTAWA — The federal Liberals say they plan to direct banks to put new policies and procedures in place to detect and prevent fraud as part of a national strategy to fight scammers. The proposed legislative amend- ments would require banks to obtain the express consent of account holders before enabling transfers and payment capabilities that fraudsters use to steal money. The changes would allow account holders to disable features they do not want and adjust transaction limits to protect themselves. The federal Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported that Canadians lost $643 million to fraud last year — an increase of nearly 300 per cent since 2020, the government says. “To build a stronger country, we must, first and foremost, protect Canadians against all types of crimes, including financial crimes, scams and abuse,” Finance Minister François- Philippe Champagne told a Monday news conference. The government says it will work with banks and others to develop a voluntary Economic Abuse Code of Conduct that would set clear guide- lines for dealing with situations where one person abusively controls another’s access to money or credit. Seniors are particularly vulnerable, especially when financial control by family members or caregivers turns to exploitation, the government says. “Canada’s financial institutions play a critical role in detecting signs of abuse early and providing safe path- ways for victims and survivors,” the federal Department of Finance said in a statement. The government says it also will introduce legislation by next spring to create a Financial Crimes Agency to investigate money laundering, online fraud and scams, and to recover illicit proceeds. The Liberals promised such an agency in their 2021 election campaign platform. Champagne was asked at Monday’s press conference why it has taken so long to launch the agency. “Well, I’m taking that over now,” he said. “So it’s going to happen.” JIM BRONSKILL Consumers to get more tools to combat scams ● FRAUD, CONTINUED ON A2 West End residents win reprieve for ‘our backyard’ park WINNIPEG city council’s property and development committee voted Monday to spare a green space in the West End after more than a dozen people spoke out against it being used for supportive housing. Coun. Vivian Santos asked the public service to amend a proposal for a five-property supportive housing project for vulnerable and homeless people to exclude vacant land at 546 Sherburn St., which is used as a com- munity park. “I think this amendment strikes the balance between providing some sup- portive housing … to (substitute for) the lots proposed,” Santos said. “As the area councillor, I have a lot of lots that were declared surplus, which could be used as supportive housing instead of 546 Sherburn.” Santos proposed a vacant lot at 795 William Ave. instead be considered as a site for the housing project, but noted the city can’t continue to offer supportive and low-income housing in her ward. “Point Douglas continues to be the No. 1 area for children and families living in poverty, so when you concen- trate people living like that it exacer- bates the issues,” she said. Santos sympathized with issues brought forward by West End resi- dents speaking against the project. Sherburn resident Matt Salo said he was in favour of supportive housing, but not at the expense of a park. “We’ve been accused of being NIM- BY (Not in My Backyard), but please understand this park is our backyard … this park gets used and we love it so much,” he told the committee. “It’s our gem.” Delegate David Landreth asked why the project couldn’t be built in one of the neighbourhood’s several vacant lots. “I drive by these lots, these parking lots … it feels like a failure of imagina- tion,” he said. A petition started by another Sher- burn Street resident calling for the city to reconsider the proposal had received more than 600 signatures as of Monday afternoon. After the committee voted to exclude the lot, a delegation in the chamber’s gallery applauded. “This was never about a crusade against supportive housing, this was a crusade for our park,” Salo said after the meeting. “This space means every- thing to us.” The plan states the city would part- ner with the province and non-profit organizations to provide shelter for people facing unique housing chal- lenges, including refugees and youth exiting provincial care, people who are leaving hospitals, moving out of encampments, at risk of gender-based violence or coping with mental-health issues. NICOLE BUFFIE ● PARK, CONTINUED ON A2 Cold case heats up with trio charged M OUNTIES have arrested and charged three men in the slay- ing of a Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve mother who vanished more than five years ago. Melinda Lynxleg’s case highlights the prevalence of gender-based violence against Indigenous people in Manitoba, which has been called the national epicentre for such crimes. “My sister Melinda did not deserve what happened to her,” Allison Lynxleg told the Free Press in a message before a news conference at RCMP Winnipeg headquarters Monday afternoon. “Melinda was a human being, a mother, a daughter and my sister, who deserved to live.” Lynxleg, 40, was a mother of six children. She was described by family as a strong and resilient woman who advocated fiercely for her kids. RCMP Sgt. Morgan Page said the in- vestigation into her disappearance and death was “extremely complicated,” but tireless efforts by police allowed Mounties to arrest three men at their homes last week. Billy Jay Lynxleg, 46, of Tootinaowa- ziibeeng, Kirk Kenneth Allarie, 42, of Roblin and Myles Malcolm Allarie, 38, of Russell are charged with second-de- gree murder and indignity to human remains. Lynxleg was last seen on April 2, 2020, leaving a home in the RM of Grandview, about 300 kilometres west of Winnipeg. Her sister reported her missing on April 16 of that year, Page said. Police narrowed their search to an abandoned property in San Clara — roughly 55 kilometres further west — where they recovered Lynxleg’s remains and launched a homicide in- vestigation just over three years later, Page said. Lynxleg’s body was moved to the abandoned property after her slaying, leading to the additional charges of indignity to human remains. Investi- gators learned one of the accused has a “historical family connection” to the land, Page said. She did not outline a possible motive for the slaying, saying police are with- holding details of the circumstances of Lynxleg’s death at the request of her family. Police also did not clarify how the suspects knew Lynxleg. Page said both Allarie brothers were her “acquain- tances.” Page described Billy Jay Lynxleg as a “close family relation,” but did not say whether he was a blood relative of the victim. Mother of six slain in 2020, discovered in 2023; three men face murder charges TYLER SEARLE ● COLD CASE, CONTINUED ON A2 DAVID PHILLIP / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SPRINGER’S DINGER SENDS JAYS TO WORLD SERIES The Toronto Blue Jays celebrate winning Game 7 of the American League Championship Series over the Seattle Mariners. Down 3-1 for most of the game, George Springer sent a three-run homer to left field in the seventh inning for a 4-3 lead and the final score. See story on page D1. ;