Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 21, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba A2 ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM NEWS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025 VOL 154 NO 285 Winnipeg Free Press est 1872 / Winnipeg Tribune est 1890 2025 Winnipeg Free Press, a division of FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership. Published six days a week in print and always online at 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2X 3B6, PH: 204-697-7000 CEO / MIKE POWER Editor / PAUL SAMYN Associate Editor Enterprise / SCOTT GIBBONS Associate Editor News / STACEY THIDRICKSON Associate Editor Digital News / WENDY SAWATZKY Director Photo and Multimedia / MIKE APORIUS NEWSMEDIA COUNCIL The Winnipeg Free Press is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to determine acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please send them to: editorialconcerns@freepress.mb.ca. 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INSIDE Arts and Life C1 Business B5 Classifieds D7 Comics C5 Diversions C6,7 Horoscope C4 Miss Lonelyhearts C4 Obituaries D6 Opinion A6,7 Sports D1 Television C4 Weather B8 COLUMNISTS: Dan Lett A4 READER SERVICE ● GENERAL INQUIRIES 204-697-7000 CIRCULATION INQUIRIES MISSING OR INCOMPLETE PAPER? Call or email before 10 a.m. weekdays or 11 a.m. Saturday City: 204-697-7001 Outside Winnipeg: 1-800-542-8900 press 1 6:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.; 7 a.m. - noon Saturday; Closed Sunday TO SUBSCRIBE: 204-697-7001 Out of Winnipeg: 1-800-542-8900 The Free Press receives support from the Local Journalism Initiative funded by the Government of Canada Champagne said the new agency would hire interested people from various federal agencies. “You need specialized people. We’ll be attracting the best,” he said. “Fighting financial crime in the 21st century is something very complex, to be honest.” The measures announced Monday were billed as a preview of the federal budget, to be presented Nov. 4. Duff Conacher, co-founder of the group Democracy Watch, said the Lib- eral government’s rehashed promise to require banks to take mainly voluntary actions amounts to much too little, much too late. The proposed steps “amount to more hot air promises” and are much weak- er than customer protections Australia and England already have imposed on banks and telecom and internet compa- nies, he added. The federal anti-fraud centre has documented more than 30 types of du- plicitous schemes targeting Canadian consumers and businesses. The centre’s most recent annual sta- tistical report says individuals under age 50 were more likely to be victim- ized by fraud, while those over age 50 lost more money on average to fraud. The total amount lost by people 60 and older accounted for about 40 per cent of the overall dollar loss reported to the centre, the report adds. The Conservatives proposed during the spring federal election campaign to get Canadian banks and cellphone companies to do a better job of detect- ing scams, alerting potential victims and blocking suspected fraud in real time. The Conservatives also promised that, if they formed government, they would increase fines and prison sentences for criminals who defraud vulnerable Canadians. — The Canadian Press FRAUD ● FROM A1 The committee voted to rezone the city-owned lots to allow the housing, while the Manitoba government will choose non-profits to provide services to tenants, decide which sites will be home to which groups and provide capital and operating funds. Coun. Cindy Gilroy, whose Daniel McIntyre ward encompasses the West End, was unavailable for comment Monday. Duncan asked an amendment be made for another proposed site at 75 Poseidon Bay, which would send it back to the area’s community committee for input, as well as feedback from Coun. John Orlikow. Orlikow (River Heights) asked for more information on the project, while the executive director of a nearby clinic argued the proposed site would be an inconvenience for patients. Jeff Leiter, executive director of the Pan Am Clinic Foundation, said the organization didn’t receive enough information about the project and wor- ries client safety and well-being will be compromised. The Pan Am Clinic is located on the adjacent lot and the proposed site includes patient parking. Lissie Rappaport, manager of the city’s Housing Accelerator Fund office, said the site’s development would reduce parking by as many as 15 spots and there would be plenty of room for the four-storey, 25-unit building. The other proposed sites are located at 1168/1172 Plessis Rd., 626 Stella Ave., and 2546 McPhillips St. The hearing also heard from those in favour of the overall project, including Carolyn Ryan, the assistant deputy minister of the province’s Homeless- ness and Addictions Department. Ryan detailed the use of the build- ings and the importance that they fit into already established neighbour- hoods to provide a sense of normalcy to tenants. Several supportive housing units exist across the province, such as the Bell Hotel on Main Street, Concordia Village on Molson Street and Ten-Ten Sinclair on Sinclair Street. “It is in our best interest… that these buildings fit into the neighbourhood,” she said, adding the identified sites have city services and supports exist- ing nearby. The buildings typically have two staff members working at all times, but could increase depending on the needs of residents. The services range from case management, like social work, to more intense services, such as psychological aid. Some of the units are part of the province’s Your Way Home homeless- ness strategy. Ryan says since the NDP government took office, housing units have become available at a rate she hasn’t seen in 25 years, but the need for more still exists. “We need to build, and we need to use our existing assets,” she said. The plan will go through a final vote before council at a later date. nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca PARK ● FROM A1 RCMP provided a statement written by the Lynxleg family, in which they said news of the arrests have brought them relief, but also reignited their grief. “Melinda is forever in our hearts. We continue to cherish her memory and celebrate her birthdays together with her children, keeping her spirit alive through love and remembrance,” the statement said. “Our tears are not only of sadness, but also of anger for what was done to her and to us. To those responsible, we cannot offer forgiveness. The choices you made took someone from us who can never be replaced.” Tootinaowaziibeeng Chief Barry McKay, who called Lynxleg’s case tragic, offered tobacco to the RCMP on behalf of his First Nation and the victim’s family. “Thank you for all the work you have done,” he said, handing the tobacco — considered a sacred medicine in Indigenous culture — to Page. The First Nation is located north of Riding Mountain National Park, about halfway between Dauphin and the Saskatchewan border. The investigation involved more than 60 officers from across western Manitoba who collected more than 150 witness statements and contributed thousands of hours of police work. A typical homicide probe involves 10 to 15 officers, Page said. At one point, police reviewed the case file “in extreme detail” in search of additional leads, she said. “We were able to uncover some further information and then also strategize as to what we needed to do to move the investigation forward and take those next steps to get to where we are today,” she said. Ultimately, a combination of physical evidence and witness information contributed to the charges. Further in - vestigation and interviews are ongoing now that the suspects are in custody, she said, adding the three men were known to police in the area. A review of court records showed Myles Allarie was convicted in 2011 of dangerous driving causing death and sentenced to 18 months in jail, plus two years probation. Supt. Rob Lasson, head of the pro- vincial major crimes division, said there is “still a lot of work ahead,” but he hopes the arrests will bring some comfort to the families of missing and murdered people throughout the province. “This is another example of the RCMP’s commitment,” Lasson said. “Manitoba RCMP continues to work on all unsolved homicide investigations across Manitoba, and they never stop trying to find answers.” Lynxleg’s family echoed that senti- ment in their statement, urging other grieving families not to lose hope. “Even in the darkest moments, love does not disappear. It fuels our search, strengthens our voice and carries the memory of those we fight for,” the statement said. The arrests come as Manitoba is preparing to launch Canada’s first Red Dress Alert system. Similar to Amber and Silver Alerts, the system will activate and send public messages to broadcasters and others when an In- digenous woman or girl goes missing. Lynxleg’s case highlights why such a project is critical, said Sandra DeLaronde, team lead of Giganawen- imaanaanig, an Indigenous advisory committee helping the federal govern- ment with development of the system. “What I can say about Melinda Lynxleg, and others, is that obvious- ly the police didn’t give up. That’s why we have charges today… but the problem occurs long before policing is involved,” DeLaronde said. “What are we doing as a society to change the conditions that make Indig- enous women and girls and gender-di- verse people vulnerable and targeted? I think that’s where the real work needs to happen. Otherwise, we’re just picking up the pieces on the other end.” Winnipeg Centre NDP MP Leah Gazan introduced a motion in the House of Commons last year to declare missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls a nationwide emer- gency. She urged the federal government to ensure the alert system moves ahead swiftly. “The kind of violence being perpe- trated in our communities… is deeply troubling,” Gazan said. “If we are go- ing to deal with this ongoing genocide, that takes real investment in communi- ty-led solutions.” Giganawenimaanaanig has been completing consultations with justice officials and the public regarding the Red Dress Alert system. The group is compiling a final report, which should be released by Nov. 25, DeLaronde said. — With files from Dean Pritchard tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca SUPPLIED The three men charged in the killing of Melinda Lynxleg all knew her, RCMP said Monday. Her body was found in San Clara in June 2023. COLD CASE ● FROM A1 RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Coun. Vivian Santos sympathized with delegates, saying her ward has a number of empty lots that would be more suitable locations for supported housing. No evidence survivor of Trump strike carried drugs: Ecuador official Q UITO, Ecuador — The survivor of a U.S. strike on a submersible ves- sel accused by the Trump admin- istration of transporting drugs in the Caribbean was released by authorities in Ecuador after prosecutors said they had no evidence he committed a crime in the South American nation, a govern- ment official said Monday. The official, who asked not to be iden- tified because they were not authorized to speak on the matter, told The Asso- ciated Press that the Ecuadorian man, identified as Andrés Fernando Tufiño, was in good health after medical evalu- ations. A document from the Ecuadorian government obtained by AP said “there is no evidence or indication that could lead prosecutors or judicial authorities to be certain” of any violation of cur- rent laws by Tufiño. AP requested comment from the At- torney General’s Office, but did not im- mediately receive a response. The man was repatriated by the United States over the weekend follow- ing a U.S. military attack on a submer- sible vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean. A Colombian citizen also survived the attack and re- mains hospitalized after being repatri- ated to that country. U.S. military personnel rescued both men after destroying the sub- mersible on Thursday. Trump said on social media that U.S. intelligence con- firmed the vessel was carrying “mostly fentanyl and other illegal drugs.” There is little evidence to indicate that fentanyl is produced in the Andes, as the vast majority of it flows into the U.S. through Mexico. Trump said that two people on board were killed, and the two survivors were being repatriated to their home coun- tries “for detention and prosecution.” The attack on the submersible was at least the sixth of its kind since Sep- tember. A seventh that occurred Friday was reported over the weekend, bring- ing the total deaths from the attacks to at least 32. The strikes have set off tensions in the region, particularly be- tween Trump, Venezuela and Colombia, once one of the American government’s tightest allies in the Western Hemi- sphere. The Colombian government said its survivor “will be prosecuted according to the law” for alleged drug traffick- ing. It noted that the man was seriously wounded. Colombia’s government said Monday that it had recalled its ambassador to the United States following an increas- ingly angry back-and-forth between its president, Gustavo Petro, and Trump over the strikes. Tensions increased Sunday when Trump called Petro “an illegal drug leader” and “a lunatic” after Petro ac- cused the U.S. government of killing a Colombian citizen in a Sept. 16 strike on a boat the U.S. said was allegedly carrying drugs. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s conservative president, Daniel Noboa, said Monday in a message on X addressed to his U.S. counterpart: “President Trump, Ecuador remains firm in the global fight against drug trafficking.” He add- ed that such challenges “require unity among nations committed to peace and prosperity.” Trump has justified the actions, say- ing the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” against drug cartels. He has relied on the same legal rea- soning used by the George W. Bush administration when it declared war on terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It includes the authority to capture and detain combatants and use lethal force to eliminate their leaders. — The Associated Press GONZALO SOLANO ;