News briefs for October 25, 2020

Manitoba’s NDP are sounding the alarm after freedom of information requests revealed the Progressive Conservative government approved 100 percent of above-guideline rent increases in 2020.

At a press conference Sunday morning, opposition party leader Wab Kinew called for an end to above-guideline rent increases during the pandemic, and implored the PCs to pursue a system that better balances renters’ needs and property investments.

A total of 310 rent increases above the Residential Tenancies Branch 2.4 percent cap were approved in the 2019-20 fiscal year, the NDP’s information request found, affecting more than 20,000 individual units.

Some rents increased between 30 and 50 per cent in Winnipeg.

Oakbank RCMP are investigating a two-vehicle collision that occurred Saturday night around 9:15 p.m. on Highway 12, just north of Garven Road. 

Police said initial investigation found a head-on collision occurred when a southbound SUV lost control and entered into the lane of a northbound pickup truck.

The 34-year-old female driver and lone occupant of the SUV, from Neebing, Ont., was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The 29-year-old male driver and lone occupant of the pickup truck, from Lockport, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators say a third vehicle was at the scene and may have been involved. Police are asking anyone who may have information to contact Oakbank RCMP at 204-444-3847.

A 26-year-old man died in Dauphin early Sunday morning in what Manitoba RCMP are investigating as a homicide.

Shortly after 4:30 a.m., Dauphin RCMP responded to a report of an injured, unconscious male at a Dauphin residence. EMS were on the scene when police arrived. The man was pronounced dead.

RCMP added in a release there is no threat to the public in relation to the incident.

 Winnipeg Police are investigating their second homicide in less than a week.

On Sunday morning, about 5:40 a.m., police responded to a report of an injured male in the 500 block of Furby Street.

Police found the man outside a house suffering serious injuries. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead.

Last Wednesday, police said the death of a man on Ellice Avenue was also considered a homicide.

Anyone with information that may assist homicide investigators is asked to call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Health officials said Sunday that outbreaks have been declared at Swan Valley Health Centre and Swan Valley Lodge Personal Care Home in Swan River, and that both sites have been moved to critical (red) on the pandemic response system.

Additional precautions are being taken at the health centre and visitor restrictions are being put in place at the personal care home.

A warning has also been issued of a possible exposure in Norway House.

A person who tested positive for COVID-19 attended a funeral in Norway House on Oct. 20. Though they did not have symptoms, the possible exposure did still occur during their infectious period.

Public health officials will be notify close contacts directly. Others who have attended the funeral should self-monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, people should self-isolate and seek testing, officials said in a release.

Public health officials announced four more deaths as a result of on Sunday, equalling the daily record previously set.

All four deaths were recorded in the Winnipeg health region and bring the overall total for COVID-19 deaths in the province to 54.

Two of the deaths, a woman in her 90s and a man in his 70s, are connected to the outbreak at Parkview Place personal care home. The two other deaths included a woman in her 80s and a man in his 50s.

A total of 161 new cases were announced Sunday, making it the third-highest daily COVID-19 total on record.

Of the new cases, 110 cases were in Winnipeg, 30 cases were in Southern Health, 10 cases were identified in the Interlake-Eastern region, seven cases were in the Northern health region and four cases were reported in Prairie Mountain.

There are currently 2,053 active cases of the virus. The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 6.9 per cent.

Seventy-seven people are hospitalized, of which 15 people are in intensive care.

Two men are dead after a vehicle rollover on Saturday night in the RM of Tache.

Steinbach RCMP responded to a report of the crash at 10:50 p.m.

RCMP said initial investigation has found a northbound car drifted onto the shoulder of Provincial Road 210, where it hit the concrete railing of the Seine River Bridge. The vehicle then flipped onto its side, police said.

A 63-year-old male driver from Ste. Anne was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. A 45-year-old male passenger from Scanterbury was wearing a seatbelt and was also pronounced dead on scene. 

Several more Winnipeg schools have been identified as locations of possible COVID-19 transmission:

Single cases have been identified at St. John’s High School on Oct. 15; Sargent Park School on Oct. 19; Principal Sparling School on Oct. 13; Maples Met School on Oct. 15; Island Lakes Community School on Oct. 14; and Our Lady of Victory School on Oct. 14. Three cases were identified at Centre Scolaire Léo-Rémillard on Oct. 16.

Full information on possible exposures can be found on the province’s website.