Summary for the week ending June 22, 2007

The inaugural sitting of the first session of the 39th Manitoba legislature adjourned following passage of a throne speech that reflected the commitments made to Manitobans during the recent provincial election, action to move forward with Budget 2007 and notification the government will reintroduce 22 bills this fall.

The house also passed Bill 2, which provided interim supply of $5.4 billion for provincial operating expenditures and $446 million for capital expenditures. Bill 2 provides the government spending authority for provincial programs and services until the 2007-08 estimates can be fully reviewed and approved by members of the legislature when the house reconvenes in the fall.

As agreed by all parties, the house will return Sept. 25 to conclude the budget process and address bills introduced prior to the election. The house will adjourn Nov. 8 and return Nov. 20 with a throne speech. The house will then rise Dec. 06. The 2008 spring sitting will commence April 9 and adjourn June 12.

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The Manitoba government and several American organizations are appealing the North Dakota Department of Health’s decision to weaken the environmental standards governing the operation of the Devils Lake outlet. The appeal will be filed in North Dakota Supreme Court .

At issue is the North Dakota Department of Health’s 2006 decision to weaken the sulphate standards in the outlet’s original operating permit. The changes allow for Devils Lake waters to be discharged into the Sheyenne River when the sulphate levels are higher than allowed by the original permit (up to 450 milligrams per litre).

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The Red River has joined the Canadian Heritage Rivers System. The Red becomes the 37th river to be designated to the CHRS and the fourth Canadian heritage river in Manitoba, joining the Hayes, the Bloodvein and the Seal rivers.

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The province has announced it has joined with six western U.S. states and British Columbia in the Western Climate Initiative. Through the initiative, states and provinces will work together to identify, evaluate and implement ways to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region and to achieve related co-benefits.

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The province has announced that four species have been declared as threatened and an additional species declared as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

The Sprague’s pipit, hairy prairie-clover, buffalo grass and hackberry have been confirmed as threatened and the Ross’s gull has officially been declared as endangered. These species require this level of protection because of limited distribution, low numbers or their dependence on specialized habitats.

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The province and the City of Winnipeg have signed a memorandum of understanding to grant protection to the city’s waterways and natural areas as part of the province’s protected areas network. Winnipeg would be the first community in Manitoba with areas receiving the province’s protected areas designation.

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Assistance application forms are in the mail to eligible Assiniboine Valley agricultural producers who experienced flooding and crop loss in 2005 and 2006 along the Assiniboine River from Shellmouth to Brandon due to unanticipated rainfall and operation of the Shellmouth Dam.

The $2.4-million assistance initiative is being administered by Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC). The deadline for filing completed applications is Aug. 31. Applications can be returned to producers’ local MASC insurance offices using the return envelope included in the application package.

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The province announced that Moose Lake will receive provincial funding for youth to participate in a cadet training program, designed to teach music, leadership and team-building skills to Aboriginal youth.

The province also acknowledged the contributions of eight Aboriginal women at a ceremony recognizing the grandmothers by presenting shawls which signify the 13 moons and sacred women’s teachings as well as the overall life and hope. The province has helped fund the ceremony since it started six years ago.

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In partnership with the University College of the North (UCN), the province has announced $625,000 in provincial funding to support a 25-seat licensed practical nursing (LPN) program at St. Theresa Point First Nation, which opened May 1.

In addition to the LPN training program, a portion of the funding will be used to upgrade UCN’s regional centre in St. Theresa Point. UCN has also provided the students with pre-course training, which has provided the courses and skills required for student success in this demanding program.

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The province has announced that 65 municipalities across the province will receive $5.4 million for the cost of replacing handi-transit vehicles.

Municipalities participating in the province’s Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation program will receive the funds based on a formula that takes into account vehicle replacement cost and usage. Funding is being provided through a one-time payment to ensure resources are available when needed for a vehicle purchase.

Provincial funding for today’s announcement has been allocated from the federal Public Transit Capital Trust.

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The governments of Canada and Manitoba have announced over $900,000 in homelessness funding for Uturn 3, a Brandon-area Youth for Christ project that will provide transitional housing and skills development to youth in need.

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The province has announced the launch of BizPaL in Brandon, a new online business permit and licence service that helps entrepreneurs find the information needed to start, operate or grow their business.

Area business owners and entrepreneurs can access the service by visiting www2.gov.mb.ca/bizen/wizard/welcome.aspx and www.brandon.ca/bizpal. Additional project history and information, as well as to access the websites of participating partners available at www.bizpal.ca.

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The province has announced that a new Winnipeg-based mobile command support unit will ensure the Office of the Fire Commissioner will provide faster response and support to the city of Winnipeg and surrounding areas for fire, police and other emergencies.

The vehicle is equipped with portable and mobile communications equipment, basic life-support emergency medical equipment, a computer system and an accountability system to keep track of response personnel.

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A team of 40 forest firefighters and four natural resource officers from Manitoba Conservation’s Fire Program is in Quebec to help battle forest fires.

Manitoba is also sending an air tanker group consisting of two CL-215 water bombers and a spotter aircraft to the province. Manitoba assisted Quebec last month with an air tanker group.

Of the 147 fires in Manitoba to date, 128 are related to human activity. Manitobans are reminded that open fires are prohibited from April 1 to Nov. 15, except under authority of a burning permit or in approved fire pits such as campfire grates in provincial campsites.

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The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health reports the numbers of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes identified in southern Manitoba for the week of June 3 are higher than usual for this time of year.

Earlier this week, Manitoba’s mosquito surveillance program identified the first Culex tarsalis mosquito samples infected with West Nile virus in Manitoba in 2007. Two samples of Culex tarsalis collected during the week of June 3 from adult mosquito traps in the town of Boissevain in the Assiniboine health region were positive for West Nile virus. The risk of West Nile virus is considered low and adult mosquito control has not been recommended at this time.

More information about West Nile virus is also available from Health Links–Info Santé at 788-8200 or 1 888 315-9257.