Bits and Bytes Manitoba News

Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum, Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief and Winnipeg School Division Board Chair Suzanne Hrynyk pictured with the Eagles Singers Drum Group from R.B. Russell Vocational High School. Minister Allum today announced new tutoring supports for academic skills and upgrades to shop classes at the high school

Jobs and the Economy Minister Theresa Oswald announcing the Manitoba Works! Co-operative Work Experience Program, along with the new Rent Assist Program. Joining the Minister are (L to R): Karl Anderson, Shoppers Drug Mart employee; Amir Baksh, owner/operator of two Shoppers Drug Mart locations; Shawn Mahoney, Executive Director, Opportunities for Employment; and Kirsten Bernas, Research and Policy Manager, Canadian Community Economic Development Network Manitoba

Health Minister Erin Selby (left), announced that the second of three mobile clinics will begin seeing patients this fall in Southern Health – Sante Sud. The Southern Health–Santé Sud mobile clinic will gradually introduce services first in the communities of Dominion City and Woodridge, followed by Plumas, Langruth and St. Ambroise, the minister said. Kathy McPhail, CEO Southern Health–Santé Sud and MLA Thomas Nevakshonoff are seen here with the Minister during the announcement

 

Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh, Rob Nedotiafko and Laureen Janusz from the department announce phase I of the zebra mussel treatment program is complete, and extensive monitoring will continue

 

 

 Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh and Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton announce Manitoba’s comprehensive Surface Water Management Strategy with representatives of Ducks Unlimited, Keystone Agricultural Producers and the Lake Winnipeg Foundation

 

Control of Forest Fires

May 3, 2012

ENHANCED WATER-BOMBER FLEET INCREASES CAPACITY TO BATTLE FOREST FIRES

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Modern Planes Faster, More Efficient With Greater Capacity: Ashton, Mackintosh

The addition of two new Bombardier CL-415 turboprop water-bomber aircraft will greatly increase Manitoba’s capacity to fight forest fires, and save lives and property, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton and Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
“These planes hold more water, fly faster and make almost twice as many drops per hour than the older CL-215 water-bombers,” Ashton said.  “They are the newest and world’s best water bombers and will require less maintenance while using less oil and cleaner fuel.”
The two planes are the second and third of four new aircraft that are being delivered in stages as part of a $126-million contract, Ashton said.  The fourth water-bomber is due in the fall.  The older CL-215 water bombers will continue to meet the province’s needs for forest-firefighting efforts as the new aircraft are phased into service, he added.
“A wildfire can move quickly and pose a huge threat, not just to forests but to communities and people living in its path,” Mackintosh said.  “These new water bombers will greatly improve our capacity to quickly fight fires and protect forests, communities and lives anywhere in the province.”
Last year, there were 315 fires that burned a total of 126,800 hectares across the province, compared with the 16-year average of 492 fires and 183,059 ha of land affected.  Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship is carefully monitoring this year’s relatively dry conditions, said Mackintosh.
“When conditions are as dry as they are this year, it’s great to know that firefighters on the ground will have support from the air,” said David Schafer, Manitoba fire commissioner.  “We work closely with Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship to ensure that rural municipalities and the Manitoba Fire Service are supported whenever and wherever possible.”
“About half of the wildfires in Manitoba every year are caused by humans and we remain focused on the protection of lives, significant property values and infrastructure, as well as forests,” Mackintosh said.  “Due to an early, dry spring, we have moved early to put firefighting staff and other resources in place as a precautionary measure.” 

Open fires are prohibited from April 1 to Nov. 15, except with a burning permit or in approved firepits such as campfire grates in provincial campsites.  Due to dry conditions, many rural municipalities in southern Manitoba have burning bans in place.  Anyone living, working, camping or travelling through these areas is advised to use caution.

By late 2012, the provincial air fleet will consist of the four new Bombardier CL-415 water-bombers and two CL-215 aircraft.  The forest-firefighting program also operates another six provincial aircraft and several contract helicopters.
Since 1999, the Manitoba government has also supported the province’s firefighting efforts by:

• adding three initial-attack crews made up of 15 firefighters, for a total of 39 initial-attack crews and 195 firefighters; and
• obtaining an additional contract helicopter for the initial-attack force, for a total of six helicopters to ensure crews are moved quickly to fires.

More information on Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship’s fire program is available at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/fire/index.html.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED

 

Hari Ashton Behaviour at the Airport in Question

WINNIPEG — Transport Minister Steve Ashton’s wife is being investigated as a possible threat to air safety after an incident also raising questions about whether the senior cabinet minister acted inappropriately.
The Free Press has learned Ashton’s wife, Hari Dimitrakopoulou-Ashton, was detained by Winnipeg police last week at Richardson International Airport after a run-in with Calm Air employees. After police allowed her to call her husband, the cabinet minister rushed to the airport and then reportedly began throwing his weight around after gaining access to the airport’s emergency operations centre.
   One has to be careful around airport these days. People are hyper-sensitive more than ever. I hope this situation resolves itself and Hari apologizes if she did something wrong and let's get on with it.

New Park in Sinclair area

December 9, 2011

SINCLAIR PARK COMMUNITY CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF NEW RECREATION CENTRE

Winnipeg, MB. -The ability to access programs that support and promote sport and active lifestyles has improved greatly for residents of the Northwest corner of Winnipeg with the opening of the newly expanded Sinclair Park Community Centre.
The $4.68-million project was made possible as a result of funding from the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg.
On hand to officially open the new facility today were the Honourable Steve Ashton, provincial Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, Lawrence Toet, Member of Parliament for Elmwood-Transcona, Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz and Sinclair Park Community Centre President Ed Shore.
“By working together with the Federal Government and the City of Winnipeg, the families in this community have a new recreation centre to enjoy for many, many years,” said Minister Ashton. “This new facility will offer more recreational opportunities for everyone and it’ll be a gathering centre where everyone is welcome.”
“By working together with the Government of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg to improve Sinclair Park Community Centre, our Government has created jobs and economic opportunities right here in Winnipeg, while providing the community with a great recreational facility to enjoy for many years to come,” said MP Toet, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.
“I’ve often said that one of the greatest investments we can ever make for our families and young people is to invest in our community infrastructure, and I am proud that the City of Winnipeg took a leading role committing over $2 million to make the redevelopment of Sinclair Park in the City’s North End a reality,” said Mayor Katz. 

“Our new facility has been met with great excitement by everyone in our community. With the opening of our new centre we can now offer a greater variety of much-needed programming for our area,” said President Shore. “Our new, full-size gym is a great addition to the community centre, with many kids coming out to play floor hockey, basketball and many other sports. We are now seeing so many different age groups that were not utilizing our facility before. It is now a great place for everyone in our area to meet and just get together.”
Following LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) practices, the new facility incorporates an existing steel framed structure into a new design that features: a regulation-size gymnasium, a large multi-purpose room, new change rooms, a commercial kitchen, a fully renovated basement and a new parking lot complete with priority car pool and electric car stalls.
The Sinclair Park Community Centre project has been given a Power Smart Designation from Manitoba Hydro. The facility’s overall energy performance is 42 per cent above Model National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (MNEBC) requirements and includes energy efficient features such as: highly insulated walls, roof and floors, ventilation heat recovery and demand control ventilation.
In addition, the facility also received a full Winnipeg Accessibility Award for including features that exceeded accessibility design standards for the City of Winnipeg. These inclusive design features include directional tiles, colour and textured flooring, and highly accessible entrance ways – all of which welcome a variety of users to the facility.

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