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Nickel Belt News Volume 60 • Issue 19
Friday, May 8, 2020
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Extend ban on travel to Northern Manitoba when it expires May 1, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak urges
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) urged the provincial government to extend the ban on non-essential travel into Northern Manitoba beyond May 1. The ban on travel north of the 53rd parallel was announced April 17 by chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin as part of the Manitoba
government’s efforts to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. “MKO would like to encourage the province of Manitoba to work closely with First Nations leadership when making any plans that would open up travel to Northern Manitoba,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee in an April 28 press
release.”We also encourage the province to work closely with us in developing plans to open up the economy in Manitoba; Northern Manitoba has unique circumstances and we must ensure these are reflected in public health measures developed to respond to this pandemic.” Some First Nations in Northern Manitoba have
limited access to their communities by setting up checkstops in an effort to prevent COVID-19 from gaining a foothold among their residents, who often live in crowded housing and have limited access to medical care in their own communities. Settee said MKO would also like to see checkpoints set up by the provincial gov-
ernment on Highway 6 and Highway 10. To this point, the province hasn’t actually been enforcing the travel ban, choosing instead to focus on making sure the public is aware of it, arguing that most Manitobans obey the recommendations issued by the public health department. “The public health measure prohibiting travel has
been operating on an honour system,” said Settee. “The only check stop on northern highways is run by the people of the Misipawistik Cree Nation.”MKO represents about 72,000 members of 26 Northern Manitoba First Nations. Roussin said at the May 4 coronavirus press conference that travel restrictions would remain in place for now.
Gillam man ticketed for refusing to self-isolate while awaiting COVID-19 test results BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMSONCITIZEN.NET
A man in Gillam was ticketed by RCMP April 25 with failing to comply with a public emergency order for refusing to self-isolate. Gillam RCMP officers were notified that an adult male had been instructed by medical staff at the hospital in Gillam to self-isolate for 14 days while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test. The man told medical staff he would not comply and left the
hospital on foot. Officers later located the man and told him he needed to return home to self-isolate and offered him a ride but he refused and received a ticket for failing to comply with a public emergency order under the Public Health Act. That call was one of 99 related to COVID-19 that Manitoba RCMP responded to around the province April 21-27, mostly reports of 10 or more people gathering
together. Most calls did not fall under the purview of the RCMP or were resolved through education and guidance provided by responding officers. In seven instances, officers attending the location of a complaint gave verbal warnings. From April 14-20, RCMP officers in the province received 101 coronavirus pandemic-related calls, issuing six verbal warnings as well as $486 tickets to a 43-year-
old male, a 26-year-old male and a 25-year-old female in The Pas after responding to a call about a house party. The three became belligerent with police, RCMP said in a press release. From April 8-13 Manitoba RCMP responded to 64 COVID-19 related calls, issuing 18 verbal warnings. Thompson RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Hastie told the Nickel Belt News in midApril that there seemed to have been a moderate reduction in the number of
overall calls the detachment received in late March and early April, though the volume of traffic offences and reports of driving violations was relatively stable. “There are still reports being made of intoxicated disturbances, public disturbances, crimes against persons, thefts, mental health/ well-being checks missing persons, etc. but mainly the total volume of all these complaints has been reduced.,” Hastie said. “I think the additional RCMP
and community safety officer presence at the City Centre Mall, the MLCC and the Walmart has been quite beneficial over the last couple of weeks and reduced some complaints which could have been dispatched to the police. Manitobans living outside of Winnipeg should not call 911 for COVID-19 related issues. Reports of non-compliance can be made to the Manitoba Government Inquiry line at 1-866-626-4862.
Meth, cocaine and pills seized Weapons, drugs and cash seized during house search in Moose Lake from passenger arriving at Moose Lake RCMP looking for man who Island Lake Airport fled the scene prior to police entering A 38-year-old Garden Hill First Nation man is facing charges following the seizure of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and prescription drugs by Island Lake RCMP April 30. Police arrested a passenger getting off a commercial flight from Winnipeg at the Island Lake Airport and found 70 grams of meth, 65 grams of crack cocaine and 230 Percocets as well as cash during a subsequent search. Paul Beardy is facing three counts of possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possessing property obtained by crime. Island Lake RCMP continue investigating.
RCMP photo Island Lake RCMP seized methamphetamine, crack cocaine and Percocet from a passenger arriving on a flight from Winnipeg April 30.
UP-TO-THE-MINUTE CORONAVIRUS UPDATES AT thompsoncitizen.net/covid-19
RCMP photo A sawed-off .22 calibre rifle, several other weapons, small amounts of methamphetamine and cannabis, prescription drugs, cash and drug paraphernalia were seized during an April 29 house search by Moose Lake RCMP. A rifle, drugs and cash were seized by Moose Lake RCMP April 29 during a search related to an ongoing investigation.
Police executed a search warrant around 7:15 p.m., finding a sawed-off .22 calibre rifle, several other weapons, small amounts of methamphetamine and cannabis, prescription drugs, cash and drug paraphernalia. A 29-year-old female from Moose Lake was arrested during the raid and will face several weapons-related charges as well as ones for resisting arrest and obstructing a
police officer. She was released with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court in Moose Lake Aug. 11. A man fled the scene on foot prior to officers entering the home. Skylar Jesse Constant is being sought by Moose Lake RCMP and is also currently wanted by the Winnipeg Police Service. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact Moose Lake RCMP at 204-678-2399.