Compensation board rife with its own workplace problems: source

The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba is struggling to process a mountain of outstanding claims as it grapples with a rising number of vacancies and a corresponding increase in workload for staff who remain, the Free Press has learned.

A source, who has decades of experience at the board, said the last 12 to 18 months have been some of the most difficult of his career due to the high level of turnover, problems with hiring and retaining case-management workers, and recent changes to policy that have resulted in more claims being accepted.

“The current workload levels are unmanageable and it’s taking a toll on employees in case management,” he said.

The board provides injury and disability insurance for workers and employers in the province.

Tories ‘strayed’ from values, seek ‘way back’

As it prepares for a leadership race, Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative party is asking its members for guidance after it got walloped in the fall election and “strayed from its values.”

A six-page values survey asks members to choose the five most important traits for the next party leader to have from a long list, including accountable, competence, empathetic, engaged, ethical and integrity.

“Many of you have expressed that you did not feel the 2023 provincial election campaign aligned with your values or the values you believed aligned with the PC Party of Manitoba,” the survey said as the PCs prepare to elect a new leader April 26, 2025.

“While we may have strayed during the election, we are here now to find our way back and invite you to provide guidance to that process.”

MPI trims management in wake of scathing audit

Manitoba Public Insurance has eliminated 18 per cent of its management positions after an external audit criticized the Crown corporation for having too many bosses.

MPI cut 32 management positions — to 142 from 174 — following recommendations outlined by the audit, spokesperson Kristy Rydz confirmed to the Free Press Wednesday.

While the Crown corporation “parted ways” with a small number of leaders, Rydz said the majority of the reduction was done by maintaining vacancies and rightsizing roles.

“These changes respond to many of the recommendations put forward by (Ernst & Young) following last year’s organizational review and align with commitments made by MPI’s board of directors to revise our structure in support of our strategic direction,” Rydz said in an emailed statement.

Woman shaken after 90 pounds of untethered ‘pure muscle’ attacks her dog while owners watch

Suzanne Pothe’s heart skipped a beat Monday morning when she saw an uncontrolled, “90-pound dog that was pure muscle” bounding toward her German shepherd Sophie, sparking a frightening attack that has left her shaken.

The Fort Richmond resident was walking Sophie southbound on Dalhousie Drive when she noticed what looked like a Rottweiler-mix “dragging its leash along the ground” on the other side of the roadway.

The animal’s owners, a couple, were nearby, she said.

“I was already tensing up because I knew something could happen,” Pothe said.

BoC officials split on when to start cutting interest rates, summary shows

OTTAWA - Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.

The central bank released its summary of deliberations detailing the governing council's discussions ahead of its decision to hold interest rates steady on April 10.

Some members felt the central bank should take its time before lowering rates, the summary said, given the Canadian economy's strong performance as well as ongoing inflationary risks.

Meanwhile, other members emphasized that inflation has slowed, and were concerned about keeping interest rates high for too long.

Carey to take skipping reins from iconic Jones

Jennifer Jones’ old curling team has a new skip. Karlee Burgess, Emily Zacharias and Lauren Lenentine, who reached the last two Scotties Tournament of Hearts finals with Jones, are sticking together and announced Wednesday they’ve added veteran Chelsea Carey to the lineup. Jones, 49, left big curling shoes to fill after announcing in February the 2023-24 season would be her swan song in women’s curling. Her final event was the Players’ Championship earlier this month in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES /Jonathan Hayward Chelsea Carey will be the new skip for curling teammates Karlee Burgess, Emily Zacharias and Lauren Lenentine. […]

Accused smuggler of family that froze at Manitoba-U.S. border seeking release before trial

A man accused of smuggling an Indian family who froze to death near the U.S.-Manitoba border is seeking his freedom while awaiting trial.

Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 28, was arrested in Chicago in February and charged with seven counts of human smuggling by the United States District Court in the District of Minnesota. He pleaded not guilty.

He will appear in court Friday in Duluth, where his lawyer will present a motion for a judge to reconsider his detention and allow his release on whatever conditions the court orders. He has been held since his arrest, after he waived his right to a detention hearing in an Illinois court.

Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife Vaishaliben, 37, their daughter Vihangi, 11, and three-year-old son Dharmik froze to death near Emerson, metres from the border, while trying to cross into the U.S. Jan. 19, 2022.

Man accused of murder in two separate killings now charged in third

A man already awaiting trial for his alleged role in two unrelated homicides is now charged in a third killing.

Maxim Dale Garneau, 27, was arrested for first-degree murder Tuesday in connection with the slaying of Robert Clayton Smith, 35. Smith was shot in a suite on the 300 block of Manitoba Avenue at about 2:45 p.m. on March 16. He died in hospital.

Garneau was being held on two second-degree murder charges at the Winnipeg Remand Centre when he was arrested.

Police picked up Garneau on April 11 after detectives asked for the public’s help in finding the man, while he was wanted in connection with two other killings. Garneau had a loaded gun in his backpack when arrested, police said previously.

Province announces ‘ambitious’ plan for Victoria hospital

The Manitoba government said initial work is underway to fulfil campaign promises to build a new emergency room at Victoria General Hospital and reopen the mature women’s centre there, which were both closed by the former Tory government.

The government has earmarked $1.5 million to begin design work for the two facilities and get shovels into the ground within two years.

“I know it’s been a long journey. I can only imagine what it’s been like working at ‘the Vic,’ through the successive changes and the challenges that you’ve had to live with,” Premier Wab Kinew said, in reference to longtime staff members, at a news conference outside the hospital Wednesday.

The emergency room and the women’s centre were shuttered as part of health-care restructuring by the Progressive Conservative government in 2017.

Brad Marchand scores two, Bruins down Maple Leafs 4-2 to take 2-1 series lead

TORONTO - Brad Marchand had a relatively quiet — at least by his in-your-face standards — start to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Sure, the Bruins captain drew some key penalties and picked up three assists through six periods against the Maple Leafs.

He'd also yet to truly leave his mark.

And it felt like only a matter of time before one of the NHL's best both with the puck on his stick, and at hockey's dark arts when it isn't, properly entered the fray.