Manitoba Minute: Classroom Cellphones, Grain Pests, and Teachers Ratify Agreement

Manitoba Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Manitoba politics.

This Week In Manitoba:

• Animal shelters and advocacy groups are urging Manitoba to address illegal pet breeding after a recent seizure of 137 dogs by the Winnipeg Humane Society created an overcrowding crisis. The dogs, taken from a home north of Winnipeg, were found in distress and are now being cared for by the shelter, which has already handled several similar cases this year. The Winnipeg Humane Society is calling for legislative changes to better manage and prevent illegal breeding. Manitoba's Animal Care Act requires breeders to be licensed, but enforcement has been lacking due to insufficient funding.
  
  
• The Manitoba Progressive Conservatives are pushing for a complete ban on cellphone use in all Manitoba classrooms as the 2024-25 school year approaches. Education critic Grant Jackson argues that students need a distraction-free environment to focus on their studies. He pointed out that provinces like Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan will implement phone restrictions this fall, contrasting with Manitoba's inconsistent policies. Some Manitoba school divisions have already begun implementing their own bans.
  
  
• Researchers at the University of Manitoba are continuing a four-year project on stored grain pests as part of the Prairie Bio Vigilance network. This year’s survey, covering Saskatchewan and Manitoba, aims to identify and control invasive pests affecting stored grain. Despite challenges from the pandemic, drought, and global market disruptions, the team has collected samples from 27 farms since 2020. Although no new pests were discovered, common species like the rusty grain beetle were found. The project, which includes insect trapping and analysis, will conclude its farm visits this year, but future plans may involve farmer participation in monitoring.

Last Week In Manitoba:

• Manitoba teachers have ratified a new collective agreement, the first of its kind for the province, covering all 37 English-speaking school divisions. The deal, supported by 95% of teachers, includes over 12% in wage increases over four years. Following the introduction of Bill 45, which mandated provincial bargaining for public school teachers, this negotiation represents the first collective agreement under the new legislative framework.
  
  
• Dakota Tipi First Nation has filed a lawsuit seeking the return of land and financial compensation related to The Forks in Winnipeg, claiming it is their ancestral land. The lawsuit, filed in Manitoba Court of King's Bench, targets the Canadian government, the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba, and various development corporations. Dakota Tipi First Nation argues that their rights to the land have been violated and seeks damages for loss of cultural practices, economic opportunities, and enjoyment of the land. The suit also demands that the defendants share profits from the land and seek consent before making further decisions about it. The defendants have not yet responded to the allegations.
  
  
• Sadly, a Manitoba Hydro electrical worker has died while working alone on a power outage call. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2034 has long expressed concerns about the safety of employees working alone. Manitoba Hydro has confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation is underway, with the union involved in the process. The union is advocating for changes to improve safety protocols for workers who respond to calls alone.