Riding Mountain MP Dan Mazier has introduced legislation which would ban supervised drug consumption and injection sites from operating within 500 metres of schools, daycares and playgrounds.

In introducing the bill, the Official Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Health calculated that more than 80 per cent of federally-approved sites are currently operating within that zone.

“Allowing drug consumption sites next to children is dangerous and unacceptable,” Mazier said.

“No parent should have to worry about their child stepping on a used needle in the playground or walking through a cloud of fentanyl smoke on the way to school.”

Supervised consumption sites are facilities where individuals can use illegal drugs because the federal Minister of Health has granted a legal exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

According to Health Canada, fentanyl is the most commonly used drug at federally approved consumption sites, accounting for nearly half of all visits, followed by methamphetamine.

Mazier referred to these sites as “drug magnets,” citing hundreds of reports to Health Canada with concerns relating to drug dealing, property damage, aggression, and the littering of drug paraphernalia.

“The Liberals have been approving drug consumption sites next to children without checking who is next door,” Mazier said.

“When I asked the Health Minister at committee how many approved sites are located next to schools and daycares, she could not answer because her own department does not collect that information.” he added.

At a press conference on Parliament Hill following the bill’s introduction in the House of Commons, Mazier pointed to specific cases to illustrate the impact these sites are having on families and communities.

He highlighted the example of Sandy Hill Child Care, a daycare in Ottawa that was forced to shut down in 2023 after a supervised consumption site opened blocks away. The daycare documented a significant increase in open drug use and aggression. Before the closure, the daycare had to hire a private security guard to accompany children for outdoor activities.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

As much of northern Manitoba waits for the snow to melt and spring to arrive, the memories and aftermath of one of Manitoba’s worst forest fires in history are still on everyone’s minds. The tri-community has been very focused and dedicated to creating a wildfire plan to help protect the surrounding communities from the potential threat of wildfire, and this includes educating and training citizens.
“We’re seeing longer, drier burning seasons and more unpredictable fire behaviour across Manitoba,” said The Pas Fire Department Fire Chief Byron Shangraw.

While there still is a lot of snow left over for the first week of April – with more on the way – Old Man Winter is slowly showing signs of going back to sleep and letting spring emerge. Pictured here, a young deer wanders around Harlington in the shadow of Thunderhill.

Editor’s Note:
With the by-election now declared for Wednesday April 29th with voting at the George P. Buleziuk Centre in Russell and the Municipal Office in Binscarth running between 8 am and 8 pm and early voting held in the Brad Room at the Civic Centre on Russell’s Main Street on Monday April 20th between 8 am and 8 pm, we have sent identical questions to each of the four candidates which will all appear in this edition of the Russell Banner. To see the full write up, pick up a copy of this week's Russell Banner at our office, or one of our fine newspaper dealers.

Candidate Leanne Bily
Tell us a little about yourself – how long you’ve lived here, what you do or did for a living, community involvement, etc.
I have been a proud resident of this community for over 30 years, born and raised in the area. This is where I have built my life with my husband Sean, and where we raised our two children.
Professionally, I am a business leader and hold a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation representing expertise, ethics, and strategic HR leadership. My days are spent with an amazing team at the Russell Inn for the past 32 years, where I started from a very young age growing through many different roles into my current focus on operations and leadership.
Beyond my professional life, I have always believed in giving back to the place that has given me so much. Over the years, I’ve been actively involved as a volunteer in our schools, local sports, and a wide range of community events and initiatives.

Candidate Chris Radford
Tell us a little about yourself – how long you’ve lived here, what you do or did for a living, community involvement, etc.
I was raised in the Rossburn area and moved to Russell for work when I was 20. Other than 12 years in Bredenbury SK, my family and I have been here ever since.
I have been involved with many parts of the community over the years. I have been part of the “Take a Year Off Lottery” since it started. I was on the Chamber of Commerce board until just recently, and am involved with the Living Legacy Community Foundation, to mention a few.

Candidate Dale Sawchuk
Tell us a little about yourself – how long you’ve lived here, what you do or did for a living, community involvement, etc.
I have been a resident of Binscarth since 1979 and have spent a lot of my life actively involved in the community.
I am a local business owner, having operated my own barbershop in Binscarth for the last 50 years plus working at a part-time shop in Birtle. While running this business I worked full-time at Mosaic mine for 35 years.
Community involvement has always been important to me. I have served as President of the Binscarth Hall for the last 20 years; from chairing meetings, making plans, helping with minor repairs, and the day-to-day running of the facility I am a hands-on member and put in full effort in whatever needs to be done. I was a member of the Binscarth Park and Pool Committee before becoming President. I’m proud to know that I headed the committee when the pool went through its’ well needed renovation, which all members of community know was no small feat. I also contributed to the Binscarth Golf Course Committee and can be seen on the golf course cutting grass over the summer. I lend a hand in from small needs to larger projects. I believe that members of the community need to participate, in order to make their community what they want it to be.

Candidate Nick Foisy
Tell us a little about yourself – how long you’ve lived here, what you do or did for a living, community involvement.
I have been proud to call this community home for over 20 years. My connection to the area goes back even further to my time playing Junior A hockey with the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, which first brought me here and helped build lasting relationships within the region.
My wife and I made the decision to stay, raise our family, and invest in this community because of the quality of life it offers. We are raising our three children here, and like many families, we take full advantage of what our municipality provides—from local
recreation to the great pool in Binscarth, where our kids have learned to swim each summer.
Professionally, I have built a career in financial services and currently hold a leadership role within a global finance organization. My work involves managing complex financial portfolios, strategic planning, and risk management—experience that directly translates into strong financial oversight and decision-making at the municipal level.
In terms of community involvement, I have proudly served on the local fire department for over 15 years. This role has reinforced my commitment to public service, teamwork, and being there when our community needs support the most. I have also previously served one term on municipal council, where I had the opportunity to contribute to several important initiatives.

There was very colorful icing, mini eggs, gummy worms and jelly beans and a whole bunch of happy kids, parents and grandparents as the Russell IGA hosted a free Easter cake decorating event over the last weekend in March heading toward the Easter long weekend.

Learning about Parkinson’s and what to expect can make your journey more manageable, helping you and your family live well. While Parkinson’s changes many aspects of life, you can find help, support, and resources at Parkinson Canada.
Whether you’ve just learned you or a family member have Parkinson’s, or have lived with it for years, read on for valuable information.
Check out this week’s Review to find out more.

Two Dauphin projects figured prominently in the tabling of Budget 2026 in the Manitoba Legislature, last week.

The budget document drew attention to the Dauphin Centre for Community Justice, with a promise of $7 million to break ground on the $142 million project this fiscal year, as well as a commitment of $1.5 million for Northgate Trails, to allow for the expansion of the network, with an eye toward integration of the system with the northern escarpment of Riding Mountain National Park.

For Dauphin MLA Ron Kostyshyn, the justice centre announcement is a bright light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

“I think we have nightmares about what was done a number of years ago by the previous government. I’m so very proud that our government sees the importance of working with the justice facility. We know there’s a shortage in the area,” Kostyshyn said.

“I think what we’re going to be seeing is a modernized version of a justice facility to work with individuals and, hopefully, correct some of the challenges they face.”

Kostyshyn views the justice centre as one of the largest opportunities for development, not only in the region, but in the province as a whole, and he is pleased to see the project get underway in the community in 2026.

“The latest I got is the documents are being designed and going out for tender darn quick. Things just don’t happen too quick, but the intent is to, hopefully, put some shovels in ground or get some movement. But it’s happening, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.

The province’s commitment to the expansion of the Northgate Trail System is another source of pride for Kostyshyn, considering the benefits the project unlocks.

“What’s going to be one of the greatest things that’s going to be specifically for the tourism industry is the continuation of the Northgate Trail,” he said.

“I don’t think people have any idea what opportunities that will have in the future for  us. It’s hard to believe Dauphin will be one of the unique locations for such a bike trail, actually internationally. In a perfect world, competitions could be held because of the trail.”

The out-of-box thinking that went into supporting Northgate is the approach the province is taking when it comes to being innovative and seizing opportunities to create economic development and economic growth.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.

Two law offices in the Swan Valley will be combining practices to better serve and meet the legal needs of clients in rural and northern Manitoba. Ferriss Law and Oakes Law Office are working towards joining forces and working as one entity, starting June 1, 2026.
Rhodel Ferriss will be joining Oakes Law Office as an associate lawyer, helping ensure continuity and a smooth transition for all clients. Ferriss has been practicing law in the Valley for almost 30 years and remembers what drew her to practice law here.
“I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer early on in high school. I grew up in Ashern, which is a small town in the Interlake,” said Ferriss. “After high school, I attended the University of Manitoba and obtained an Arts degree with a major in political science and a minor in Canadian history. I worked several summers at the legislative building in Winnipeg in the Department of Justice office. This was shortly after the riots at the Headingly jail and it was a very interesting time to be in the Justice Department. I entered law school in 1995, also at the University of Manitoba, graduated in 1998 and received my Call to the Bar in 1999.

On Tuesday, March 24, over 130 community members (most of whom were seniors) came to our first Lunch and Learn Program, organized by Gwen Bartram of the Golden Agers through funding from The Pas Renewal Corporation. The theme was to present information to seniors on how they are a vulnerable target population for scams.
According to the Government of Manitoba, while anyone can be a victim of fraud, seniors are often specifically targeted. Police and recent reports show these scams are not abstract—they are happening right here, with older Manitobans losing hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

The Swan School of Dance presented their spring recital on Wednesday (March 25) at the SVRSS. Their theme this year was ‘Lights... Camera... Dancin!!’. Pictured here, the Jazz/Hip-hop class of new instructor/alumna Ella Hart finish their performance to the tune of Let’s Get Loud.. More on A10/11