As the strike by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) employees stretches into its third week, the Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU) is asking for a conciliator to be brought in to end the job action.

At a news conference last week MGEU president Kyle Ross indicated a conciliator was instrumental in ending the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries strike last month and he is hopeful the same could be achieved for the 1,700 MPI employees currently on the picket lines.

“The conciliator is just an opportunity to bring in someone to facilitate conversation, and we know at MBLL, once that conversation started, we were able to resolve this very quickly,” Ross said. “We’re hopeful that this will bring up those discussions at the table, and we can get these members a fair offer to vote on and put an end to this strike.”

The main roadblock in the negotiations is wages for workers.

Calling the union’s approach “disappointing”, MPI board chair Ward Keith said the MGEU, from the beginning, has rejected an enhanced four-year collective agreement worth 17 per cent in total monetary value, as well as an offer to avoid strike action by going directly to voluntary arbitration.

The union, he added, is demanding almost double the settlement pattern established across the provincial sector.

“Conciliation is not required to end this strike – that could happen tomorrow without any risk to our employees,” Keith said in a statement. “But we’re still open to exploring conciliation with MGEU if we’re on the same page. Obviously, we won’t resolve the impasse over general wage increases, but a conciliator can help us streamline the arbitration on that issue, and we can discuss other issues to narrow the overall dispute.”

From the union’s perspective, arbitration takes away it members’ “democratic rights” and Ross would rather hammer out a deal at the negotiating table.

“Arbitration is an imposed deal, and we would rather have an opportunity for our members to vote on a deal,” he said.

Striking employees include estimators, adjusters, call centre workers and service centre representatives.

“No one wants the strike to end more than MPI,” Keith said. “We continue to seek the quickest and most responsible approach to resolution, so our dedicated 1,700 employees can return to their important work of delivering services that Manitobans rely on every day.”

Mike VanAlstyne, Dauphin’s director of Public Works and Operations, right, checks out the progress of crews from Maple Leaf Construction as they put new curbs and gutters in place on First Avenue Northeast.

Getting that infrastructure reconstructed is the first step towards a new sidewalk and reopening the street to foot traffic looking to access businesses along the block.

Maple Leaf Construction also ran their curb and gutter machine along reconstructed blocks on Ninth Avenue Southeast, Fourth Avenue Northeast and Aster Bay.

NDP leader Wab Kinew promised to improve conditions for producers when it comes to Crown lands at a town hall meeting in Dauphin, Saturday.

More than 60 people heard Kinew promise to reinstate unit transfers and make investment in Crown lands more affordable for producers.

“We want to improve dramatically the situation on Crown lands to help young producers, to help producers who are thinking of retirement and to assure the producers here in the Parkland have a fighting chance,” he said. “The specific steps we’re announcing are that we are going to ensure that there are unit transfers. We’re bringing that back in a fulsome way. We’re going to make the payments much more affordable in what has happened under the PCs.”

As part of the process, Kinew said, the NDP will ensure that there is consideration for the improvements producers make to the land.

“You put all these steps together and our commitment to working with the producers themselves, we’re going to create a situation where a young producer can still get their start here in the Parkland region and find success, while the existing producers have the time and energy investments that they’ve made into the land and to their operations respected and honoured. And that they’ll be able to get fair value for those investments when they decide to retire or perhaps move ahead with succession planning.”

One of the comments heard at the town hall was young producers in the Crane River area being pushed out of the industry.

“And that’s a very grim picture for the future of ag in the Parkland, if we allow that situation to continue. So what we’re saying is, let’s stop that damage, but let’s push it back, make it more affordable for operations, ensure that there are unit transfers and other considerations around improvements and help to give the ag industry here in the Parkland region a real chance to prosper in the future,” Kinew said.

While the two measures announced Saturday will help with the issues surrounding Crown lands, Kinew said the NDP will also commit to working with producers to identify additional needs.

“I think there are side conversations happening right now about just what that process (unit transfers, affordability and succession planning) should look like. We know that the PCs moved it over to an auction-based process. Our commitment would be to work with the producers to ensure we find an approach that works for them.”

Kinew was thankful to everyone in attendance for taking the time to attend the meeting and taking part in the discussions regarding some of the issues in this campaign.

“You can tell from the questions people aren’t holding back. People are frustrated with health care. People are frustrated with the PCs approach to the ag industry. And people are giving us a very straight forward account of what they need for the Parkland region and for Dauphin to succeed,” he said. “And so we’re here to listen and we’re making commitments to fix those situations.”

Kinew touched on the new justice facility announced a month ago for Dauphin, as well as the new supports for Crown land lease holders and health care, not only for Dauphin, but smaller communities within the Parkland, as examples of the commitment the NDP is taking to address the needs of Parkland residents.

Kinew feels the Dauphin riding is important for the NDP’s chances of forming the next provincial government.

Noting his wife Lisa, worked in Dauphin as a physician, Kinew said his wife told him they need more rural representation on their team.

“And you have a great candidate in Ron Kostyshyn here in this area, and I’m coming back to the community and to the region time and time again, because I believe in Ron and I want him to get elected,” he said. “I know it’s time for the Parkland to have a voice in the legislature. You’ve been missing that for the past two terms of government. But Ron will stand up for you. Mr. Kostyshyn will be a voice for you and that’s why I keep coming back, because I believe in this candidate and I want to see him get elected.”

Having the party leader come to Dauphin and the Parkland means a lot for Kostyshyn, noting Kinew shows his credibility.

“As he speaks, he connects with the general public. All we have to do is identify the seven years of what the PC party, Heather Stefanson and Brian Pallister, has done to our area,” he said. “Was there any consultation about the jail closure? No. It was automatic. They showed up one day and it was closed. We talk about the potential closing of Grandview hospital. We talk about other hospitals being subject to possible closure. That’s a reverse of rural economic development. I’m here to fight to be your MLA, to work with Wab Kinew.”

Area residents looking for general legal services have a new option to choose from thanks to a law firm from Swan River.

Vessey Law opened its satellite office in Roblin’s Cook and Cooke Financial building Wednesday (Sept. 13) and Devin Vessey is definitely looking forward to serving the community for many years to come.

Find out more in this week’s Review.

The community held its first ever Harvest Festival Saturday with hundreds of people taking in the pancake breakfast, the Craft/Trade Show, the Farmers’ Market and the children’s attractions.

There was also a full slate of contestants for the pie eating contest.

Check out the photos in this week’s Review to see what you missed.

If you are big into the theatre scene in Manitoba, chances are you’ve seen a play in which one of Roblin’s former residents has designed the sets for.

Brian Perchaluk has been heavily involved in the theatre scene in Manitoba for many years now. His career in set production and design has taken him to various theatres in Canada and has led to some prestigious awards.

Read the rest of the story in this week’s paper.

Manitoba Agriculture reported Sept. 12 that harvest progress was at 51 per cent complete across the province, which is ahead of the five year average (42 per cent). Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is complete with yield reports are averaging about 60 bu/acre for winter wheat and 70 bu/acre for fall rye.

Roblin's FAITH group hit the field Wednesday to bring in this year's crop for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. 

Details in this week’s paper.

It’s hard nowadays for people to understand how vitally important it is to locally grow and source your own food. Many of us rely on the convenience of what the supermarket and grocery stores offer, but The Pas Helping Hands 4-H took in a more hands-on approach to putting together a meal.
“The 50-metre Meal has been done around the world in many different shapes and forms,” said The Pas Helping Hands 4-H Leader Cheryl Antonio. “Shawn, from Round the Bend Farm and I have had a great 4-H farm relationship for a long time and we will quite often join forces to host events and activities. We were brainstorming one day and Shawn said he had been thinking about the 50-metre Meal for some time.

The Rotary Club of The Pas President Don McKay and Rotary District Governor Sonja Susut, visiting from Moose Jaw, SK, recently presented the Paul Harris Fellow Award to six deserving community members. The Paul Harris Fellow is the highest form of recognition a Rotary Club can bestow. It is presented to a Rotarian or a member of the community who has made an outstanding contribution to the community. The individuals recognized recently are:

A new CAO has been hired for the Town of The Pas and she has been busy getting acquainted with the community and assessing the needs of the municipality. Bola Adedoyin started in her new role earlier last month and has settled into the community. She comes with vast experience in administration from a few different levels.
“I came from Brandon and before that I lived in Saskatoon before I came to Manitoba about 13 years ago,” said Adedoyin. “I’m originally from Nigeria in West Africa. I studied in Nigeria and the University of Manitoba up to the Ph.D. level. I worked at the Federal University in Nigeria, University of Manitoba, Manitoba Bureau of Statistics, Assiniboine Community College, and now the Town of The Pas. I have more than 20 years, of work experience.