Local News Briefs

Human rights awards open for nomination

Nominations are open for the 2010 Human Rights Commitment Award of Manitoba. The yearly award, presented by the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, acknowledges a person or a group that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of human rights. This year, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission seeks “those people who through their music, visual arts, theatre, writing, dancing or other art forms have promoted human rights,” they wrote in a news release. The Sybil Shack Human Rights Youth Award will also be presented to a person under 25. The criteria and nomination forms for both awards are at www.manitoba.ca/hrc. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 12.

Juice believed to have carried E. coli

Juice served at the Russian Folklorama pavilion in August may have been what caused 40 people to fall ill. The Russian fruit drink was stored in the same area as raw ground beef, which may have lead to the E. coli outbreak. Pierre Plourde, medical officer of health for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, told the CBC those who consumed the juice were six times more likely to have become sick. Folklorama and the Russian pavilion organizers have received suggestions on how to improve food safety for future years.

Criminal investigation launched into ER death

Winnipeg Police announced Friday, Oct. 15, that a criminal investigation will be launched into the death of Brain Sinclair, who died waiting 34 hours for care in a hospital emergency room last year. It’s possible that such an investigation could delay a provincial inquest into the 45-year-old homeless man’s death, Health Minister Theresa Oswald told the Winnipeg Free Press. Sinclair’s family has also filed a civil lawsuit against the medical personnel working at the time, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the provincial government. A police spokeswoman said it is too early to speculate which charges may be laid.

Virus killing pet food crickets

Iguanas, tarantulas and other exotic animals are growing hungry due to a cricket-killing virus. The virus, which only affects insects, causes crickets to become paralyzed and die. To combat the virus, a Winnipeg pet store owner would like to import a cricket immune to the virus, but the type is not currently approved on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s list of insect species. One cricket producer in Saskatchewan is experiencing a boost in his sales, explaining to the CBC that “breeders across Canada and growers of crickets ... have been wiped out.”

Manitoba and Ontario pressure Craigslist to remove sex-trade ads

Manitoba and Ontario ministers are pressuring Craigslist to ban prostitute ads from their website. Last week the Winnipeg Free Press reported that three Ontario cabinet ministers wrote to congratulate Craigslist for removing prostitute ads on the American version of the listing service following requests from American attorney generals. Manitoba Justice Minister Andrew Swan vowed to also write a letter to Craigslist “in the hope that they’ll voluntarily pull those ads,” the Winnipeg Free Press reported. Kildonan-St. Paul MP Joy Smith said she had lobbied the minister to do so in response to Ontario’s move. Critics of the website allege that some ads sell sex from underage girls.

Published in Volume 65, Number 8 of The Uniter (October 21, 2010)

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