City briefs

Winnipeg breaks homicide record

Over the weekend, Winnipeg recorded its 45th homicide of the year, surpassing 2019’s record of 44 homicides, according to the Winnipeg Police Service. Kelly Gorkoff, criminal-justice department chair at the University of Winnipeg, told the Winnipeg Free Press that poverty, colonialism and a lack of addictions support, affordable housing and comprehensive healthcare all increase crime rates.

Toy drive for Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre

In partnership with Diversity Foods and Les Marmitons, the University of Winnipeg will host an annual holiday dinner for local families. University staff, faculty and students are welcome to donate new and unwrapped toys for the children and aim to collect a total of 120 gifts. Donations can be dropped off at the U of W library, security office and on the first floor of Student Services in the Rice Centre.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Climate Action

On Wednesday, Nov. 16. Environmental Defence Canada is hosting a virtual event called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Climate Action. The event will take place on Zoom from 7 to 9 p.m., and five experts in renewable energy, sustainable city planning, political economy and community organizing will discuss actionable steps to build environmentally friendly communities in Canada.

Province increases police funding

At a news conference on Nov. 3, Premier Heather Stefanson said “enough is enough” about crime in Winnipeg. The Province has pledged more than $20 million toward preventing crime and increasing public safety, addiction services, transitional housing, outreach workers and shelters. The Winnipeg Police Service and RCMP will receive $3.2 million for a unit dedicated to tracking “violent criminals,” Stefanson said.

Minister says no to safe-consumption sites

Sarah Guillemard, minister of mental health and community wellness, has been critiqued by 80 frontline organizations, including the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, for saying that “the strongest harm-reduction strategy is actually to encourage individuals off the drugs.” The Province has not identified a harm-reduction model that works in Manitoba but is “focused on the recovery-oriented systems of care,” Guillemard says. Frontline workers are calling on the government to declare a public-health emergency and support safe-consumption sites to prevent overdose deaths.

University presidents oppose performance-based funding

In 2020, Ontario and Alberta adopted a performance-based funding model for post-secondary education, which focuses on students’ progression, degree/ diploma attainment and graduates’ incomes. Michael Benarroch, the University of Manitoba president, and David Docherty, president at Brandon University, oppose implementing this metric of funding. Benarroch says the metrics should highlight “different strengths and contributions among all Manitoba institutions” and be accessible for all students.

Published in Volume 77, Number 09 of The Uniter (November 10, 2022)

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