Local News Briefs

Havixbeck resigns from police chief search

Earlier this month, Coun. Paula Havixbeck (Charleswood-Tuxedo) resigned from the committee responsible for selecting Winnipeg’s new police chief. Havixbeck said she did not agree with the selection process, which would not be by consensus. However, her departure leaves the hiring committee with no formal council input. Sitting on the committee is city chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl, Linda Burch, chief financial officer Mike Ruta and chief operations officer Deepak Joshi. The prospects to replace Keith McCaskill, who will step down in December, are rumoured to be two internal and well-respected officers, Dave Thorne and Devon Clunis. Havixbeck did not comment on a shortlist.

Monnin and Hughes hold power in Sinclair inquiry

Court of Appeal Justice Marc Monnin will determine next week if child welfare authorities can make their case to access transcripts of the interviews with the child welfare workers who are witnesses to Phoenix Sinclair’s death. Sinclair, five, was an aboriginal girl in care or under the watch of child and family services agencies before she was murdered by her mother and stepfather in 2005. Sinclair’s body was buried near a Fisher River dump for nine months before agencies knew she was missing. Child welfare authorities want the transcripts from all 140 interviews conducted, but inquiry commissioner Ted Hughes has refused to release the transcripts. The commission has only agreed to distribute a summary of the interviews from witnesses who will testify. Hughes’ decision to the Appeal Court means the start of the public hearings will be postponed.

Restaurateurs vie for Papa George’s location

Multinational and local restaurateurs are interested in taking over Papa George’s 35-year residence in the heart of Osborne Village after owner Nick Kontzamanis retires and closes the restaurant in October. While McDonald’s and Tim Hortons are rumoured to be interested, Winnipeg’s own Salisbury House has confirmed its interest in the 3,000-square-foot space. Should it be the successful applicant, Sals would be open 24 hours on the city’s busiest intersection at Osborne and River. Earl Barish, Sals president and CEO, said moving into the space would only be possible after a six-figure interior and exterior renovation.

Hog industry in crisis

Troubles in Manitoba’s pork industry may have caused 1,300 distressed and suffering piglets to be euthanized last week. After finding the piglets in western Manitoba, the province said it launched an investigation. Doug Chorney, president of Keystone Agriculture Producers, said the crisis, brought on by low prices for pork combined with high prices for feed that are being driven by the severe drought in the U.S., could cost the whole hog industry. Gary Stordy, a spokesperson for the Canadian Pork Council, explained that the spike in the cost of feed has forced hog producers to sell animals because their credit is being pushed beyond their limits, which drives down the prices for pork and leaves producers pressured from both directions.

Published in Volume 67, Number 1 of The Uniter (September 5, 2012)

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