MLA expenses soon available online
Manitobans should be able to find expense reports for their MLA’s by the end of April, the Manitoba Legislative Assembly Members’ Allowance Office told the Winnipeg Free Press.
The assembly began posting monthly reports for MLA allowances, including costs for travel and meals, on their website last Wednesday. By the end of next month, the public will be able to find information on individual claims, such as the date, location and amount that was spent on the meals paid for with taxpayer dollars.
The move for more transparency in MLA expenses after a report by auditor general Carol Bellringer revealed huge discrepancies in MLA spending, such as taking home computers and furniture that was bought with public dollars.
The expenses posted will not include those spent by cabinet ministers on government business, which can be found on their department’s websites.
Dewar not presiding over trial next week
Manitoba judge Robert Dewar, whose comments on a sexual assault case have sparked a wave of controversy, will not preside over a jury trial on a manslaughter case schedule to begin next week, according to CBC News.
CBC reported that while it is not certain who decided that Dewar should not sit on the criminal trial, concerns were raised that the attention surrounding his comments may have a negative effect on the trial.
Last Tuesday, it was ruled that Dewar would not sit on cases “of a sexual nature,” but will not lose his job as a judge.
“Justice Dewar’s assignments will be determined by the Chief Justice in consultation with the Associate Chief Justice,” Glenn Joyal told CBC in a prepared statement.
“Justice Dewar continues to sit as a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench, but he has agreed that pending the outcome of the complaints before the Canadian Judicial Council he will not be assigned criminal cases of a sexual nature.”
Complaints regarding Dewar’s comments, where he said “sex was in the air” when sentencing a man in a sexual assault case to a two-year conditional sentence, are currently under review by the Canadian Judicial Council.
Methadone demand takes “tremendous leap”: AFM
The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba says the number of Winnipeg methadone patients has had a “tremendous leap,” according to the Winnipeg Sun.
The number of patients in the Methadone Intervention and Needle Exchange (MINE) program has increased by 175 patients since 2006, and now stands at 335.
“If you look at the actual number that have been through the wait list [ . . . ], there’s probably more like over 400 that we’ve dealt with in the past year and a half,” MINE program manager Laurie Magee told the Sun.
Pharmacist Daren Jorgenson explained that it is rare that patients who begin methadone treatment ever come off it.
“So they go from being addicted to an illegal substance [ . . . ] to being an addict to methadone that the public health care system supports,” Jorgenson said.
