Sgt. Darrall Randy Kotchon of the Winnipeg Police Service said officers began finding empty containers last year and the problem has steadily grown. It’s gotten to the point where the product is so popular people are stealing it from store shelves.

So how has the government addressed the problem? By coming down on store owners. Armed with the Liquor Control Act, police are now warning shop keepers to be weary of where they keep the product and who they sell it to. Although no one yet has been charged, police remind everyone that selling the product to the “wrong person” could result in fines between $2,000 and $20,000 and/or up to six months in jail.

Great. Once again let’s place the onus on shopkeepers, the babysitters of society. I have an idea. Maybe we should license the stuff. Perhaps we could create a hand sanitizer registry. One would have to apply for a Hand Sanitizer Acquisition Certificate to purchase a 2L bottle and then register it. 8oz bottles would be classified as prohibited and thus be illegal to own or sell.

Ridiculous? So is the government’s response to this problem.

In an effort to get a handle on the province’s finances, Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk wants all public employees to take a two-year wage freeze. The problem is the government is currently in the middle of negotiations with its nurses. It also starts to bargain with the Manitoba Government Employees Union next month.

The timing of Ms. Wowchuk’s announcement didn’t go over to well with MGEU president Peter Olfert who accused the Minister of “negotiating in the media”.

Citing healthcare wages and civil servants salaries of nearly $4 billion Ms. Wowchuk said,

“Those are big costs. If we can contain those costs, maintain them where we are without having increases then we can look at ensuring that we don’t layoff people and maintain services.”

I can only imagine what an NDP Opposition would have said in response to a Tory government that said that. The next few months are going to be very interesting.

Credit: www.winnipegfreepress.com

Mr. Prymak was icefishing with a group of friends up in Lac du Bonnet three years ago when they heard the screams of a snowmobiler who had fallen through the ice.

Despite not being a strong swimmer, he risked his life by sliding on his belly over to the hole in the ice where the victim was. As he pulled the man up from the water the ice broke and he too fell in. He continued to go after the drowning man until both were plucked from the water by his friends.

Other Manitobans who received the Medal of Bravery are:

Transit driver Jerry Beernaerts, who jumped out of his bus and helped rescue Winifred Lindsay, whose motorized scooter had overturned on railway tracks with a train coming.

RCMP Cpl. James Allan Munro, of Dauphin, who rescued a man from an apartment fire in Flin Flon in June 2005.

Mst. Cpl. Jonas Denechezhe and Clifford Tssessaze, of Lac Brochet, who helped save a woman and her two-year-old son from a house fire in that community in October 2006.

In all, 47 people were honoured, some posthumously.

Congrats Harry and everyone else! You deserve it.

Credits:
www.winnipegfreepress.com

Winnipeg resident Peter Vandenberg parked his car at the Wal-Mart on Regent Ave at about 5:00 p.m Saturday when he noticed something sticking out from the snow. He got out of his vehicle and retrieved the mysterious item only to discover it was a wallet containing … get this … $700 CAN, some US cash and a photograph of four children.

Mr. Vandenberg went into the store to ask if anyone had reported a lost wallet. After making a few more unsuccessful inquiries he turned the wallet over to Winnipeg Police.

There is no doubt Peter Vandenberg did the right thing. But how many other people would have done the right thing? I’d like to think most but I’m not so sure. The temptation to keep the cash and throw away the wallet would be so strong. Mr. Vandenberg resisted that temptation and in doing so reminded the rest of us that ideals like honesty and integrity are to be treasured.

I’m proud to be able to share this city with people like Peter Vandenberg. Well done sir.

By the way, in case you’re wondering Winnipeg Police located the owner of the wallet.

Hat tip:
CJOB 68: Manitoba’s Information Superstation