WINNIPEG - December 18, 2008 – Winnipeg’s Aboriginal youth will benefit from more than $640,000 in funding through the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement (WPA). This investment will support 11 projects that focus on helping Aboriginal youth to succeed through education, employment training, career development, leadership, and skills training.

The funding was announced today by the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification; and His Worship Sam Katz, Mayor of Winnipeg, and Flor Marcelino, MLA for Wellington on behalf of the Honourable Steve Ashton, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs at a special ceremony at the Eagle’s Nest Aboriginal Youth Resource Centre, one of the organizations receiving the funding.

“Our Government is taking steps to ensure that Aboriginal youth have the tools they need to succeed. This includes education, employment training, and career development,” said Minister Toews. “We recognize the importance of fostering skills development to ensure that Aboriginal Canadians fully share in economic opportunities.”

“By investing in a comprehensive Aboriginal Youth Strategy, we are showing our commitment to seizing the asset that is the Aboriginal community and providing our young people with opportunity and positive alternatives,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “These programs will help our youth develop skills, gain valuable work experience, and provide them with the tools necessary to find long term success.”

”These projects are great examples of many innovative projects funded through the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement under the Aboriginal Participation component,” said MLA Marcelino. “The component promotes economic development, training and employment or health and wellness opportunities for Winnipeg’s Aboriginal citizens.”

Aboriginal people face unique challenges to participate fully in and benefit from economic opportunities. The projects funded today demonstrate the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement’s support for Winnipeg’s Aboriginal residents and offer Aboriginal organizations a means to participate fully through greater economic opportunities for Aboriginal individuals and communities.

“Eagles Nest, emanating from the Task Force on Youth Protection, promises to be a very important initiative for our young people. It will provide programs in traditional culture, self-concept, computer skills, and most important, the employability skills so important in today's society," said Ron Evans, Grand Chief, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.

The funds announced today come from Component I – Aboriginal Participation, of the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement. This program recognizes and builds upon economic development, training and employment or health and wellness opportunities for Winnipeg’s Aboriginal citizens. Since 2004, the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement has invested an estimated $15 million in Aboriginal Participation projects representing 117 projects.

The Winnipeg Partnership Agreement was signed in May 2004 by the three levels of government and funded with $75 million based on equal contributions of $25 million from the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg.

The WPA has provided support to more than 220 projects that have strengthened the fabric of Winnipeg’s communities by identifying the means to increase community capacity, renew the downtown core and older residential neighbourhoods, improve opportunities for urban Aboriginal peoples, and encourage sustainable economic development through innovation and technology. WPA funding has levered an estimated $60 million in other investments.

WINNIPEG - December 18, 2008 – Mutually committed to improving public transit infrastructure in Winnipeg, the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of John Baird, Canada’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, together with Steve Ashton, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for Manitoba, and Acting Deputy Mayor Gord Steeves on behalf of Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz today announced that a state-of-the-art audio/video surveillance system is being installed in City buses.

The new surveillance system has already been installed on 130 buses to assist Winnipeg Transit in providing a safer environment for their customers and employees. It is anticipated that the City’s entire fleet of 535 buses will have the cameras installed by the end of 2009.

“The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the safety of Canadians,” said Minister Toews. “The investment in on-board surveillance cameras will better protect both Winnipeg transit users and City bus drivers, as well as deter potential criminal activity.”

“Public transit supports the province’s vision for a clean and green economy by providing Manitobans with alternative transportation choices,” said Minister Ashton. “The presence of cameras should help to ensure safe, quality transportation on Winnipeg’s busy transit system.”

Audio/Video surveillance on buses is part of the City of Winnipeg’s ongoing “Transit Improvement Program”.

"Winnipeggers need to have confidence in a safe and reliable transit system. With increased ridership, we must continue to improve our existing transit system to capture that increase and provide positive transportation alternatives to our citizens," said Acting Deputy Mayor Gord Steeves. "By providing our transit network with this effective tool, we can provide a safer environment for both our citizens and employees."

The audio/video surveillance system is expected to increase safety on buses by acting as a deterrent to anyone with criminal intentions. It will also aid in the investigation of incidents that may have taken place. Each bus will be equipped with up to five cameras and a digital recording device to continuously monitor on-board activities from a variety of angles. The system also has the capability to continuously record audio. Signage will be posted inside the buses to advise occupants their activities are under audio and video surveillance.

The funding of $2.9 million for the installation of the audio/video surveillance system is made possible through a federal-provincial partnership.

* * *

DE NOUVELLES CAMÉRAS INSTALLÉES À BORD DES AUTOBUS OFFRENT À LA CLIENTÈLE DES DÉPLACEMENTS PLUS SÉCURITAIRE

Winnipeg (Manitoba) – Déterminés à améliorer l’infrastructure des transports en commun de Winnipeg, l’honorable Vic Toews, président du Conseil du Trésor, au nom de John Baird, ministre des Transports et de l’Infrastructure du Canada, Steve Ashton, ministre des Affaires intergouvernementales du Manitoba, et Gord Steeves, maire suppléant par intérim, au nom de Sam Katz, maire de Winnipeg, ont annoncé aujourd’hui l’installation d’un système de surveillance audio-vidéo dans les autobus de la ville.

Le nouveau système de surveillance a déjà été installé dans 130 autobus dans le but d’aider la Régie des transports de Winnipeg à offrir un environnement plus sécuritaire à sa clientèle et à son personnel. L’installation du système dans la totalité des 535 autobus de la Ville est prévue d’ici la fin de 2009.

« Le gouvernement du Canada s’est engagé à protéger les Canadiens et les Canadiennes, a déclaré le ministre Toews. L’investissement dans des caméras de surveillance placées à bord des autobus permettra d’améliorer la sécurité de la clientèle et des conducteurs et conductrices ainsi que de dissuader d’éventuelles activités criminelles. »

« Les transports en commun vont dans le sens de la vision de la province qui préconise une économie propre et verte en offrant aux Manitobains et aux Manitobaines d’autres choix en matière de transport, affirme le ministre Ashton. La présence de caméras dans les autobus devrait aider à assurer un moyen de déplacement sécuritaire et de qualité au sein du réseau achalandé des transports en commun de Winnipeg. »

La surveillance audio-vidéo dans les autobus fait partie du Programme d’amélioration des transports en commun actuel de la Ville de Winnipeg.

« Les Winnipégois et les Winnipégoises doivent pouvoir avoir confiance dans un système de transport sécuritaire et fiable. Comme le nombre de passagers et de passagères augmente, nous devons continuer à améliorer notre système de transport afin de tirer avantage de cette augmentation et d’offrir d’autres solutions de transport positives à nos citoyens et citoyennes, explique le maire suppléant par intérim Gord Steeves. En dotant notre réseau de transport de cet outil efficace, nous pouvons offrir un environnement plus sécuritaire à notre clientèle et à notre personnel. »

Le système de surveillance audio-vidéo devrait accroître la sécurité à bord des autobus et servir d’élément de dissuasion à quiconque a des intentions criminelles. Il contribuera également aux enquêtes sur les incidents qui peuvent se produire. Chaque autobus sera muni d’un maximum de cinq caméras et d’un appareil d’enregistrement numérique qui serviront à surveiller de façon continue tout ce qui se déroulera à bord à partir de différents angles. Le système est aussi capable d’enregistrer les sons de manière ininterrompue. Des affiches indiquant aux passagers et aux passagères que leurs activités sont sous surveillance audio et vidéo seront affichées dans les autobus.

L’installation du système de surveillance audio-vidéo coûte 2,9 millions de dollars et sera financée par un partenariat entre les gouvernements fédéral et provincial.

WINNIPEG - December 18, 2008 – In response to concerns raised by a local radio station, City of Winnipeg Heath Inspections would like to respond to these concerns about pork products originating and labelled from Winnipeg Harvest and distributed at a Winnipeg Free Press picket line on or about October 17, 2008.

The 350 - 1kg meat packages were from a reputable source and properly stored and handled by Winnipeg Harvest; however, there is some concern that the meat in question may have been redistributed by third parties at which time it may have thawed prior to redistribution.

Members of the public should always be careful with food products that do not come from the original distributor.   Meat that has been improperly thawed and refrozen can pose a health and safety problem and may result in deterioration of product quality.  All ground meats should be cooked thoroughly to a temperature of at least 74˚C (165˚F).

To date, City Inspectors have not received any calls from individuals regarding the meat in question.

Anyone with concerns is asked to contact City Health Inspections at 311.