There’s neither a plea from nor a preliminary inquiry date for the accused murderer arrested in a dramatic standoff in Sturgeon Landing earlier this year.
Jonas Budd appeared in La Ronge provincial court last week, at which time his next appearance was scheduled for Monday, June 1, again in
La Ronge.
Budd appeared in court via video. He remains in custody as his case moves through the court system.
This was Budd’s third appearance before a judge since being arrested on murder and abduction charges on February 19.
In addition to first-degree murder and kidnapping, Budd faces charges of pointing a weapon, possessing a dangerous weapon, possessing a firearm while prohibited, breaking and entering, and uttering threats.
The purpose of a preliminary inquiry is to determine whether there is enough evidence to support charges against a suspect.
Fun fundraiser
The Women’s Resource Centre’s laughter-filled Jail and Bail fundraiser raised nearly $5,000.
Based at the recent Trade and Leisure Show at the Creighton Sportex, the fundraiser saw 18 area residents “arrested” for “crimes” ranging from being too old to own
a Corvette to impersonating the mayor of
Denare Beach.
“It was great fun and Judge Sheena Reed was fabulous,” said Colleen Arnold, executive director of the Women’s Resource Centre.
Among the jailbirds: Flin Flon Mayor Cal Huntley, Creighton RCMP Sgt. Mark Svaren, Denare Beach alderman Scott McCullum, Reminder publisher Valerie Durnin and Hapnot Collegiate librarian Corinne Mathews, who took her “snitch” Krista Eastman to the slammer with her.
The fundraiser benefited the Women’s Safe Haven, operated by the centre for women escaping abusive situations.
Budget touted
The Manitoba government is touting its latest budget as good news for northern Manitoba.
Unveiled last week, the budget boosts Aboriginal Academic Achievement grants, providing access to work experience and apprenticeship credits in northern high schools, increasing operating funding for colleges and universities such as UCN, and more funding for adult learning centres.
In addition, starting in August all Manitoba student loans will be interest-free and car ownership will be removed as a barrier to accessing student loans.
Finance Minister Greg Dewar said Manitoba has one of the highest retention rates for rural and northern doctors in Canada and will continue that trend with added investments in front-line services.
The budget also doubles the Seniors School Tax Rebate, allowing seniors across the province to save up to $1,570 on their property taxes this year.
“Budget 2015 reflects our continued commitment to northern communities and the unique opportunities they present,” Dewar said.
Reserve concerns
The federal auditor general’s report on access to health services on the remote reserves of Manitoba and Ontario is raising questions.
The report, released last week, found the vast majority of nurses at Health Canada-run nursing stations had not completed all of the department’s required training and that the stations themselves were not up to par with health and safety regulations.
The report further highlighted deficiencies in the registration of First Nations people in these communities that would entitle them to medical transportation benefits.
“Overall, we found that Health Canada nurses working in nursing stations were properly registered with their provincial regulatory bodies, but only 1 of the 45 nurses in our sample had completed all five of Health Canada’s mandatory training courses that we selected for examination,” says the report.
Health Canada said significant vacancy and turnover rates in nursing made it difficult to ensure mandatory training was completed and that the first priority was to ensure adequate staffing levels at nursing stations, though it would strengthen efforts to ensure mandatory training is completed.
Of the 24 nurses in the sample who were working at Health Canada nursing stations in Manitoba, 19 (79 per cent) had completed the department’s nursing education module on controlled substances in First Nations health facilities, and the same
number had completed education modules on immunization.
Ten (42 per cent) had completed the International Trauma Life Support training course, the same number who had completed the Pediatric Advanced Life Support course.
