After some concern that they may be headed for a deficit in the Utility Fund in 2024, City administration is breathing a little easier these days.

At a regular council meeting last November, city manager Sharla Griffiths informed councillors the fund was trending toward a deficit, due mainly to a delay in a rate study application to the Public Utilities Board (PUB)  seeking increased sewer and water rates.

The City requested the water rate review as a result of inflationary pressures. While the last review included a built-in inflation factor, it only covered a set number of years. After that time there was no mechanism for the City to increase rates further, Griffiths said, adding there were no increases in 2023 or 2024.

The City applied to the PUB in September 2023, anticipating they would have new rates in place by October 2024 in time for last quarter billing.

When that did not happen, with the capital budget mostly completed for the year, there was not much time to make adjustments to make up for the shortfall.

Now, as administration is finalizing the numbers for 2024, it appears the threat has passed.

“We did realize a couple of cost savings and so there’s not a threat of a deficit,” Griffiths said.

“We’re just evaluating how much of a surplus we have in our general fund and I believe we’re also in a small, a modest surplus for utility.”

Those numbers are yet to be finalized, audited and presented for council approval.

New water and sewer rates were approved mid-month this past December and were applied to the utility in the first quarter of 2025.

As of Jan. 1, the minimum quarterly charge for 5/8-inch standard household connection increased to  $89.59 from the current $79.12, a 13.2 per cent rise. That minimum will rise further to $92.96 on July 1, and to $95.39 on Jan. 1, 2026.

Additionally, water and sewer used over the minimum will be billed at $3.44 per cubic metre instead of $3.04 per cubic metre, again, a 13.2 per cent increase. Those rates will increase to $3.59 and $3.67 per cubic metre on July 1, and Jan. 1, 2026, respectively.

The new rates will be reflected in the first quarter billing in April.

The new rate structure is for the short term, given the lagoon expansion project looming. Once construction costs are firmed up and operating estimates are determined, the City will ask for another rate review to ensure the utility is a strong position to finance the project.

Earlier this month city council gave first readings to a bylaw allowing for the borrowing of $4,692,500 to help finance the lagoon expansion to be repayed through utility surcharges. A further $4,692,500 will be borrowed for the project and paid back through taxation.

It is going to be a bit of a homecoming for Nicole Chychota when she assumes her new position of chief administrative officer for the City of Portage la Prairie later this spring.

The Rural Municipality of Dauphin announced last week that Chychota would be leaving its municipal administration team to take the city manager role in Portage.

“Portage is my home originally, from a long time ago and I found out that Nathan Peto, the city manager at the time, was moving on. I thought this was a really great opportunity and just one that I had to take a shot at,” Chychota said.

“Honestly it was an incredibly difficult decision to leave this community. It has been home for a really long time. We love it dearly here and it’s really sad to be moving on.”

But at the same time Chychota is looking forward to the new challenges and experience that will come from heading up the administration team in Manitoba’s eighth largest city.

“Portage is a really great city and they’ve really led the way in a lot of avenues. They’re very innovative, collaborative and they’re doing work that is well respected at the federal level,” she said.

“Dauphin is a really special place and, like I said, it was not an easy decision to leave. We are truly going to miss everything about this community.

“It’s just one of those once in a-lifetime opportunities for me.”

Reeve Ernie Sirski said council is sorry to see Chychota go.

“She’s done a great job for the municipality in the last over seven years and we’re going to miss her. She’s a very efficient and knowledgeable individual and she’s done a lot for this municipality as far as I’m concerned,” Sirski said.

“She’s made sure that we’ve had enough money to keep operating in an efficient manner. We haven’t had any surprises on the budget side like Winnipeg and Brandon had this last couple of years. Through it all we’ve had the equipment, the personnel and the money to keep operating so, in my opinion, she’s done a great job and we’re going to miss her.”

Sirski added the search is already underway for Chychota’s replacement with the position being advertised locally, provincially and nationally.

“It’s pretty hard to limit this to just Manitoba. These people that come into these kind of positions are pretty mobile and we’re hoping that we have some good candidates come forward, from not just Manitoba, but throughout Canada,” he said.

“So the process is started and now it’s a question of who comes forward.”

Chychota’s last day with the RM of Dauphin is Mar. 25 and she begins her duties in Portage, Mar. 31.

Although he is hopeful the search for a new CAO is a quick one, Sirski is doubtful Chychota’s replacement will be in place prior to her departure.

For her part, Chychota is hoping to leave the RM in good hands.

“I’m hoping we’ll find an amazing person to come in and lead this municipality. It truly has been a really great place to work,” Chychota said.

“We have amazing staff, a great council and anyone would be lucky to work here.”

Funding for Manitoba schools will increase by $67 million for the 2025-26 school year.

Background information concerning the announcement, made last week by Manitoba’s new education minister Tracy Schmidt, shows increases will vary between one per cent and almost 10 per cent for individual divisions, with the inclusion of federal nutrition funding.

For Mountain View School Division (MVSD) that means a 6.5 per cent bump to $28.1 million in provincial operating support for the coming year.

MVSD secretary-treasurer Lori Slepicka said while the announcement did not include major changes to the way support is calculated, the division did receive a much needed increase in provincial funding.

“They did continue with some of their what they call one-time funding amounts,” Slepicka said.

“So probably our biggest increase within that area were under a line that they call wage and enrollment growth redistribution. We haven’t seen a huge amount of enrolment growth so that’s just kind of a catch line for all the school divisions. So it definitely helps with the salary increases, with the contractual obligations, for sure. We also got a small amount of an increase for the nutrition program funding.”

Slepicka added while this year’s announcement does not provide all of the predicability and stability school divisions have been asking for, there were some positive steps towards that goal.

“We’re on the formula guarantee now, as well, so what that means is that your formula support won’t decrease from the prior year,” Slepicka said.

“So we have that amount which when your enrollment fluctuates or decreases a little bit, unless it takes you out of that formula guarantee, it really doesn’t really affect your formula support.”

The province says “incremental” changes to the funding formula for school divisions are being made.

“This includes calculating funding based on the best of the last three years of enrollment,” Schmidt said.

“In addition, we will be reconstituting the stakeholder advisory committee on school funding to identify further opportunities to improve the way education is funded in our province going forward.”

A complete overhaul of the funding model was announced by the former Progressive Conservative government, but was not pursued by the current administration, at least when it comes to this year’s announcement.

Schmidt vowed, however, to continue dialogue with school divisions, staff, and families to “provide stable and predictable funding” for schools. The system as it exists, with a reliance on property taxes, can make it harder for divisions in poorer areas to raise adequate funding, she said.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

City council held a pair of public hearings related to the lagoon project set to kick off this spring to open its regular meeting, Feb. 3.

The hearings centred on Bylaw 02/2025 and Bylaw 03/2025, which allow for financing $9.1 million of the City’s portion of the $20 million project.

Bylaw 02/2025 authorizes the expenditure and borrowing of $4,692,500 as a local improvement to be paid through taxation, while Bylaw 03/2025 allows for a further $4,692,500 to be paid back by way of a utility surcharge.

Additionally, the City’s portion will be topped up with $58,000 from the Gas Tax Reserve Fund and $971,000 from the Water and Sewer Reserve. The remainder of the funding comes by way of a $9,135,000 grant through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Added to taxes

Councillors opted to add to receivable accounts to the tax rolls in the amount of $469.18. That total is comprised of $201.07 owing at 38 7th Ave. SE for weed control costs and $268.11 outstanding at 108 3rd Ave. NE, also for weed control costs.

Recreation

In her report to council, city manager Sharla Griffiths updated on the efforts of senior administration pertaining to recreation. Hours of discussion have resulted in some direction for Dauphin Recreation Services to consider in both the long term and short term. The City remains committed to working collaboratively with the RM of Dauphin to establish a fair and sustainable recreation agreement that ensures the long-term success of local recreation programs and facilities, given that both councils recognize the vital role that recreation plays in enhancing the quality of life for residents and the importance of ensuring that facilities remain accessible, well-maintained and financially supported.

Performance management

Griffiths informed councillors administrators have been working on a performance management policy and review forms to better deal with employee performance in a fair and consistent manner. Performance management, she said, is a tool to measure an employee’s performance and to track their progress throughout their time with the City.

Radon plan

Deputy city manager Lisa Gaudet updated councillors on the radon file. Utilizing a $15,000 grant through Health Canada’s Radon Outreach Contribution Program, Gaudet has raised awareness about the dangers of radon in the community and has developed a draft of a City of Dauphin Radon Action Plan, to guide a  radon education and action campaign in the future. Gaudet hopes the plan serves as a model for other municipalities to  follow, igniting further action at the provincial and federal levels to support radon action.

The plan will be presented for council’s approval at its next regular meeting, Feb. 24.

Accounts approved

Council authorized the issuance of 26 cheques totalling $287,007.82 to cover outstanding accounts. Three electronic payments were also approved, totalling $17,320.23.

Curling rink chiller

Councillors gave Dauphin Recreation Services the go ahead to order a new chiller for the Parkland Recreation Complex curling rink at a cost of approximately $220,000 plus applicable taxes. While such purchases would normally wait to be included in the City’s operating budget,  the lead time for procurement and installation prior to next curling season meant the request had to be expedited. The purchase will be financed by funds withdrawn from the City’s Active Living and Recreation Reserve.

DRS also sent requests for additional 2025 capital expenditures including a pool change room rooftop unit at an estimated cost of $62,000, pool sandblasting and painting at a total project cost of $25,000 (with $10,000 already allocated by DRS) and a paint sprayer for ice making at an estimated cost of $16,000. Those requests were forwarded to budget deliberations.

To see the full story, read this week's edition of the Dauphin Herald.

Come this spring Dauphinites will be able to attend functions in comfort in the Johnston and Company Auditorium at the Watson Arts Centre.

The new name for the WAC auditorium recognizes a $35,000 donation by the local law firm to mark its 100th anniversary. 

The donation includes an initial contribution of $25,000, with the remaining $10,000 to be provided over the next five years and completes the centre’s fund-raising campaign for a new heat pump system.

Watson Arts Centre board chair Cam Bennet said the Dauphin and District Allied Arts Council (DDAAC) is thrilled to partner with community-minded business such as Johnston and Company on the project.

“The naming rights for the auditorium have long been a dream for the DDAAC,” he said.

“We were looking at maybe two or three years of fund-raising to get this done and it really put us over the top in our fund-raising efforts to install heat pump technology in the Johnston and Company Auditorium.”

Jason Beyette said he and his partners at the law firm were looking to make a lasting impact on the community to mark the special anniversary.

“The Watson Arts Centre, with its history of enriching lives throughout the Parkland, perfectly aligns with our values of community service,” Beyette said.

“We had, in our minds, wanted to do something in our 100th anniversary year and we didn’t have anything in mind going into it. Then we considered the promotion there for the cooling system for the Watson Arts Center and we thought it would be nice for us to cement our name with the arts center for a 10-year agreement for the naming rights to the auditorium.”

Founded in 1924, Johnston and Company have provided legal services to the Parkland for more than 100 years. The firm specializes in real estate, wills and estates, and corporate commercial law, while maintaining a strong tradition of community involvement.

“We’ve always been ingrained in our communities and trying to support our communities outside of the practice of law,” Beyette said.

“When I came to the firm, that was always the belief of the partners who were there. We just try to make sure that we’re supportive of the community that helped us grow.”

Johnston and Company’s commitment to community service spans numerous local organizations, Beyette said, including the Dauphin and District Community Foundation, Dauphin Agricultural  Society, Rotary Club of Dauphin, The Northgate Trails, and the Dauphin Co-op board of directors.

Bennet said a request for proposals for the supply and installation of the heat pump has been issued with the hope that the equipment will be cooling the building by this summer.

The equipment ensures the WAC will be open and available for events 12 months of the year.

In the past, the auditorium would become uncomfortably hot in the summer, Bennet said, making it virtually unusable on hotter days.

“I made a point of going down during the street fair this last summer, because it was a really hot day, and I measured the temperature upstairs. It was 32 degrees in the balcony, so that certainly limits what you can do there in the those months,” Bennet said.

“The whole campaign was built around we wanted to lower the temperature 12 degrees so that we can be open 12 months of the year.”

The Johnston and Company Auditorium will continue as a cornerstone of cultural life in the Parkland, Bennet said, hosting theatre productions, concerts, weddings, and community gatherings. The naming will take effect this spring, coinciding with the installation of the new climate control system in June.

A formal naming ceremony will take place at that time.

As the health region spending the most, Prairie Mountain Health has been directed to reduce private agency nursing costs by 15 per cent by the end of this fiscal year.

Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara issued the directive last week as part of a systemwide effort to refocus funding on nurses in the public system.

“Prairie Mountain Health has consistently been dealt a bad hand,” said Asagwara.

“Alongside the challenges in the area, the previous government gave the region little to no support by cutting services, closing ERs and firing nurses resulting in millions overspent on private nursing agencies. Enough is enough. It’s time to put a hard stop on private for-profit nursing agency over-spending and re-invest in the public system. Our government is committed to working with all health regions to bring nurses back into the public system.”

In an emailed statement Prairie Mountain Health indicated patient care will be a priority as it works to fulfill the government’s directive.

“Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) is committed to providing consistent, safe, reliable and quality care. PMH commends the work of the Province in reducing reliance on agency nursing. We are diligently working to reduce our dependency on private agencies,” the statement read.

“The recent issue of the request for proposal referenced in the provincial announcement is a step toward redirecting nurses into the public system. In addition, reducing the number of agency organizations will assist in streamlining administrative processes, and in reducing costs. Utilizing the provincial travel nurse team is also proving to be an effective way to reduce agency nurse usage.”

The statement also indicated the health authority remains committed to hiring nurses into the provincial system.

“We remain focused on recruitment strategies including promoting the advantages of working for PMH versus agency.  PMH offers robust staff wellness resources, a pension plan and benefits that are not usually available through private employers,” the statement read.

“Regional recruitment initiatives also include attendance at career fairs, offering student practicums, and local and provincial grants and incentives.”

PC Health Critic Kathleen Cook said attempts by the government to shift the focus to PMH is simply a distraction from their own failures to address problems in the system.

Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests show agency nursing costs in PMH have increased by 25 per cent this year, with the province on track to spend more than $25 million on agency nurses in Prairie Mountain Health alone.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of The Dauphin Herald.

Dauphin city councillors promoted the work of the Heart and Stroke Foundation by proclaiming February as Heart Month to kick off their regular meeting, Jan. 20.

The proclamation recognized the grim statistic that heart disease, stroke and related conditions take a life in Canada every five minutes, while applauding the work volunteers do every day to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery.

Added to taxes

Councillors voted to add four outstanding water accounts to the tax rolls totalling $841.64.

That total is made of $254.37 owing at 105 4th Avenue SE, $270.20 outstanding at 113 5th Avenue SE, $235.18 owing at 38 7th Avenue SE  and $81.89 owing at 207 Kirby Avenue West. In all cases the final utility bill was not paid.

Dutch elm dollars

Council received correspondence from  Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie regarding funding for Dutch elm disease management in Dauphin for 2024-25.

The City will receive a total of $55,144 this year.

Parking problems

Councillors were informed adminstration  has received a number of complaints about parking along both sides of   Whitmore Avenue East in front of Assiniboine College. The situation is causing problems with visibility for drivers exiting parking lots at the college and Mountain View Christian Assembly. Additionally, the north shoulder is designated as a “shared path” for pedestrians and cyclists. However, pedestrians and cyclists are forced out onto the roadway because of parked vehicles.

The deputy city manager and bylaw enforcement officer have been working with the college to come up with a solution, likely involving an amendment to the traffic and parking bylaw.

Shop reno

Councillors were informed engineering for the mechanic area renovation at the City Shop has been completed and they are awaiting a provincial permit to start work.

Cameras

Council was informed the installation of camera’s financed through a grant from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund has begun. One camera has been installed at the landfill, with installations at the water treatment plant and the lift stations next in line. The work will be wrapped up with installations at the Dauphin Public Library and Dauphin Veterinary Clinic.

Accounts approved

Council authorized the issuance of 66 cheques totalling $772,536.54 to cover outstanding accounts. Councillors also approved five electronic fund transfers totalling $22,058.42.

Building permits

Councillors were informed there was one City of Dauphin building permit issued in December for work valued at $5,000.

That brings the year end total to 55 City permits issued for work with a total value of $5,346,866, along with 12 Department of Labour permits issued for work valued at $14,428,883.

Policing costs

Council authorized mayor David Bosiak to write a letter to Public Safety minister  Dominic LeBlanc asking for consideration during the upcoming round of collective bargaining with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The letter is to outline that, while the City supports the national police force’s right to collective bargaining and appreciated all the RCMP does to keep us safe, any significant increase in police costs will be a burden for local taxpayers.

The previous two rounds of collective bargaining have resulted in significant cost increases for Dauphin with no “meaningful consultation or consideration of our financial reality” and “not only threatens the viability of our municipality, but also undermines service delivery.”

Ideally, the City would like to see a long-term deal reached to provide greater certainty in future budgeting.

MOU

Council authorized the mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding with Parks Canada to formalize a collaborative relationship in dealing with shared issues.

The priorities outlined in the document include recreation, tourism, water stewardship, culture and truth and reconciliation along with key areas of co-operation, such as enhancing visitor experiences, joint marketing, sustainable tourism, environmental projects and fostering community engagement with the intent to provide mutual benefits.

Lease

Council authorized the mayor and city manager to sign a new lease with the Dauphin Regional Airport Authority for the City’s water pressure reducing station on airport land.

The lease expired on Dec. 31, 2024 and will be renewed for another five years term with no change in terms.

The former chief administrative officer of Gilbert Plains Municipality has been officially charged in connection with allegations of fraud following a two-year investigation.

On Jan. 16, as part of a joint investigation involving the Dauphin RCMP detachment and Manitoba RCMP Cyber and Financial Crime Unit (CFCU), Amber Fisher, 40, was arrested and charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000 and use of proceeds knowing it was obtained by the commission of an offence.

The investigation began following a complaint  in 2022 that Fisher had defrauded the municipality of upwards of $500,000 while employed there.

Reeve Jim Manchur said the municipality has been anticipating this day for some time.

“We initiated this process over two years ago, so we had hoped it would happen sooner than it did, but we’re glad that we’re at this point,” Manchur said.

The investigation involved numerous witness statements, along with the obtaining and review of extensive financial records and other reports.

“Any time you have an investigation of this duration that reaches the charge stage it’s a major milestone. However, the work is not complete,” said Const. Ricky Perkins of the Manitoba RCMP CFCU.

“We realize for the people affected, a lengthy investigation can feel as if there is no progress being made. In reality, there are many investigative steps taking place behind the scenes, and we’ll continue to work with the Dauphin RCMP Detachment until it’s conclusion.”

However the municipality has not been idle while they have been waiting for the investigation to process.

One step they have taken, Manchur said, was to sue Fisher in an attempt to recoup their losses.

“We’re still in the process of that. That’s another, kind of, frustrating thing, it takes time so we’re hoping that will move forward as time goes by,” he said.

He added the municipality has also been working closely with it’s insurance company in an effort to minimize its losses.

“I would say that of the $500,000 plus that we lost, $400,000 did come back from insurance, but we still have other funds to recover in terms of  legal fees and interest and those sorts of things,” Manchur said.

“Ultimately, we’d sure like to recover all our funds and go back to business as normal.”

But it will not be business as it once was.

“We’ve really tightened up everything on our financial side. We revamped our whole administration staff and all our financial controls are really, really tight now. So I really don’t think this could happen again, certainly in our municipality,” Manchur said.

Those changes include  eliminating the ability to etransfer from municipal accounts without dual authorization and requiring council approval on all financial reports. There have also been increased controls put in place to ensure bank statements are reconciled on a regular basis, as well as requirements for regular and up-to-date audits.

“You wouldn’t believe the stress and the frustration that this did cause for us on council over the past few years and, you know, it’s hard to believe that we’d be the victim of it, but that’s what we ended up with. I think a lot of ratepayers aren’t totally happy with how it happened, but in the end we have to continue to be vigilant and go from there,” Manchur said.

“We appreciate the efforts of the RCMP. We were in contact with them through the whole process and they did a great job.”

Fisher was released from custody with conditions and will appear in Dauphin Provincial Court on Mar. 18.

A trip to Dauphin to attend his son’s U13 hockey tournament in Dauphin also provided Obby Khan an opportunity to locally promote his aspiration of becoming leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.

“I’m meeting with Ron (Dauphin MLA Kostyshyn), meeting with a few PC supporters, some people on the board of the association here, meeting with businesses and then I’m trying to get a couple of other stakeholder meetings here in the area,” Khan said, adding it is a formula he follows wherever he travels throughout the province gathering support for his leadership bid.

“I’ve been everywhere. Everywhere from up to Swan Lake, all the way to Virden and all over southern Manitoba. All over.”

Khan, a Winnipeg restaurateur and former professional football player with the Ottawa Renegades, Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, currently sits as the MLA for Fort Whyte since being elected in a by-election in 2022.

Seeking the leadership of the provincial party is the hardest thing he has ever attempted from his time developing a successful restaurant business to his time as an elected official, even including his 10 years as a professional football player.

“It wasn’t just that I played. I went through nine almost career-ending injuries.” he said, listing challenges such as four knee surgeries, ruptured discs, a brain hemorrhage and a tricep muscle torn off the bone, as some of the highlights.

“So I went through that and this is still the hardest thing. It’s a grind. Because this never stops, number one and number two, no matter what you do, you’re never going to make everyone happy.”

What Khan focuses on in politics is the same thing that made him successful in sports and in business; being prepared and taking responsibility for his own perfermance.

“When I can go to bed at night and I believe what I’m doing is right, I’m okay,” he said, adding the feedback he has been receiving about his campaign has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s been unbelievable. Fantastic. I’m absolutely blown away and I am really, really pleased with the way it’s going.”

As a city resident and not being a “traditional conservative leadership candidate”, heading into the process Khan had reservations. It wasn’t until he hit the parade circuit in the summer that he realized he had made the right decision.

“I did I think it was 19 parades this summer all over rural Manitoba. People were like really happy to see me. People were supportive and I hadn’t announced leadership yet,” Khan said.

“I sat at meetings thinking I was going to run, but I wanted to get feedback. People are really coming on board, so it’s been it’s been a lot of fun.”

Those coming on board include his fellow MLAs with some high profile conservatives backing his bid.

Part of the reason for that, Khan believes, is that they like his vision for the party.

“I’m going through this campaign like I’m a thousand votes behind. But I am very confident that we’re going to prevail not so much because of me, but because of the message and what I’m trying to do for this party,” he said.

“It’s the belief in the members. It’s the belief that this party needs to return to its grassroots members. It’s the belief that this party, the PC Party of Manitoba, is an inclusive party with conservative values. It’s the belief that we have a lot of internal work to do as a party. I realize that we have to be accountable and more transparent to our members. I think that message is really resonating with people.”

Khan is one of two candidates vying for the position. The other is Wally Daudrich, a Churchill business owner and a long-time board member for the provincial PCs.

Khan said his vision for the party is quite different than his opponent’s.

“My message has been about a big tent party with conservative values, while still representing and welcoming people to the party and growing,” Khan said, adding that philosophy is illustrated through his campaign co-chairs in Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen and  Lori Shenkarow, a businesswoman who sought the PC nomination in last year’s Tuxedo byelection.

“So you have got a Jewish lady, a conservative Christian and a Muslim candidate all working together as a big tent party in the PC party of Manitoba. That is a powerful message right there.

“This shows that we can come together across the party. My whole message in this is we have to come together as a PC party, as PC members to win not only this leadership, but win the province back in 2027. If we’re divided now we don’t stand a chance in 2027 or 2031 or 2035.”

Khan will continue his efforts to grow the party and build support for his leadership campaign as the process nears it end.

Those wanting to get involved in choosing the new leader must have their party membership purchased by Feb. 28.

“You have got to be 14 years or older and you have to live in Manitoba. It costs $20, but you get $15 back on your taxes, so it costs you $5,” Khan said.

“You will get a ballot in the mail in March and then you mail it back. On April 26th they will announce the winner.

“I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m working because I believe that this election also is an opportunity to unite the party and to grow the party and to strengthen the party.

“If I was to have the honour of going forward and becoming the leader  . . . it’s not about me, this is about the province, my love for the province and that we can do better as a province.”

One Mountain View School Division trustee is upset with and speaking out against a new divisionwide directive that will require students to sing “God Save the King” as part of their daily morning exercises.

Jarri Thompson took to Facebook to spread the word after learning about the requirement secondhand, last week.

“This wasn’t a directive of the board. It was a directive of the chair (trustee Jason Gryba), not on behalf of the board, even though he thinks so,” Thompson said.

“I had given him the opportunity to call a meeting and discuss it as a board, but he seems to think that because it is in the Public Schools Act he doesn’t need to go through the board.”

As part of the 1988 Schools Patriotic Observances Regulation under The Education Administration Act, students are required to sing the opening verse of “God Save the King” at the end of the day or as part of the opening exercises.

The practice was abandon by school divisions in the province following direction from the education minister of the time, approximately 25 years ago. However, the regulation was never officially removed from the legislation. No public school in Manitoba currently includes the song in its opening exercises.

As of Monday, MVSD schools were told to include the song in their opening exercises immediately following the land acknowledgment and announcements.

“I don’t know the procedure behind it except for the one that has been leaked online. Nobody’s shared any procedure with the board itself,” Thompson said, adding the directive is causing concern among the division’s teaching staff.

“It was brought to my attention that teachers don’t know what to tell the students. They’ve been working on reconciliation and the true past of Canada and how the monarchy plays into that. Now they’re going to tell these students to stand to an anthem that is not our own anthem.”

Thompson has received direction from the Manitoba School Boards Association indicating the MVSD board as a whole is required to discuss the issue “as presented by the CEO.”

“Regardless of the fact that it’s still in the act, the board chair was still supposed to talk to the whole board. We were still supposed to sit and discuss this procedure and none of us have done that as far as I know,” she said.

In an email response to a request for information, Gryba stressed that   board approval is not necessary.

“The decision to align with the legislation outlined in The Education Administration Act and Regulations does not require a vote or discussion at the board table. When trustees take their oath of office, they swear to uphold the PSA and other governing Acts and Regulations. Following this legislation is not a matter of debate; it is our duty as trustees to enforce the law. Any concerns with the PSA should be directed to the provincial government, as boards lack the authority to override or disregard provincial legislation.”

Gryba also indicated the new directive offers the opportunity for educating students about their country’s history, including the treaties signed between the Crown and Indigenous people.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of The Dauphin Herald.