‘Tis the season for family gatherings, celebrations and checkstops.

Manitoba’s RCMP detachments begin their annual Christmas checkstop campaign today, joining other police agencies in the province, including Winnipeg police.

The RCMP campaign runs until Jan. 4. Officers will be looking for impaired drivers and people who aren’t wearing a seatbelt in locations across Manitoba. Police are urging people to buckle up and not get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.

Tories propose land-tax relief

The Manitoba Tories proposed a new law yesterday that would exempt first-time home buyers from the land transfer tax.

Tory finance critic Rick Borotsik introduced a private member’s bill yesterday that would allow anyone who had not previously owned a property, or whose spouse has not previously owned a property, to be exempt from paying the tax, which usually adds a few thousand dollars to a real estate purchase. Borotsik said his bill has the support of realtors’ associations in the province.

Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk suggested the bill won’t make the cut as their focus has been on personal income tax and school tax.

Fire victim identity confirmed

Police have confirmed the victim of a fatal house fire in Winnipeg earlier this week is a widower whose wife died last spring.

Millard Haluk, 71, and his pet dog died in the blaze, which was accidental, police said. A fire official previously said the cause was electrical in nature. The fire, at Haluk’s Elmwood home at 598 Talbot Ave., was reported Monday at 6:50 a.m.

Haluk’s body was found near the back of the house on the main floor. It appeared the fire started at the rear.

Friends said Haluk was a hoarder who collected so many objects there was little room to move in the home.

This raised questions whether the home’s condition prevented his escape. Damage is estimated at $250,000, police said.

Friends said Haluk had been heartbroken and depressed since his 62-year-old wife, June, died in May.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2009/12/04/12033021-sun.html

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