Province doubling number of ankle monitors

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The Manitoba government is spending $1.2 million to expand the electronic monitoring program, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced Thursday in Brandon.

Wiebe said the province will be adding up to 100 ankle monitors to the program — doubling the current total.

“The electronic monitoring program offers another tool to the courts of law enforcement to ensure that folks are following the conditions of their release and to stop violent repeat offenders from causing harm in communities in western Manitoba,” Wiebe said during a news conference at Brandon City Hall.

As of July 10, all 100 ankle monitors that were available were in use, Wiebe said in a news release sent out after the conference. He added that there is a waitlist, but did not specify how many people are on it.

“Certainly, there is a need to build on success, and it demonstrates that the program is filling a real need and a growing need of the communities,” Wiebe said.

The program was first restarted in Winnipeg in August 2024, and in November it expanded to other regions across the province, including Brandon, Souris, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach, Dauphin, Selkirk and Winkler.

Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates said expanding the ankle monitor program is a public safety measure that helps police do their job more effectively.

Bates said the real-time GPS tracking and automatic alerts will allow police to respond faster and to better enforce offenders’ bail or release order conditions. He said the reassurance this program brings for victims, and especially victims of interpersonal violence, is “invaluable.”

“It keeps our citizens safe, our officers informed and our communities protected,” he said. “This expansion is both timely and necessary.”

Along with the ankle monitor program expansion, Wiebe announced a new curfew monitoring software that will use “video conferencing and biometric identification” to monitor offenders who do not need an ankle monitor.

He said this will free up police time by lessening the number of in-person curfew checks, allowing officers to focus on emergency situations.

“They’ll continue to hold offenders accountable and decrease the burden on law enforcement,” Wiebe said.

Bates said he’s “encouraged” by the implementation of the curfew check software and said, “To have that technological aid is going to be really meaningful.”

Bates echoed the minister’s comments that it will allow police to focus on emergency calls and proactive patrols while still keeping tabs on offenders who are out on bail.

“Public safety isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution,” he said.

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett called the announcement a “big deal” in terms of making Brandon safer for everyone.

“A lot of the crime here is caused by repeat offenders,” he said. “It’s important that we tackle this issue now.”

Fawcett said the ankle monitors will not only track violent offenders but also those who commit petty crimes, which he noted add up over time.

“This initiative reflects a shared commitment between the Manitoba government and the City of Brandon to protect our community and ensure Brandon remains a safe place to live and do business,” he said.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com