-Brandon tax payers can expect a break on their property taxes, thanks to the Manitoba Government. Premier Wab Kinew announced that the city of Brandon will receive $1-million dollars; cutting the proposed 10.6 per cent property tax bill–by 2 per cent. This money will also go towards 3 infrastructure projects, previously funded by the city. Meantime; taxpayers can have their say about the proposed 2026 budget; at City hall Monday at 6:45pm.
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-The John Howard society is getting a new 24-unit transitional housing facility in Brandon, set to open in March. Located at 353-16th St. North; this facility will help men after leaving incarceration; or are home-less, with housing, employment, and 24/7 staffing.
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-We could see another rate hike from Manitoba Hydro. They are projecting a $464-million-dollar loss this year- due to severe drought and reduced export sales. This follows a $63-million dollar loss in 2025. Meantime, Mb Hydro says they are also planning to buy new wind farms, platform upgrades.
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-‘The old order is not coming back.’ This from Prime Minister Mark Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday. Carney says ‘If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu’; calling for co-operation among middle powers. Carney’s remarks follow the U-S President’s threat to impose tariffs on European allies and Britain until Washington is allowed to acquire Greenland. The prime minister said Canada “strongly opposes” the U.S. plan to hit allies with punishing levies.
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-Manitoba is again relying on private nursing agencies to fill staffing vacancies in hospitals. This less than one week after; ending contracts with all but 4 private firms. Nurses have stated that cutting agencies would make staffing shortages worse, and within days, Swan River and Dauphin hospitals struggled to find staff. Manitoba’s Health Minister says the gov’t is committed to reducing the number of private agencies.
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-Stock markets took a hit Tuesday following U-S President Donald Trump’s new tariff threats against 8 NATO members, over Greenland. The Dow and the Nas-daq declined, with the S and P dropping the most since October at 2.1%. European and Asian markets also fell, as investors are unsettled due to rising trade tensions.
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The U.S. President says he would not use force to acquire Greenland, though he did again call for U.S. control.
In a lengthy speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland; Donald Trump also called out Canada’s prime minister, saying Mark Carney ‘wasn’t so grateful’ to the U.S.
“Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
