-The city of Brandon is now proposing a 6.6 per cent property tax increase, down from its original recommendation of 11.3 per cent. This decision was approved Monday, after council voted to use $1.1 million dollars from last year’s operating surplus, to reduce the hit to taxpayers. Some councilors hope to lower the increase further, as budget deliberations continue Friday and Saturday.
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-The Brandon Teacher’s Association is asking The Brandon School Division and the Manitoba Government to help with issues before the next budget. This, at a board meeting Monday evening. Teachers are looking for more support, as they face issues like chronic underfunding, classroom size, and complexity. BTA’s president says enrolment and increasing student needs, have surpassed funding, which contributes to larger classes and teacher burnout.
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-The Manitoba Nurses Union is pushing for institutional safety officers to be hired at Swan River’s hospital. The Union President says physical and verbal abuse towards nurses is becoming more common. Prairie Mountain Health says Brandon is the only city outside Winnipeg with institutional safety officers in health-care facilities.
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-Bayer, says its investing over $45 million dollars to build a new canola research and development facility in Winnipeg. The pharmaceutical and bio-tech company, says the site will house seed development for canola, camelina, and winter canola. The facility is planned to be operational by the end of 2028.
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-A 27-year-old Virden man is sentenced to more than a year in prison after he stole a pickup truck and was found passed out at the wheel in the middle of an intersection. Tyson Kowal, pleaded guilty to motor vehicle theft, mischief, and failing to comply with a release order. The incident occurred in Virden on March 2024, and he was sentenced yesterday at Brandon provincial court.
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-Here’s something Brandon should consider doing, naming their snowplows. Winnipeg announced the winners of its first-ever snowplow naming contest on Tuesday. With winning names like, HelleBucket, Winnie the Plow, and Greg, getting more than 13 thousand votes. The Mayor said it was fun to do something enjoyable and more lighthearted, adding that the contest showed strong community engagement.
