Brandon city council passed the new City Plan this week and has sent it to the province for approval. Much of the bylaw has already been implemented including changes to housing and zoning as part of the city’s compliance with the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. Third and final reading will take place after provincial approval.
———-
City councillors green lit speed limit reductions around the Brandon University campus this week. It’s now 30-kilometres-an-hour on Louise Avenue and 20th Street. BU says it’s happy with the move to improve safety for the 5,000 people who access the campus regularly.
———-
Brandon police arrested two teens near Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School on Tuesday for allegedly carrying weapons. A boy and girl, both age 14, face several charges each. A knife was reportedly recovered. No-one was hurt.
———-
A 30-year-old man was arrested by Brandon police for trespassing after a complaint by staff of a business on 7th Street. Police say trespassers allegedly refused to take down a camp set up behind sea cans on the parking lot – and became aggressive with staff.
———-
The federal government is ordering TikTok to close its Canadian offices in Toronto and Vancouver after a security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform. However, it’s not blocking access or users ability to create content. TikTok says the move means the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs – and it’ll challenge the order in court.
———-
Former Manitoba premier Gary Doer, who once served as Ambassador to the U-S, is reminding Canadian businesses not all economic decisions are made in Washington – this after Donald Trump’s election win sparked fears about Canada’s economic future. He told the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce that governors play a huge role in their state’s business. Manitoba has strong economic ties to North Dakota and Minnesota. During Trump’s campaign he proposed 10-percent across-the-board tariffs which could the Canadian economy billions of dollars a year.
———-
Meanwhile, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew promises he’ll continue pushing the benefits of trade with the United States now that their election is over. He says Manitoba’s critical minerals, for example, have a lot to offer the American defence sector. Kinew was asked whether he shares the concerns of Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who said Canada must act quickly to secure its borders against a possible wave of migrants looking to escape Trump’s threat of mass deportations. Kinew says he supports strong borders, but Manitoba is also a welcoming province that has benefited by taking in people from Ukraine and other parts of the world.
———-
Health-care spending in this country is projected to reach a new high of $372-billion this year. The Canadian Institute for Health Information says that’s over $9,000 per Canadian. And they say the new national dental and pharmacare plans could push health-care spending even higher.
