The City of Brandon is creating a task force in response to U-S tariffs on Canadian products. It’ll keep councillors updated on the costs of projects to try and help minimize the impacts of tariffs on residents and businesses. Mayor Jeff Fawcett also says the city is committed to working closely with the province and Ottawa in presenting a unified strategy.
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The Manitoba government is already fighting back against Trump’s tariffs by pulling American products from liquor store shelves, and is offering tax deferrals to Manitoba businesses. Companies will be able to defer their
provincial payroll and sales taxes for at least three months to protect jobs, and keep cash on hand. About 6% of the liquor mart’s alcohol products come from the U-S.
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The operators of Manitoba’s Port of Churchill are ramping up efforts to help diversify Canada’s trading partners, especially as U-S tariffs came into effect this week. Arctic Gateway Group plans to double the amount of critical minerals it shipped last year – and triple the port’s storage capacity. Last month, Ottawa and the province announced nearly $80 million in new funding to redevelop the port and the railway.
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After 4 years, Brandon city council adopted its 30-year City Plan this week. The new plan was needed after the dissolution of the Brandon Planning District. In 2023, the public consultation process was temporarily disrupted when a group of residents complained the city was secretly bringing in the so-called ’15-minute city plan’ to restrict their movements.
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There was a call for more government funding this week at a public meeting to discuss the Brandon School Division’s budget. It came up nearly $6.7-million short resulting in a 6.7% property tax increase. The province did boost the division’s operating grant by 4% this year, saying they’re still making up for lost ground after years of freezes and cuts by the previous government.
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Details are coming out about the death of a man on the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation north of Brandon last month. 56-year-old Richard Flett died after being attacked by 5 dogs. Two of the animals, shot by Yellowhead RCMP, have been seized and will be examined. So far, no charges have been laid.
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There’s a warning for Manitobans waiting to get a share of a multibillion-dollar settlement with three global tobacco companies – beware of scammers. They’re already setting up websites to rip-off potential claimants. The Manitoba government is expected to get more than $1.1 billion from the settlement over the next 20 years.
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Brandon firefighters are once again holding their rooftop campout and boot drive for charity at the Fire Hall on 13th Street. The goal is to raise $40,000 with proceeds to Muscular Dystrophy Canada, the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba and the Brandon Firefighters Charity Fund. The campout continues until Friday afternoon.
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Health officials in Texas are calling ‘measles parties’ foolish and dangerous. The message follows an outbreak in West Texas where there have been 146 cases of measles and a child has died. The parties are an attempt by parents to intentionally expose their children to someone infected with measles to build natural immunity. Even U-S Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, who’s expressed past doubts about the efficacy of vaccines, urges people to get the measles vaccine.
