A meeting to discuss Brandon’s downtown brought out around 30 representatives from the city’s food banks, shelters and social service organizations on Thursday. They met with police chief Tyler Bates with a goal of
developing a downtown public safety strategy. There’s no word yet on when a report might be completed.
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The cause of a fire on Wednesday at a three-storey apartment building on McTavish Avenue in Brandon is under investigation. Officials say the blaze damaged a second floor suite and balcony. It also caused smoke damage to the suite above – and possible water damage to the one below. A firefighter also suffered minor injuries on the call.
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Physicians group, Doctors Manitoba, is renewing calls to eliminate sick notes for short-term absences from work. They say doctors write roughly 600,000 sick notes a year, and eliminating them can free up more than 300,000 visits for patients. They say well over 90% of Manitobans, and employers, support the move.
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Legislation designed to open-up the market for more grocers, including independent businesses, has been put forward by the Manitoba government. The hope is that more competition will help bring grocery prices down. The
bill would bar grocery stores from preventing competitors from opening nearby.
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A high-stakes meeting between Canadian and U-S officials on Thursday ended without tariffs being removed – but another meeting is planned for next week. Mark Carney, who’ll be sworn in as prime minister today, says he’s ready to negotiate with U.S. president Donald Trump, so long as Canada’s sovereignty is respected. In the Oval Office, Trump said Canada could keep its anthem if it became a state.
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Matching 25% tariffs on almost $30-billion worth of American products, which took effect this week, will make many consumer goods more expensive. The list includes kitchenware and large appliances like stoves. Smartphones and video game consoles will cost more – and sporting goods like golf clubs. Canada has also hit travelling fairs with new levies on theme park rides like roller-coasters, bumper cars, and merry-go-rounds.
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Travel Manitoba is hoping to capitalize on Canadians spending their travel dollars anywhere but the United States. They plan to market more heavily across Canada highlighting hotspots like Churchill, and the province’s hunting and fishing destinations. If you want to start this weekend – check out the Fire & Frost Festival up at Clear Lake.
