Fire crews were called to Brandon Shoppers Mall this morning after reports smoke had begun pouring out of the vents above the Santa set. Word is a rooftop unit malfunctioned. The mall was evacuated, and there were no reports of any injuries.
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Another dump of snow – another day of snow-covered highways in Westman. Brandon has received over 15 cm of snow since Sunday afternoon creating poor driving conditions on roads across Westman including on the Trans-Canada, Highway 10 – and the highways in the Parkland region. Brandon streets are also snow-covered with slippery sections. We have updated highway information at Road Report | Q Country 91.5FM and at Road Report | 94.7 STAR FM
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Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced she’s resigning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, after she says he told her he no longer wanted her in the top economic post. Freeland says she will stay on as a Liberal MP and is “committed” to running again in the next election. The move came just hours before Freeland was set to table the fall economic update.
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Canada Post operations will resume Tuesday morning after the Industrial Relations Board ordered a return to work. The labour board extended the union’s existing contract through May to allow additional time for more bargaining – and in the meantime, Canada Post has agreed to implement a 5% retroactive wage increase.
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The Manitoba government is extending $10-a-day costs for licensed daycares, so families are covered on school holidays. The change will impact around 73 non-school days per year – saving an average of $140 annually.
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Drug overdose deaths in Brandon have been increasing in the last few years. The city’s police chief says overdose deaths rose to five in 2023 – and there have been seven so far this year. At a Brandon Police Board meeting last week, Chief Tyler Bates said the city should be aware of this alarming trend – and how lethal the drug supply is right now.
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The two-month GST break took effect Saturday, and many shoppers and businesses have given the plan a lukewarm response. Some business owners don’t believe it’ll be a big benefit to retailers after all the work they put in setting it up – and while some shoppers welcome the tax break on food, alcohol and clothing – overall, it’s not a significant saving.
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Forget gold and diamonds – one of the hottest commodities coveted by thieves during the holidays is…cheese. The owner of two high-end cheese shops in Vancouver is spending over $5,000 a month on security guards to thwart shoplifters. Experts say when prices rise for foods like cheese and butter – a black market always emerges.
