Retail theft has been on the rise in Brandon, and yesterday police highlighted efforts to crackdown on shoplifters. They made 70 arrests in 2024 and recovered over $10,000 in stolen property, but say the work is on-going.
The province has stepped up with $85,000 for Brandon police to specifically target retail theft.
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Brandon council has approved borrowing $3.5-million for upgrades to the Sportsplex arena – including replacing the ice plant. The total cost of the repairs and renovations is over $6-million. The rink has been closed since March 2023 because of concerns the aging equipment could leak ammonia. The upgrades, that include new dasher boards, are to be completed by late 2025.
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Manitoba Ag Days, Canada’s largest indoor farm show, continues today at Brandon’s Keystone Centre. Along with the latest in Ag equipment and tech, today’s speaker program features a couple of sessions about the use of drones – including the effectiveness of drone spraying. AG Days wraps up Thursday.
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Two new Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation offices will be opening in Westman. They’ll be located in Virden and Shoal Lake and are set to open this summer. The NDP government says several Ag organizations have been asking for new service centres since the Tories closed 21 across the province.
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The port of Churchill could become a key asset amid potential Canada-US trade tensions – this from premier Wab Kinew who attended Ag Days in Brandon on Tuesday. He said the northern town is connected to rail lines,
has a deep sea port – and has huge opportunities when it comes to mining, agriculture and energy. Kinew said he’s been talking with leaders in North and South Dakota about the implications of potential Trump tariffs.
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The Manitoba government has been running an ad campaign promoting a freeze on electricity rates that hasn’t been approved yet. The ads say the one-year freeze started January 1st – but a request hasn’t been filed with the Public Utilities Board, which can deny proposals. Analysts say governments are often quick to promote good news – but they should have waited on this one.
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Speed was a major factor in 12 snowmobile deaths in the province since 2021 – this from Manitoba Public Insurance and Snoman, a group that represents local clubs. Last week was International Snowmobile Safety Week. They say alcohol, a lack of helmets and inexperienced or careless driving were also factors.
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It’s the peak of cold and flu season, and with low flu vaccinations rates – health officials say emergency rooms across Manitoba are getting slammed. Less than 25% of Manitobans received flu shots this year – well below the norm. The cold weather that has been forcing us to stay indoors with recirculated air is also a factor in high rates of illness.
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The Canadian Armed Forces is no longer automatically disqualifying applicants with certain medical conditions such as allergies as it tries to grow its numbers. Previously applicants with allergies were immediately disqualified. Other conditions that will now be evaluated include ADHD, anxiety and asthma.
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Despite Ottawa’s decision to cut immigration rates to ease pressure on housing and infrastructure – Canada’s population will grow over the years regardless. Stats-Can predicts that in a high-growth scenario, Canada’s population could hit 81-million by 2074 – while Manitoba could see a 36% jump. Right now, the province’s population sits at almost 1.5-million.
