The 2025 provincial budget is to be delivered Thursday, and ahead of that, housing advocates rallied on the steps of the Manitoba legislature yesterday. They want the NDP government to follow through on plans to build more social housing units, and to end chronic homelessness. They say Manitoba needs 10,000 new housing units – with 650 in Brandon.
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The members of Brandon’s Park Community Centre will also have eyes on tomorrow’s provincial budget. During his 2023 election campaign, now premier Wab Kinew promised a million dollars to help build a new centre with a commercial kitchen and a daycare. At one time, the city planned to tear down the building and create a green space.
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Brandon’s Career Symposium, which has its final day today, has seen a boost in exhibitors this year- 100 up from 85 in 2024. More than 2,500 students have taken in the show at the Keystone Centre to check out various career opportunities.
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The Manitoba New Democrats Shannon Corbett won yesterday’s byelection in Winnipeg’s Transcona riding. The vice-principal was elected with more than 3,600 votes. The byelection was called to fill the seat formerly held
by Education Minister Nello Altomare who passed away in January.
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The Manitoba government plans to expand the province’s human rights code to cover gender expression. It already bans discrimination based on gender identity, and the NDP says adding gender expression will bring Manitoba in line with most other provinces. The change will cover preferred pronouns, outward appearances such as clothing, and more.
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It appears Prime Minister Mark Carney has helped breathe new life into the Liberals. A new Ipsos/Global News poll shows the party has widened its lead over the Conservatives by 7 points in just three weeks. The survey shows the Liberals with 42% voter support, compared with 36% for the Tories. An early federal election call is expected in the coming weeks.
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When the carbon tax comes off we’ll see an immediate difference at the gas pumps – but it’ll take longer to notice any price changes with other goods. The consumer levy comes off April 1st, and a final carbon rebate cheque to offset the cost of inflation is to arrive on April 15th. Experts say getting rid of the tax will push overall inflation down in the next year.
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A fee that more than 30% of Canadians have paid will now have it’s limit capped. Starting next year, bank NSF fees, which can run as high as $48.00 will be restricted to $10.00.
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The on-going trade war and the poor exchange rate have many Manitobans cancelling travel plans down south, but it’s not stopping American tourists from coming to the province. Travel Manitoba says it hasn’t yet seen a drop in U-S travellers who typically visit the province for world-class fishing – and for ‘bucket-list’ experiences like seeing the northern lights, polar bears and beluga whales.
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The blobfish has seen a dramatic change in its popularity. The blobfish is about 30-centimetres long and looks like a big, blobby tadpole – just a mass of pale, jelly-like flesh with puffy, loose skin, a big nose and beady, staring eyes. In 2013, it was declared the world’s ugliest animal – but has now been voted New Zealand’s ‘fish of the year’. The goal of the competition was to raise awareness of the country’s marine life and its fragile ecosystem.
