-Brandon Police Services is asking for a 7 per cent budget increase, or about $1.3 million dollars at a special budget meeting on Monday. Police Chief Tyler Bates says, the increase is for rising salaries, fleet maintenance, and a new digital evidence management section. He says this compares to a 5.9 per cent budget hike, just to remain at status quo. Chief Bates also added that BPS should be rolling out body cameras in the spring.
———
-A school bus roll-over on a highway near Swan River yesterday morning, left many hurt, with some “a long way to recovery”. The bus driver and 14 students were injured. with 3 teens and the driver being airlifted to a Winnipeg hospital, after suffering significant but non-life threatening injuries. Police say the school bus attempted to pass another bus on slippery roads, losing control and rolling off a highway 13 kilometers south of Mafeking.
———
-A 3 day work week in office is still the current policy for Manitoba Government Employees. Premier Wab Kinew will not order public servants back into the office fulltime, and he will continue to allow a hybrid work schedule, saying “it’s a balancing act with staff having families and young children”. Right now, Ontario and Alberta are moving their employees to full-time office work.
———
-A new plan to fight poverty in Manitoba, is intentionally lacking detail, to keep the government’s response flexible. This, from the Homelessness and Housing Minister. Bernadette Smith, says “Poverty is complex, what works today may not work tomorrow.” This 5 year plan, released Tuesday, focuses on seniors, youth in the child welfare system, and kids up to 5 years old.
———
-Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is urging Ontario’s Premier to not take Crown Royal off of Ontario Liquor Shelves. Kinew says Doug Ford’s approach of targeting jobs in other provinces is against the “Team Canada approach”, and hurts Canadian workers. The Premier made the comments during yesterday’s visit to the Gimli Distillery.
———
-Brandon University researcher Dr. Kathryn Chachula is awarded $44 thousand dollars over 2 years. The money will help Manitoba nurses with mental health, resilience and recovery. Manitoba Nurses will take surveys before, immediately after, and 3-6 months after completing her online “Psychological Body Armour” course, to determine its effectiveness. Chachula aims to proactively help nurses’ mental health, by building resilience, and reducing stress and post-traumatic work experiences.
———
-Prime Minister Mark Carney marks the first Canadian PM visit to China in 8 years, after landing in Beijing today. Carney is meeting with President Xi Jinping to discuss advancing trade and environmental co-operation, with major issues including China’s heavy tariffs on pork, canola, and seafood.
