Brandon School Division trustees voted on Wednesday to hike property taxes by 6.78%. For the average property owner with a home valued at $300,000 – that’s about $121 more a year. The division was facing a $6.7-million budget shortfall this year. Last month, Brandon City Council voted to raise property taxes by 6.9%.
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In order to head-off a possible future power shortage, Manitoba Hydro is reportedly proposing to spend almost $1.4 billion on a new fuel-burning station capable of generating 500 megawatts on demand. The Public Utilities Board is now reviewing an estimate of the cost. No decision has been made on the fuel source, but the least expensive would be natural gas.
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Search teams working at a landfill north of Winnipeg have found potential human remains. They’ve been searching to find two slain First Nations women. Police believe the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran – victims of a serial killer – ended up at Prairie Green Landfill in May 2022. The identification process could take weeks.
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Manitoba saw a rise in gun-related crime in 2023. Stats-Can reports firearm-related violent crime increased by 14%, with the highest numbers in the rural and urban north. Experts say Manitoba is dealing with a confluence of guns, gangs, and violence. Across Canada, gun crime was down slightly.
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Canadian Pacific Railway is reportedly suing a semi-driver and Maple Leaf Foods. CP alleges the driver failed to stop at a railway crossing leading to a collision and train derailment in February 2023. The rail company
is seeking just over $307,000 to cover damages, and the cost of the cleanup.
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In the next 6 years, over 100 occupations could face worker shortages. Employment and Social Development Canada says the growing demand will be in healthcare, construction, and technology. More than 8-million job openings are expected mostly because of the need to replace retiring workers.
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There have been 95 measles cases reported in Canada, so far this year – with Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec reporting new ones in the last week. In all of last year, there were a total of 147. Manitoba’s 5 cases are connected
to an outbreak in Ontario.
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While Brandon has a slight chance of flurries tonight with some blowing snow – central Manitoba could potentially get 10 to 20 cm as an Alberta Clipper moves into the province. The heaviest snowfall is expected from The Pas/Flin Flon, southeast through Grand Rapids and towards Berens River before the system leaves Manitoba Friday morning.
