Two Brandon men have been charged as part of a country-wide investigation into child exploitation called ‘Project Steel’. Brandon police say an 18-year-old man was arrested after a search of a home on Lorne Avenue, and a
20-year-old man was arrested at a Garwood Drive home. In all, 106 online child sex offender suspects were charged.
———-
Brandon councillor, Greg Hildebrand, plans to bring up daycare safety at the next meeting of Manitoba municipalities. He’ll table a motion in June. A Brandon daycare operator was recently charged with producing child abuse material with kids in his care.
———-
Manitoba’s interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives, Wayne Ewasko, has apologized to the families of murdered Indigenous women for declining to search a landfill for their remains. He said in the legislature the party acted without empathy by emphasizing prosecution above all else. Last week, potential human remains were found in Prairie Green landfill near Winnipeg.
———-
A new $4.5-million Brandon Police operations centre is moving ahead. The city is in the process of purchasing a property for the police service’s major crimes investigations and research teams. Police are dealing with
overcrowding in the current building. Funding will come from the police reserve, with the rest borrowed by the city.
———-
Brandon is getting almost $4-million annually over ten years from Ottawa for Transit infrastructure. Winnipeg and Selkirk will also benefit from the Canada Public Transit Fund. Brandon has reportedly seen unprecedented growth in ridership, and the money will go towards expanding service.
———-
The rezoning of six properties in Brandon for Habitat for Humanity has passed first reading at City Council. The properties are in the 6th Street North neighbourhood, and once approved, Habitat hopes to begin grading and
infrastructure work this fall.
———-
Manitoba politicians returned to the legislature yesterday with Trump’s trade war dominating debate. Premier Wab Kinew says a big priority in preparing the spring budget will be protecting jobs. The NDP also introduced several bills including one that will stop convenience stores from serving alcohol in dining areas.
———–
Canadians, angry over Trump’s trade war, are rethinking travel plans. Flight Centre Travel Group says leisure bookings to American cities dropped 40% in February, and in the past three months, one in five customers cancelled trips to the U-S. WestJet has seen more bookings to Mexico and the Caribbean – while Air Canada has reduced flights to Florida, Las Vegas and Arizona…usual go-to hot spots during spring break.
