There’s been an increase in the number of children in care in Manitoba. A Department of Families report says there were 9,172 kids in care this year – 253 more than last year. The province’s advocate for children and youth
says this remains unacceptably high, and Indigenous children continue to be disproportionately affected.
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Brandon’s Samaritan House food bank and Helping Hands soup kitchen have both seen an increase in clients. Samaritan House has reportedly provided over 14,000 hampers so far this year – up 600 from last year – and Helping Hands is close to providing 51,000 meals – a rise of around 5,000. The organizations say this highlights the difficulties many are having with the rising cost of living.
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Construction has started on a retention pond just east of Brandon’s cemetery. The work will continue through the winter into next summer, and will mean closures on Aberdeen Avenue. The project will improve stormwater
management, allow for expansion of the cemetery – and will create a natural habitat.
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The City of Brandon is returning to weekly recycling collection starting Monday, November 10th. Organics collection, the green bins, will end for the season November 3rd to the 7th – excess materials can be dropped off at the Eastview Landfill free of charge. And there will no collection on Remembrance Day, November 11th. If that’s your regular day, pickup will be switched to Monday the 10th.
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There’s growing support for Canadian municipalities declaring states of emergencies to clear out homeless camps in parks and public spaces. A new survey has found 60% of Canadians agree with the idea with the most support in BC. Advocates for the unhoused say this is not a long-term solution, and that more affordable housing and mental health supports are what’s needed.
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Most of us want to keep COVID-19 shots free of charge. A new poll says 69% of Manitobans oppose paying for the vaccine. Not the case in Alberta, where many support the move. Albertans will soon be charged $100 for the shot. Between 2020 and ’22, Ottawa spend $5-billion on COVID vaccines.
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Dollarama has pulled a popular treat off its shelves due to potential contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says 180 gram packages of Biskwi brand ‘Waffles with Chocolaty Filling’ have been recalled due to mold.
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If you’re calling the Canada Revenue Agency about your personal taxes – there’s a chance you won’t get quality advice. A report by the federal auditor general says contact centre staff did better addressing business tax or benefits questions. The report also said the CRA seems more concerned with sticking to schedules for shifts and breaks than giving complete advice to taxpayers.
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The Manitoba Wildlife Federation has launched legal action against the Government of Manitoba and Bloodvein First Nation. They say a blockade on a provincial highway on the east side of Lake Winnipeg is unlawfully keeping hunters and anglers off Crown land. The province recently changed regulations in the area.
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For the first time ever, mosquitoes have been discovered in Iceland. Three of them, two females and one male, were sighted around 30 kilometres north of the capital Reykjavik. Until now, Iceland along with Antarctica, has
been one of the few places on earth without a mosquito population.
