The Western Manitoba Regional Library’s 2026 draft budget calls for a 4.6% increase in its tax on municipalities. If approved, Brandon would pay $759, 432 dollars in 2026. The rate hike would pay to add books, increase programming, and cover the cost of a security guard.
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Many Canadians are feeling so/so about the Liberals’ federal budget tabled last week. A new poll shows 30% of households approve of the budget, and only 15% think it’ll be good for them personally. Most say it failed to meet cost-of-living concerns.
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Canada Post’s plan to transform its struggling business model into a financially sustainable service has been submitted to the federal government. No details will be available until Ottawa signs off on it. Meanwhile, the corporation’s largest union remains in a rotating strike as the post office heads into the busy holiday season.
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According to hiring trends from ‘Indeed Canada’, holiday job postings are up compared to last year. They say rebounding consumer spending is the likely reason as retailers hire more workers to keep up. However, there are more Canadians searching for seasonal work, so finding a temporary job might be more difficult.
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Some rural and northern Manitoba communities want the province to create a dedicated unit to respond to calls involving people experiencing a mental health crisis. Right now, only police can respond to wellness checks.
In Brandon, a crisis response unit pairing police officers with mental health professionals was to hit the streets last month.
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Brandon Police are looking for a man they think is responsible for a string of robberies. Police say last Friday, a suspect wearing a mask walked in a demanded cash from a business in the 800 block of 18th Street. On Saturday night, a business in the Corral Centre was robbed – and on Sunday, a man also wearing a mask held-up a company in 1200 block of Richmond Avenue.
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The chief of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has been charged in connection with a historic sexual assault that allegedly took place in 1984. Virden RCMP say the alleged victim was under the age of 16 at the time. 65-year-old Vincent Tacan was arrested last week.
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This is like something out of a dystopian sci-fi move – Police in Winnipeg say they’ve found evidence that stolen bikes and their parts are being turned into weapons including guns. They say the tube casing itself is the right size to hold a shotgun shell. Police did not say if weapons like this have been used to commit crimes.
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Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman are getting the band back together. They’ll be touring, beginning next May, as ‘The Guess Who’ for the first time in 23 years. The 11-stop Canadian tour will feature support from Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles.
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There’s an auction coming up to coincide with the theatrical release of ‘Wicked: For Good’. One of the items is from the original 1939 ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – the iconic black hat that Margaret Hamilton wore as the Wicked Witch of the West. Also hitting the auction block – a ‘Wizard of Oz’ book signed by Judy Garland – and two versions of Dorothy’s ruby slippers.
