-Your property taxes are going up. How much? approximately 7-percent next year in Brandon, but it could be a bit higher. This from Mayor Jeff Fawcett, however, It should be as high as 13 per cent, that’s according to a report from accounting firm MNP . The city’s budget will be deliberated January 30th and 31st.
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-City Council may start charging school groups to use the Brandon Community Sportsplex. Right now, school teams are using the facilities for free. Councilors say the city covers the cost of utilities, staffing, and maintenance, and teams should pay their fair share. The fee hike will be debated again January 19th at city council.
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-Manitoba Hydro is projecting a $409 million dollar loss by the end of the year. That’s more than double for the same period last year. They already lost $293 million dollar in the first 6 months. What does this mean for rate payers? 3.5 per cent is being proposed. The public utilities board will need to approve this rate hike.
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-It’s not a blizzard, but yet another Alberta Clipper is on its way to Westman right now. Environment Canada has issued a yellow advisory for blowing snow. we could receive up to another 10cm of snow, reducing visibility with strong gusting winds. Travel could be hazardous.
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-This last blast of winter is to blame for A Manitoba Semi-truck driver’s death. A 33-year-old truck driver died after a crash involving 3 other semi-trucks on the Trans-Canada Highway near Saskatoon Thursday. The driver was pronounced dead on the scene, and the 2 other drivers were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
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-A teenager from rural Westman has been sentenced, after crashing a stolen car on the Trans-Canada Highway while under the influence of Meth in September. The Brandon Sun says, The teen, who was known to police, has repeatedly breached prior court conditions and has stolen multiple cars. The teen, who is now 18, will face a sentence of 45 days for theft of a motor vehicle and 30 concurrent days for driving while impaired. The crown is also asking for a 1 year driving probation.
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-More of Manitoba’s MRI machines are now using Artificial Intelligence. NDP Health Minister, Uzoma Asagwara, says AI leads to better imaging, faster scans, fewer repeated exams, and faster answers for patients. Shared Health’s Chief Operating Officer wants 9 of its 14 machines in hospitals across Brandon, Winnipeg, and Selkirk to use AI by Spring 2026.
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-Prime Minister Mark Carney says our Free Trade Agreement is on the table with the US again next month. Carney says he wants to protect the supply management of our agricultural products. The US President said in October he was halted trade talks with Canada in the fall over an anti-tariff ad aired in U.S. markets by the Ontario government. Meantime, the two countries are close to an agreement in sectoral tariff relief in multiple areas, including steel, aluminum and energy.
