Brandon Minute: Dam Delay, Immigration Initiative, and the Fire Services Budget

Brandon Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Brandon politics

This Week In Brandon:

• There will be a meeting of City Council this evening at 7:00 pm. Council will hear a Housing and Wellness Update as well as an Age Friendly Committee Update, along with delegations speaking on a Veteran Commemorative Crosswalk and the Western Manitoba Regional Library. Council’s agenda includes the appointment of a Deputy Mayor and Acting Deputy Mayor, 2025 appointments to Boards and Committees, and a discussion about 2025 budget timelines.
  
  
• Brandon's downtown is experiencing a revitalization, with a 7% increase in the number of businesses, including 25 new openings over the past year, according to the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation. There have been graffiti removal initiatives and an increase in membership for the Downtown BIZ.
  
  
• Brandon Fire and Emergency Services (BFES) is on track to stay within its budget this fiscal year, unlike Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, which is facing a nearly $13-million budget overrun. Fire Chief Terry Parlow attributes BFES's success to increased staffing, which has helped manage growing call volumes and prevent overtime costs from escalating. The department has also improved its workplace culture, contributing to staff retention and morale. In the past three years, BFES added about 20 firefighter-paramedics, and is now training staff for new community paramedic units.

Last Week In Brandon:

• The City has launched the Brandon Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Immigration Initiative to address skilled labour shortages and support economic growth. This program targets skilled workers and entrepreneurs, particularly in health care, construction, and manufacturing, offering an entrepreneurial stream for newcomers to invest in local businesses. The program will allocate 150 slots in 2024 and 100 in each of 2026 and 2027.
  
  
• Crime rates in Brandon have decreased overall in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest report from the Brandon Police Service. As of October, the city recorded 5,931 Criminal Code violations, a 2% drop from 2023. Property crime remained the most common, accounting for nearly half of all violations, with a noticeable reduction in break-ins. However, drug-related offenses saw an increase, with more charges for trafficking and possession compared to last year. Additionally, there were no homicides in 2024, an improvement from the four reported at the same time in 2023.
  
  
• The rehabilitation of the Rivers Dam has been delayed by two years and will cost 17% more than initially estimated, according to the Province. The project, now set for completion in 2027, will cost $47 million, up from the original $40 million estimate for 2025. The cost increase is primarily due to higher construction expenses for the low-flow conduit and spillway rehabilitation. The dam, which was at risk of failure after a 2020 storm, is being upgraded to handle extreme flood events.