Brandon Minute: Foreign Investment, Development Charges, and a Trade Council Appointee

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

This Week In Brandon:

• There will be a City Council meeting this afternoon at 7:00 pm. The public will have a chance to weigh in on a borrowing bylaw to fund the purchasing and retrofitting of a building for the purpose of a police operations centre. Council will also discuss an update on the physician recruitment program and look to adopt the Brandon City Plan.
  
  
• Brandon’s Economic Development Office will review a report from Deloitte Canada to help attract foreign investment and address challenges like tariffs. The City wants to enhance its global appeal, focusing on sectors like chemical and food manufacturing. The report will guide adjustments to the City's approach and help to ensure marketing materials meet industry standards.
  
  
• Council is reviewing its development cost charge bylaw. Council is particularly focused on high-density developments like apartments, which are heavily impacted by the proposed charges. Mayor Jeff Fawcett suggested a staggered fee increase for these projects to avoid deterring builders. Developers argue that increased fees could raise rental rates, making projects financially unfeasible.

Last Week In Brandon:

• Brandon received $8,500 from the Westoba Inspire Program and local contributions for its first permanent disc golf course at Canada Games Park. The 9-hole course, set to open this summer, aims to provide an affordable, accessible recreational activity. The Brandon Disc Golf Club, in collaboration with the City of Brandon, will also host tournaments and offer introductory programs to engage the community.
  
  
• Brandon School Division said it faces a growing student population, leading to larger class sizes for Grades 4-12 in the upcoming school year. High school classrooms will increase from an average of 19 to 23 students, while Grade 4-8 classes will rise slightly. Although the division expects 200 new students and 11 additional teaching positions, budget constraints have led to the cancellation of plans for 15 more teaching roles. The division also raised property taxes by 6.78% to cover salary increases, with most of the budget allocated to payroll.
  
  
• Jennifer Ludwig, Vice-President of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed to Manitoba's US Trade Council, aimed at addressing US tariffs and strengthening trade relations. She is focused on representing businesses in Brandon and Westman, ensuring their concerns about cross-border trade and potential tariffs are heard. The Council also plans to address inter-provincial trade barriers. Ludwig is encouraging local businesses to share their concerns through the Chamber's social media and email, hoping to provide a unified voice in trade discussions with provincial and federal governments.