Brandon Minute: Issue 61

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

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• There are no meetings of City Council this week - the next one will take place on June 9th. At last week’s meeting, Council approved the nearly $2.9-million replacement of a watermain on First Street, originally installed in 1931. The project includes replacing the line between Brandon Avenue and Richmond Avenue, lowering three frequently frozen water connections, and upgrading select fire hydrants. The contract was awarded to Alternative Landscaping Ltd., the lower of two bidders, though no start date has been announced. And speaking of water, the City has reopened its two seasonal water stations, located at Seventh and Rosser and at the bus mall on Eighth Street. These stations are connected to fire hydrants and aim to provide safe drinking water, particularly for vulnerable populations during heat waves.
  
  
• Brandon’s South End Lift Station wastewater project is projected to go $5 million over its original $30 million budget, with total costs now expected to reach $35 million. Council recently approved an additional $1.7 million, bringing the current allocated total to $23.7 million, though the city remains within its budget for now. The lift stations support future development, including new housing and schools. While most of the funding comes from development fees rather than taxes, the City may need to temporarily use tax dollars to cover the shortfall unless provincial or federal grants come through. The shortfall occurred partly because the City undercharged developers in recent years, but development fees were increased in April to better reflect actual costs. Mayor Jeff Fawcett emphasized that the lift stations are necessary and expected as part of long-term growth planning. One station should be operational this summer, while the second is set to be tendered soon.
  
  
• For the first time in its history, the Brandon School Division is purchasing land for a new school. BSD Board Chair Linda Ross confirmed that the division has always been given land through agreements with the City, but tight timelines for the new K-8 school meant buying land was the only option. The school is expected to open for the 2027-28 school year. While purchasing land is common in other divisions, Ross noted it’s unusual for Brandon. The Manitoba Planning Act requires land to be set aside at no cost, but this time, the Province approved BSD’s land negotiations. Council gave first reading to rezone the site last week. Neither BSD nor the Province disclosed the cost of the purchase.
  
  
• Brandon University professor Gautam Srivastava has been appointed to Manitoba’s new Innovation and Productivity Task Force, which will focus on regulating artificial intelligence and protecting intellectual property created in the province. The task force, co-chaired by Minister Mike Moroz and entrepreneur Jim Balsillie, has six months to deliver recommendations to the government. Srivastava emphasized the importance of keeping Manitoba-born ideas and innovations within the province and ensuring creators have ownership and control over their digital content. He cited platforms like Instagram as examples of how user data can be exploited without proper regulation. The task force aims to build an innovation-friendly ecosystem that supports local talent and encourages youth to develop and protect their ideas. Srivastava, who specializes in data privacy and AI, is the only member from outside Winnipeg and plans to advocate for rural and regional interests.
  
  
• The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) has announced its speaker lineup for the 2025 Regenerative Agriculture Conference, set for November 12th and 13th in Brandon. Headlining the event is Michael Ferguson, a fourth-generation farmer and consultant focused on sustainable farm management. Other featured speakers include Rob Wunder, who will share his family's decade-long transition to regenerative practices, and Kimberly Cornish, who will discuss data-driven approaches to ecosystem services. Rancher and author Tom Krawiec will highlight practical methods for simplifying grazing systems. The conference also includes a free kids program, supported by Holistic Management Canada, to help families attend. Organizers say the event will emphasize real-world strategies that producers can apply on the ground, with a focus on soil health, carbon mapping and integrating livestock with crops. Registration and more details are available through the MFGA website.
  
  
• Two Brandon nurses, Kathy Ward and Rinautta McConnell, have been recognized for their outstanding leadership and mentorship in the field. The Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba presented them with provincial awards of excellence this week, celebrating their dedication to advancing patient care and supporting fellow health professionals. Both recipients have served in management roles and are credited with creating a supportive environment for staff while upholding high standards in clinical practice. Their contributions have strengthened the local healthcare system, especially in a time of growing pressure on services. The awards highlight the importance of not only clinical skills but also mentorship in shaping future nursing leaders. These honours come as Manitoba continues to face recruitment and retention challenges in the healthcare sector. By recognizing leaders in the field, the association aims to inspire others and reinforce the value of professional excellence in nursing across the province.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Join the Common Sense Brandon Facebook group to stay informed about what’s really happening at City Hall and connect with others who want to bring transparency, accountability, and common sense back to local government. 

Be part of the conversation, share your ideas, and help shape the future of our city.

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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