Brandon Minute: Issue 74

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

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• Council plans to borrow an additional $10 million for the southwest wastewater project, bringing total borrowing to $40 million. Rising construction costs have made the extra funding necessary, according to the City. Borrowing now allows the City to begin tendering contracts immediately, rather than waiting for potential grant funding. The City has applied for up to $7.2 million in funding through the Canadian Housing and Infrastructure Fund. Mayor Jeff Fawcett stressed the importance of moving forward without delays to support commercial development. 
  
  
• Mayor Jeff Fawcett attended the Association of Manitoba Municipalities Cities Caucus meeting in Steinbach, where delegates from 10 cities discussed shared priorities including health care, wildfires, and bail reform. Fawcett emphasized the importance of a collective municipal voice to strengthen advocacy with provincial and federal governments. He highlighted the challenge of retaining doctors in rural Manitoba, noting Brandon University’s recent expansion of its medical training program as a positive step, but stressed the need for strategies to keep graduates in the region. The meeting also focused on wildfire preparedness, with delegates sharing best practices and communication strategies to ensure public safety. Bail reform was another key topic, with Fawcett and other Mayors urging stronger federal measures to hold repeat offenders accountable. Fawcett said Brandon’s concerns, particularly regarding health care and public safety, gain more impact when presented alongside other cities.
  
  
• The Wheat City Tennis and Pickleball Hub in Brandon, originally set to open in October 2025, is now expected to launch in January or February 2026 due to construction delays. Finalizing design plans and securing permits were provided as causes of the setback. The 40,000-square-foot facility will feature 14 pickleball courts, some convertible to tennis courts, professional office spaces, a fitness centre, hot tub, sauna, cold plunge, and locker rooms. Downtown BIZ executive director Emmy Sanderson highlighted the hub’s potential to draw visitors from across Brandon and western Manitoba, boosting the downtown area. Membership pricing and corporate sponsorship opportunities are expected to be announced in the coming months, with plans for a grand opening tournament and community celebration. 
  
  
• Councillor Bruce Luebke has proposed building up to four new outdoor aquatic facilities to address the aging Kinsmen Pool, the city’s only outdoor pool. Each new facility could cost between $4 million and $6 million. Luebke highlighted that similar facilities in the region have been built within this price range, pointing to a recent Pilot Mound project as an example. The proposal aims to proactively replace or supplement the Kinsmen Pool, which recently required last-minute repairs to open for the season. Luebke’s resolution will be revisited during budget discussions and updates to the City’s 10-year plan.  
  
  
• The Brandon Professional Firefighter Paramedic Association is calling for increased funding and staffing to address rising demands on emergency services. Over the past decade, calls to Brandon Fire and Emergency Services have grown by more than 70%, yet staffing levels have remained largely unchanged, leaving periods where only 10 firefighter-paramedics are on duty. The City’s dual-response model, which handles both fire protection and medical emergencies, combined with commitments to Shared Health for patient transfers, can reduce available resources for local emergencies. The Association stressed the need for coordinated municipal and provincial action to maintain public safety. While provincial initiatives have offered some relief, staffing shortages and growing medical calls continue to strain the system. Mayor Jeff Fawcett acknowledged these concerns, noting 20 new positions and an additional ambulance have been added over the past three years, but recruitment remains a challenge. He emphasized that funding alone is insufficient without qualified personnel to fill positions. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

What do you think about Councillor Luebke's proposal to build multiple pools? Is this what the city needs, or is it a waste of funds?

Reply and let us know!

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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