Brandon Minute: Issue 85

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

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• The City of Brandon will hire a third-party contractor for snow clearing this winter after struggling to fill a vacant snowplow operator position, with the estimated $75,000 contract slightly higher than the $60,000 cost of a City employee. The contract, considered a pilot project, will cover about 15 working days and ensure resources are available during snow events, with the City reviewing its viability at the end of the season. In addition to staffing solutions, the City is aiming to improve communication with residents through a real-time online snow map, updates on priorities for streets, sidewalks, and back lanes, and a “report an issue” feature. Council also discussed potential long-term solutions, such as supporting heavy equipment technician students at Assiniboine College to address staffing shortages. Mayor Jeff Fawcett and Council approved the updated snow-clearing plan, which includes alternating residential street priorities and exploring creative engagement, like naming the plows for public tracking.
  
  
• Brandon has reopened a temporary overnight drop-in shelter as freezing temperatures return and homelessness rises in the city. Operated by the non-profit Life’s Journey, the shelter provides space for up to 25 people and aims to ease pressure on Brandon’s Safe and Warm shelter, which has reached capacity in past winters. Local officials and advocates emphasize that short-term shelters are not a solution to homelessness, highlighting the need for permanent, supportive housing and sustainable provincial investment. The Province’s “Your Way Home” plan, which focuses on moving people into permanent housing, has not yet expanded beyond Winnipeg, leaving Brandon without a long-term strategy. Data shows homelessness in Brandon is increasing, with the number of chronically homeless individuals rising from 126 in 2023 to 216 this year. City and community leaders stress the importance of emergency planning and additional supports to address ongoing gaps in housing and services. The drop-in shelter, funded with $350,000 in provincial support, aims to operate through April while connecting visitors with other resources in the city.
  
  
• The Manitoba government is investing an additional $1 million to accelerate the redevelopment of Brandon’s Park Community Centre, including the addition of a licensed, non-profit child-care facility. Premier Wab Kinew and Minister Glen Simard said the funding will improve access to affordable, high-quality child care in downtown Brandon while revitalizing the community centre as a hub for recreation, culture, and community programs. The YMCA of Brandon will operate the new 68-space child-care facility, ensuring local families have convenient care options. Mayor Jeff Fawcett and community leaders emphasized that the project will benefit working families and strengthen the city’s social infrastructure, making the centre a practical and lasting resource for generations.
  
  
• The Manitoba government is investing $100,000 to replace the dome at Brandon University’s Gulliver Astronomical Observatory, ensuring continued access to the province’s largest public telescope. The current dome, installed in 1971, is no longer weatherproof and must be manually operated, creating safety risks for staff and equipment. The new dome will be automated, weather-sealed, and internet-connected, allowing remote operation and public access to live telescope views. The project is supplemented by a $50,000 donation from the family of astronomy professor Dr. Austin Gulliver. 
  
  
• Westman business leaders are warning that further restrictions or the elimination of the temporary foreign worker program would worsen labour shortages, hurt food production, and strain rural economies. Brandon Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Ludwig stressed that meaningful consultation with industry is essential before making changes, as many local employers struggle to fill skilled positions in trades, professions, and essential sectors. The federal government implemented tighter rules in September 2024, including limiting low-wage hires in regions with unemployment over 6%, capping hires at 10% of the workforce, and reducing job terms from two years to one. Local business owners, including restaurant and agribusiness operators, defended the program as crucial for retaining local staff and preventing burnout, while noting that hiring through the program does not replace efforts to hire Canadians. Ludwig emphasized that policies must reflect regional realities and urged Ottawa to involve local business representatives in reviews. The federal government described the TFW program as a “last-resort” tool, highlighting increased inspections, compliance checks, and penalties to ensure safety and fairness for workers.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!