Brandon Minute: Issue 89

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

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• Brandon’s Planning Commission has signed off on seven proposed street names for a new subdivision in the city’s southwest. During a meeting held last month, Commissioners agreed to add the following names to the municipal street registry: Bluestem Grass Place, Clover Way, Morningstar Bay, Rye Grass Place, Sun Dog Drive, Sunflower Way and Sweetgrass Place. The names will move to City Council for final approval once the developer submits the subdivision plans
  
  
• The City of Brandon is applying for a Federation of Canadian Municipalities grant to fund “half signals” at the Richmond Avenue and 22nd Street intersection to improve pedestrian safety, especially for students from nearby Meadows School. The total project cost is about $300,000, with the grant covering up to $125,000 and the City funding the remainder. The signals would allow pedestrians to stop traffic on Richmond Avenue while vehicles on 22nd Street continue to have a stop sign. Council approved the grant application and will discuss the City’s contribution during January budget deliberations. The City hopes to install the crossing by next school year, though the timeline depends on grant approval.
  
  
• Brandon residents can expect higher fees across several municipal services in the new year, as the City moves to adjust charges for recreation, transit, waste disposal, emergency services and various permits. A report to Council says most increases fall between 2% and 8% and are needed to reflect rising operating costs and ensure optional services are not subsidized by property taxes. Waste disposal fees would see modest increases. Recreation costs would also increase: pool admissions, aquafit programs, arena rentals, racquetball fees and Sportsplex memberships all see small adjustments, while green fees at the Wheat City Golf Course would climb 7.8%. Cemetery fees, marriage ceremony charges, airport landing fees, and equipment rentals would also see increases. Transit fares are set to rise by 10 cents per ride. Council is scheduled to vote on the full fee schedule on December 15th.
  
  
• The City of Brandon has secured $340,740 in federal funding from Health Canada to launch a harm-reduction outreach van in 2026. The van will provide clean needles and pipes, water, snacks, and referrals to housing, addiction, and mental health services, focusing on vulnerable populations, particularly in downtown areas. The Southern Chiefs Organization will staff the van and determine its hours of operation, including evenings and weekends, to improve accessibility. This pilot program aims to fill gaps in existing harm-reduction services and support individuals experiencing homelessness or unsafe situations. While the van will not operate as a supervised overdose prevention site, it aims to help reduce risks associated with drug use. The funding is secured through October 2026, with plans to seek an extension into 2027. 
  
  
• The Brandon School Division (BSD) is seeking provincial support to avoid large property-tax increases for residents, with projections showing a potential $6.8 million shortfall and a tax hike of over 10% next year for a typical home. BSD Trustees plan to meet with Manitoba Education Minister Tracy Schmidt in January to discuss funding concerns and present near-final figures. Schmidt noted the NDP government has increased investments in school divisions, including a 14.5% budget increase for BSD over the past two years, and introduced affordability measures such as the homeowners’ tax credit. BSD is pushing for more support to prevent repeated, significant tax increases for local residents.

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