Brandon Police Service has received numerous calls today regarding a phone scam.  This is the second time this type of phone scam has occurred in Brandon in the last month.  The scammers are calling random people in Brandon and claiming to be a relative (usually a grandchild or son) and stating that they have been involved in an accident with a pregnant woman.  They then convince the victims to pay large sums of money in order to have the relative released from jail or to cover the damages from the accident.  The scammers are then sending someone to the victims’ residences in Brandon to collect the money.  This same type of scam happened at the end of January and a media alert was posted on BPS Facebook and Twitter.  However, the scammers are back in Brandon and defrauding more innocent victims.

The Manitoba government is providing $220,000 to two organizations for green transportation projects, including the installation of new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein announced today. “Transitioning to electric vehicles and increasing access to transit will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support a low-carbon economy and ensure affordability for Manitobans,” said Klein. “Green transportation projects play a key role in protecting our environment and water, which is a top priority for our government.” The minister noted the projects will support technology and infrastructure needed to expand the province’s EV charging network and support collaborative planning for regional green transportation initiatives. The Manitoba government’s contribution will help secure matching funding from other project partners, the minister added. Eco-West Canada is receiving $150,000 to expand the EV charging network across Manitoba. The project will partner with six municipalities to support the procurement and installation of seven new Level 3 chargers. “We are happy to partner with the Manitoba government to help our communities adopt greener modes of transportation," said Dany Robidoux, executive director, Eco-West Canada. “There are many benefits to the electrification of transportation. Eco-West Canada is leading the way in Manitoba on the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which benefits our communities and our environment.” The Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities is receiving $70,000 in support of its Southeast Manitoba Regional Transit Initiative. The project is working collaboratively with businesses and stakeholders to assess regional transit needs and will work to develop solutions to the needs identified, the minister said. “Residents in rural areas have long voiced concerns about transportation challenges and a lack of options makes it difficult for some people to take advantage of employment and educational opportunities, attend health-care appointments or participate in community activities,” said Justin Johnson, executive director, Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities. “This funding allows us to proceed with a wide-ranging regional transit feasibility study in southeast Manitoba.” For more information on the Made-In-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, visit: https://www.gov.mb.ca/climateandgreenplan/index.html.

On February 21, 2023, at approximately 6:40 am, police received a report of a structure fire at a residence in the 100 block of Frederick Street.  When police and Brandon Fire and Emergency Services (BFES) arrived on scene there were visible flames and smoke billowing out of the residence.  BFES immediately began extinguishing the fire.  At approximately 7:15 am, BFES made entry into the residence and located a deceased male.  He is believed to be the lone occupant from the residence.  Brandon Police Service Major Crime Section and the Office of the Fire Commissioner continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

After several weeks of public consultation and feedback from residents as well as the business community, Brandon City Council has approved a borrowing By-Law for the Southwest Wastewater Servicing Project. The City of Brandon is planning for population growth to be 63,000 to 65,000 people within 30 years. The City has determined the southwest area will be a focus for residential and commercial growth. New wastewater infrastructure is required to support continued development. City Council took a planned and principled approach to making this decision. With over a decade of progressive decisions being made, the plan to grow in South Brandon has been through many Councils and Mayors. City Council navigated through questions, concerns, and various scenarios with the assistance of city administration, the business community, and residents of Brandon to make the best decision possible for now and the future. City Council approved the By-Law to borrow up to $30 million with the following caveats: That City Administration be authorized to debenture up to $18 million dollars, tender Phase 1 of the project, and have a complete detailed design of Phase 2 That prior to borrowing additional funds for this project, City administration will report back to Council for review and approval. Repayment of borrowing, over the long run, is anticipated to be covered by developer and builder paid fees called Developer Cost Charges. By passing this By-Law, Brandon City Council has not only proven their commitment to growing in South Brandon, but it also ensures that housing is a top priority. Without prioritizing growth, current housing prices would increase, thus making housing less affordable for residents.  “I am extremely proud of the way City Council and City Administration has worked through this process to ensure that we are poised to grow in Brandon,” notes Mayor Jeff Fawcett. “While we have taken our time and due diligence to ensure we are getting this right, we are confident that we have set Brandon up for a strong future.”

As we head into another electoral cycle, one of my pet peeves rears its ugly head.  If you are running for an elected office, show that office enough respect to know what it is actually called. Know what, in fact, you are representing.  With nomination races and pre-election leaflets now hitting the public spaces, I am seeing people refer to provincial electoral districts, and even sometimes municipal electoral districts, as ridings.  What the candidate is trying to say is they want to represent the area. What they are actually saying is they need more training on what government is, before they seek decision making powers within one.  Candidates are by no means the only offenders. Media personnel, reporters, editors, producers and the like have joined in this slippery slope of laziness, to the point where the rest of society follows along. This has been going on for years now, and it needs to stop.  Federal Members of Parliament represent ridings. Our Members of the Legislative Assembly represent constituencies. Where there are electoral districts in municipalities, they are called wards, though some municipalities just elect a set number of councillors, regardless of where they may live.  What would you think of people who watch a rugby game and start calling it water polo? What if you were at a grocery store and asked where the lumber aisle was? Would you ask for a steak at Starbucks?  If you did, you would sound pretty unintelligent, and people might question if you maybe should be in concussion protocol. So why is it considered acceptable to forgive these errors?  While this may seem like a little thing, it actually shows a decreasing amount of respect our society is showing towards elected offices, and the institutions of government. It shows the institutions don’t matter to the people making those errors. It may indicate the candidates don’t actually understand what the powers of the office actually are (which should also disqualify them from running).  If the voting public is not willing to demand basic standards in their candidates, they won’t get better elected representatives.