Brandon City Council completed the first day of 2026 municipal budget deliberations today, following divisional presentations from Corporate Services, Brandon Police Service, Brandon Fire & Emergency Services, Development Services, and Operational Services. The proposed 2026 municipal budget is focused on maintaining essential services, managing growth, and planning responsibly for the future. Across all divisions, Council heard a consistent emphasis on delivering core services while making targeted investments that support public safety, critical infrastructure, and long‑term sustainability. Through a combination of budget adjustments, surplus allocations, and Council decisions made during several pre-budget special meetings, the previously projected property tax increase of 10.6% has been reduced to a proposed increase of 6.6% in the municipal portion of the property tax bill. For an average single family residential property, the municipal portion of the 2026 property tax bill would be approximately $2,453 annually. Next Steps Council will continue with the formal budget deliberation process tomorrow, Sat, Jan. 31, 2026, starting at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers. Council will deliberate various initiatives and proposed amendments as part of the 2026 budget process. The meeting is open to the public and media to attend in person or to follow online. Residents are encouraged to watch the deliberations live on the City of Brandon’s YouTube channel (@CityofBrandonMB). Westman Communications Group (WCGtv) will also live‑stream the meeting. Clarification Regarding Brandon Sign Due to miscommunication, it was reported that Council would be deliberating a $6‑million Brandon sign. This is incorrect. Council is instead considering a proposal to allocate $350,000 within the capital plan toward a Brandon sign and necessary site preparation. The estimated total project cost is approx. $600,000, with partial funding to come from the Accommodation Tax Reserve, as well as an intention to pursue grant and/or private funding for the remaining portion. Some of the proposed operating enhancements include: Diversion Depot staffing Customer service and accessibility improvements Asset management and infrastructure maintenance Third‑party snow clearing pilot program Grader operator training program Police Digital Evidence Management Unit Business process improvements Procurement initiatives Recruitment and retention initiatives   Some of the key capital projects include: Water Treatment Facility upgrade Southeast Drainage Project – Phase II, including the Naturalized Stormwater Cemetery Pond project Southwest Brandon wastewater servicing project Purchase of transit buses Transit stop accessibility upgrades Transportation network enhancements (new roundabouts at 18th St. N. & Braecrest Dr., and at 26th St. & Maryland Ave.) Active transportation enhancements (crosswalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian corridors) Upgrades to Andrew’s Field changerooms and washrooms Downtown washroom Implementation of police body‑worn cameras Tree planting and naturalization at the Canada Packers Sports Complex Sportsplex parking lot renewal

The Manitoba government is reinvesting an additional $4 million from the sale of U.S. liquor products to the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba and the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, supporting critical services that improve children’s health, well-being and access to care, Premier Wab Kinew and Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard, minister responsible for the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation, announced today. “Manitobans stepped up over the holidays knowing that the proceeds would go to families in need,” said Kinew. “That support is helping put good food in schools for kids and improve care for children who are sick.” Of the $4 million, the Manitoba government will donate $3 million to the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba, in addition to the $30 million invested each year in the universal school nutrition program, which helps ensure children have reliable access to healthy food. “We removed U.S. liquor products from the shelves in response to the tariffs and the attack on our economy,” said Simard. “Instead of destroying these products once they expire, we’re using the sales proceeds to strengthen local communities and benefit Manitoba children. An additional $1 million will go to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba to support pediatric care, equipment and family-centred services that benefit Manitoba’s sickest and most vulnerable children receiving care. “Every day, Manitoba’s school food programs help ensure children and youth can come to school ready to learn with access to nutritious food,” said Clara Birnie, registered dietitian, Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba. “School food programs support long term health and wellbeing. This investment means more healthy food for students and stronger support for families across Manitoba.” “Children’s Hospital Foundation gives gratitude to the Manitoba government for this $1 million of support,” said Stefano Grande, president and CEO, Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. “This donation will impact projects aimed to increase safety and improve the path to healing for kids needing Manitoba’s only children’s hospital.” In December 2025, the Manitoba government announced it would donate $2.6 million from the proceeds of U.S. liquor sales to: the Christmas Cheer Board of Winnipeg; Harvest Manitoba; various charities in Brandon, including the Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer Registry and its regional partner organizations; Helping Hands Centre of Brandon; the Boys and Girls Club of Thompson; and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. The Manitoba government will continue to sell the remaining inventory of U.S. liquor products and donate the proceeds to charities across the province, the premier noted.

The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is “WANTED BY POLICE” Ozzie Mink FOR Breach of Probation x2 / Failure to Attend Court. MINK is a 38-year-old male who failed to comply with a Probation Order this fall and did not report to his probation officer. He also did not appearin court on the agreed upon time. Due to these incidents, a warrant has been issued for his arrest. ******************************* CRIME OF THE WEEK for January 27th, 2026 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a Theft Under $5000. On January 14th, 2026, at approximately 10:30 a.m., authorities were notified of a dine and dash at a restaurant in the 500 block of 24th Street. The two men shown in these photos are the suspects. If you have information on this, please contact Crime Stoppers. All tips remain anonymous. ************** If you have information about this or any other crime you are asked to contact Brandon Crime Stoppers @ 204-727-TIPS (8477), www.brandoncrimestoppers.com or by texting BCSTIP+your message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display. Your call is not recorded and your identity will remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2000.00 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.

Following an investigation into a robbery that occurred on May 18th, 2025, a 17-year-old male has been charged in connection with the incident. The robbery was reported to have occurred in the 1200 block of 10th Street, where a then 23-year-old male victim stated he was robbed at gunpoint. Through the course of the investigation, the youth was identified and is the final suspect to be charged in this matter; two other suspects have previously been arrested. At the time of the offence, the youth was in contact with three individuals, contrary to the conditions of his probation order. He was already in custody at the Brandon Correctional Centre on an unrelated matter when he was charged with Armed Robbery and Failure to Comply Probation x3. He will appear in court in the morning.

The Manitoba government begins construction this week on three schools in Winnipeg with site development underway in Brandon under the new Manitoba Jobs Agreement (MJA), with work starting less than one year after the projects were announced, Premier Wab Kinew announced today. “When you put in a hard day’s work, you should be able to earn a good wage and afford a good life, that’s what Manitoba Jobs Agreements are all about,” said Kinew. “With MJAs, we are making life more affordable for blue-collar workers and Manitobans in the skilled trades by delivering higher wages and good benefits, and making sure it’s Manitoba workers who are building up our province.” There was a significant competitive bidding process for these projects. To date, of the five contracts awarded as part of the schools project under the MJA, both open and closed shops were successful. Three of the companies are Manitoba companies, one is a Canadian company, and one has operated in Manitoba for more than 100 years. The four new schools will be located in Winnipeg’s Devonshire Park and Prairie Pointe neighbourhoods, West St. Paul’s Meadowlands neighbourhood, and southwest Brandon. In just a few months since the MJA was signed in September, preliminary construction has already begun. All four schools will be built simultaneously using a standardized design. “The MJA will ensure that construction’s skilled tradespersons working on any MJA project sites will receive appropriate Manitoba-based, market-driven wages, benefits, working conditions and safety packages, no different than what the Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba’s (CLRAM) construction employers provide to their employees,” said Peter Wightman, executive director, CLRAM. “It is satisfying to see that our provincial government has correctly recognized that construction tradespersons are highly skilled professionals who bring great value to any construction project and should be compensated and treated in a respectful fashion. CLRAM supports the MJA.” The MJA is a provincial policy that prioritizes Manitoba workers on major government infrastructure projects to deliver higher wages, good benefits and strong safety protections, and will boost local employment, workforce development through apprenticeships and project stability by setting consistent terms for union and non-union trades. All contractors can participate under the terms of the MJA, which include prioritizing local hires and meeting training targets. “For years, under the previous government, Manitoba had skilled tradespeople sitting on the out-of-work list while the few public projects failed to deliver stable, local employment,” said Tanya Palson, executive director, Manitoba Building Trades. “MJAs change that. By prioritizing Manitoba workers and apprenticeship opportunities, MJAs are turning public investment into real jobs, real training and long-term workforce capacity for this province.” The Manitoba government will utilize MJAs for a number of major projects, including the Victoria emergency room redevelopment.