The Manitoba government is taking steps to develop a new provincial parks reservation service with new software while also making short-term changes to the system to improve users’ experiences when booking campsites this spring, Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard announced today. “The technical and policy adjustments to our parks reservation service are being made in response to public feedback,” said Guillemard. “The improvements will help manage the load on the opening day for reservations, ease the booking process for campers and provide more opportunities to book camping facilities in high demand and limited inventory, such as cabins and yurts.” The Department of Conservation and Climate is exploring options for major changes, including a completely new software application. While the province works to scope out, acquire and implement a new system with an aim to have it in place in 2023, work is also underway on short-term fixes and policy changes to improve the reservation experience this year. The immediate focus for this spring is on addressing the major challenges users experienced in booking campsites, cabins and yurts at provincial parks on the opening days for reservations in 2021. Any improvements will be tested against the department’s best estimates of user traffic loads. Though the short-term fixes will not address all of the current issues in the reservation system, Guillemard noted they are designed to improve performance this year while the province works on the longer-term changes. Changes planned for the parks reservation service for this coming booking season include: server upgrades to improve system performance and other technology-based enhancements; an addition of two opening days to five from three; a limit to the number of reservations that can be booked in one session for cabins and yurts to two from three; and a reduction in the maximum length of stays at cabins or yurts to seven nights from 14 nights to give more people opportunities to acquire these facilities. A tendering process will soon be underway to develop and implement a replacement system for future seasons, the minister said. Prospective policy adjustments were presented recently to the public through the Improving the Parks Reservation Service online survey on EngageMB. Other suggestions made through the survey will be considered in future years, the minister noted. “We appreciate the feedback we received through EngageMB and thank everyone who took the time to share their opinions to help us provide a quality reservation service for Manitobans and visitors,” said Guillemard. “Our government is committed to making it easier for Manitobans to reserve campsites with this short-term and long-term approach.” The What We Heard report is available at: https://gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/20212022/engagemb-parks-prs.pdf.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Following an investigation into drug trafficking, members of the Organized Crime Section and the Operational Support and Crime Suppression Unit executed a search warrant to a residence in the 200 block of 26 street on January 11, 2022.  Police seized 50 grams of Methamphetamine, 20 grams of Fentanyl, $1800 cash and a .22 caliber rifle with ammunition.  Four individuals were arrested and face charges. A 35-year-old female was arrested and later released to appear in court on March 10, 2022 on charges of Possess Meth for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possess Proceeds of Crime, and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime. A 45-year-old male was arrested and later release to appear in court on March 3, 2022 on a charge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. A 48-year-old male was arrested and later released to appear in court on March 3, 2022 on charges of Unauthorized Possession of a firearm and Possess Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order. A 42-year-old male was arrested and lodged at Brandon Police Service and appeared in court yesterday on charges of Possess Meth for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possess Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possess Proceeds of Crime, and Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm.

 As Brandon City Council prepares to deliberate the proposed 2022 municipal budget, the community is invited to provide feedback.   This year’s proposed capital budget includes a lot of improvements for the community, including the multi-year construction of an outdoor field complex, numerous street and sidewalk upgrades, many drainage and storm sewer mitigation projects, transit and airport upgrades, as well as significant updating of the municipal water treatment plant.  The proposed operations budget at $93.6 million includes some new programs and services. This year’s operating budget sees significant investment in affordable housing initiatives, investment in downtown and community wellness, as well as an increase in recreational programming and activities.  The capital plan as proposed is $132.0 million and includes $40.4 million of Federal and Provincial grant funding. This year’s noteworthy projects include:  ·       $22.5 million towards multi-year water treatment plant upgrades totaling $125 million  ·       Outdoor sports complex on Veterans Way at $14.1 million  ·       Airport runway rehabilitation at $11.5 million  ·       Police Detention Centre at $4.1 million  ·       Replacement of four Access Transit Buses at $700 thousand  * Note that the above five projects are majority or fully funded by grants  ·       Proposed Drainage improvements across the City at $31.7 million  ·       Sewer lift station allowing for fifty years of growth in the southern areas at $15.0 million  ·       Fire department multipurpose ladder & rescue vehicle at $1.8 million  ·       Wastewater maintenance building at 1.7 million  ·       Water treatment automation upgrades at $1.3 million   ·       Reconfigure library entrance area at $1.0 million (subject to grant funding)  ·       Replacement or renewal of multiple vehicles, equipment, technology, building systems, streets, water, sewer and storm drain lines.  Prior to Council’s deliberations, the proposed 2022 budget delivered by senior administration is representative of a 6.9% municipal tax increase. Senior administration has worked diligently to keep this percentage as low as possible while dealing with rising inflation costs, challenges due to COVID-19, and the need to properly invest in infrastructure projects which will support our City’s future.   All proposed budget documents can be viewed on the City of Brandon website at brandon.ca/budget/2022-budget.    City Council welcomes comments or feedback on the proposed 2022 budget which can be sent by email to budget@brandon.ca   Brandon City Council will deliberate the 2022 proposed budget on Friday, January 28, 2022, and Saturday, January 29, 2022. Deliberations will be livestreamed for public viewing via the City of Brandon YouTube channel.   (City of Brandon PSA)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On January 10, 2022, police received a report of a fraud in which the fraudsters convinced the victim to send $900 via Bitcoin by pretending to be representatives from Service Canada.  The victim also provided fraudsters with their Social Insurance Number.  The victim received another call from fraudsters pretending to be members of BPS.  The fraudster told the victim that they would be arrested if they did not send more money.  At this point, the victim became suspicious and attended to BPS. While the victim was reporting the matter in Brandon Police Service front lobby, they received another phone call to their cell phone, and the number on their call display was the Brandon Police Service non-emergency number.  The person on the other end of the phone was pretending to be a member of Brandon Police Service.  The victim gave the phone to the BPS employee who then engaged with the fraudster. Unfortunately, police are not able to track Bitcoin, so any money sent by victims will not be recovered.  Government agencies will not collect money via Bitcoin, and police do not accept money in any form as an alternative to arrest.  Legitimate business and government phone numbers can be spoofed on your call display by fraudsters, to convince victims to comply with bogus demands.  If you didn’t initiate the phone call, you do not know who you are speaking with.  Do not give personal information, such as SIN number, or banking information over the phone.  If you are ever in doubt, please contact police.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 2:15 Saturday afternoon, officers were dispatched to a two vehicle collision at 1st St and Rosser Ave.  The investigation revealed an eastbound Chevy Cruze ran the red light on Rosser at 1st St and collided with a northbound City of Brandon Firetruck. The two occupants of the car were taken to the Brandon Regional Health Centre and were treated and released.  Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene.  The car’s driver, a 24 year old of Brandon, was charged under the Highway Traffic Act for disobeying a traffic control device (red light), as well as drive an unregistered vehicle and driving without a valid license.