The Manitoba government has introduced the Minimum Wage Adjustment Act, which would raise the minimum hourly wage to $14.15 on April 1, 2023, as the second phase of a plan to further increase the minimum wage to $15 on Oct. 1, 2023, Labour, Consumer Protection and Government Services Minister Reg Helwer announced today. “Extraordinarily high inflation in recent months has made it increasingly difficult for Manitoba families to make ends meet,” said Helwer. “This phased-in approach to raising the minimum wage would help relieve some of the economic pressures on Manitoba workers while lessening the impact on small businesses’ bottom lines as much as possible.” This past summer, because of unusual economic circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Manitoba government passed amendments to the Employment Standards Code to allow minimum wage increases above the rate of inflation when inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) exceeds five per cent in the first quarter of a calendar year. The provincial hourly minimum wage was raised on Oct. 1 to $13.50 from $11.95 after government consultations with labour groups and businesses. Through this new bill, the Manitoba government plans a further increase to the minimum wage of 65 cents on April 1, 2023, to raise it to $14.15, Helwer noted. In August, the Manitoba government committed to raising the minimum wage to approximately $15 by Oct. 1, 2023. This is expected due to another regularly anticipated increase based on the CPI. “This increase to the minimum wage would assist lower-income Manitobans in dealing with the current economic realities as appropriate and necessary,” said Helwer. ”We will continue to tie the wage to economic indicators, and in this way maintain purchasing power, stability and predictability for employers.” The latest minimum wage changes follow recommendations made by the provincial Labour Management Review Committee this past summer, Helwer noted. Information on Manitoba’s minimum wage and other employment standards is available at www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/. (Province of MB News Release)

“CRIME STOPPERS WANTED” for: November 18th, 2022 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is: “WANTED BY POLICE” Terrence Edward KIMBALL (45 years) FOR Fail to Attend Court.  Between April and June 2022, Terrence Kimball was charged for 29 criminal offences.  Some of these offences include Break & Enter, Theft, Mischief to Property, Fraud, and Failing to comply with conditions.  On November 3rd, 2022, Terrence Kimball failed to attend court to deal with the charges.  At that time, a warrant of arrest was issued for Terrence Kimball as his current whereabouts is unknown. ************************************************************** CRIME OF THE WEEK for November 18th, 2022 The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a; Theft Under $5000 Sometime between Sunday November 13th and Monday November 14th, a construction trailer in the 1500’ block of Braecrest Drive was broken into.  Stolen from within were tools including a quick cut saw.  Investigation into this incident is continuing and police are looking for suspects. 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.  

Source: BPS News Release On November 15, 2022, police received information from the Chief Veterinary Office in Manitoba, that a 28-year-old male from Brandon was in possession of animals, contrary to release conditions that he was not to have any.  Further investigation into the male suspect led police to discover the carcasses of 16 kittens and rabbits at his residence. 28-year-old male suspect, Jess NICHOLS, from Brandon, was arrested and lodged at Brandon Police Service.  He will appear in court today on charges of Animal Cruelty X16 and Fail to Comply with Undertaking X18. Two living kittens were taken to a local veterinary clinic.

Source: BPS News Release On November 14, 2022, police responded to a report of a witness hearing a male call for help from an apartment.  Investigation revealed that a 24-year-old female broke into the apartment and proceeded to assault the male resident.  She was also to abide by conditions not to attend the home or to contact the male. She was arrested outside the home and lodged at Brandon Police Service.  She will appear in court today on charges of Break and Enter, Assault and Fail to Comply with Undertaking.

City of Brandon PSA  Ensuring safe travel on City of Brandon streets is a high priority for the City’s Public Works Department. Snow Route systems allow this to occur by clearing major arterial routes and bus routes more quickly and efficiently, when parked vehicles are removed. Snow Route Parking Restrictions Snow Route parking restrictions come into effect from November 15th to March 31st annually. After a significant amount of snow (more than 5 centimetres) and/or winds that cause drifting on snow routes, a parking restriction may be declared by the City’s Public Works Department. Vehicles that remain parked along signed seasonal snow clearing routes during an identified snow-clearing event risk being ticketed and/or towed at their own expense. The following locations are the designated Snow Routes in the City of Brandon: Rosser Avenue from 1st Street to 18th Street (24:00 to 07:00) Rosser Avenue from 18th Street to 34th Street (24:00 to 08:00) Rosser Avenue E. from 1st Street to 13th Street E. (24:00 to 08:00) Princess Avenue from 1st Street to 18th Street (24:00 to 07:00) Princess Avenue from 18th Street to Whillier Drive (24:00 to 08:00) Princess Avenue E. from 1st Street to 13th Street E. (24:00 to 08:00) Ninth Street extending from Pacific Avenue to Princess Avenue (24:00 to 07:00) Tenth Street extending from Princess Avenue to Pacific Avenue (24:00 to 07:00) Louise Avenue extending from 13th to 18th Street (24:00 to 08:00) Snow plowing/removal notices as detailed above are issued by the City of Brandon on our website and through our social media platforms. Additionally, notification is provided to Brandon’s local media outlets. Residents who wish to receive direct email notifications prior to the implementation of such parking bans can sign up for this service by visiting brandon.ca/snow-routes to subscribe. Snow Removal Procedures Snowfall amount, density of snow, humidity, rising or falling temperatures, wind velocity and direction along with the time of year, all play a part in how the City’s Public Works Department responds to any snow event. If a Citywide plowing program is implemented, it will be completed immediately after a snow event. The City is divided into seven zones for snow clearing, starting with a Priority 1A route. This route focuses the first 24 hours of all municipal snow-clearing activities on sections of major thoroughfares under the City’s care to establish a plowed “grid” of sorts for commuters and emergency vehicles to access all corners of the City as soon as possible. Included within this Priority 1A Route are: Sections of Braecrest Drive, Kirkcaldy Drive, Knowlton Drive, Stickney Avenue, McDonald Avenue, Hilton Avenue, Parker Boulevard, Fred Brown Way, Pacific Avenue, Rosser Avenue, Princess Avenue, Victoria Avenue East, Lorne Avenue East, Van Horne Avenue East, McTavish Avenue East, E. Fotheringham Drive, Whillier Drive, Park Avenue, Queens Avenue, Elderwood Drive, Brandon Avenue, Willowdale Crescent, Aberdeen Avenue, Richmond Avenue, Maryland Avenue, Magnolia Drive, Lyndale Drive, Sycamore Drive, and Patricia Avenue Portions of 34th Street, 26th Street, 19th Street North, 8th Street North, 13th Street, 10th Street, 9th Street, 6th Street, 1st Street, Dennis Street, 13th Street East, and 17th Street East For a comprehensive overview of the City of Brandon’s snow-clearing procedures, visit brandon.ca/snow-removal or contact the Public Works Department at 204-729-2285. During any snow event the Public Works Department appreciates your cooperation, please be patient, we will get to your street as soon as possible. Residents are also reminded that the best way to stay up to date on all regular snow plowing activities conducted by the City of Brandon’s Public Works Department is by visiting snowmap.brandon.ca Residents can also sign up to receive text notifications at textme.brandon.ca for when a snow clearing event takes place within the city, as well as events specific to your zone. The interactive online map is updated regularly through the winter season to show when snow plowing or snow removal activity is scheduled along a snow route, within various residential zones, in a back lane, or on a designated pedestrian route. Via the map’s tracking features, users can also stay on top of snow plowing or removal activity as crews make their way through a respective route or zone.