The Manitoba government is providing a total of $12 million in grant funding to 10 municipalities throughout the province to address the housing needs of vulnerable Manitobans and help protect them through affordable housing initiatives, Families Minister Rochelle Squires announced today. “The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in one way or another and vulnerable Manitobans, including lower-income families, have been hit particularly hard,” said Squires. “This funding will enable and empower our municipal partners to help those who face barriers to housing in their communities, by supporting the creation of affordable housing and home ownership opportunities that will protect more families for years to come.” The municipalities receiving the funding are Brandon, Dauphin, Flin Flon, Morden, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach, The Pas, Thompson and Winkler. Each of the 10 municipalities is to determine how to address best its objectives for housing affordability and development. The minister said this approach enables the municipalities to leverage additional sources of funding, if desired. The minister noted the federal government’s recently announced Rapid Housing Initiative has targeted funding to Winnipeg and Indigenous on-reserve communities only, and the new provincial funding aligns with current needs and represents a balanced approach to creating affordable housing opportunities.  The Manitoba government’s funding will benefit groups that are more likely to experience barriers to housing, such as Indigenous households, single-parent families and new Canadians, including refugees, as well as youth-led households, seniors and people with a physical or mental disability, and support them in achieving stable tenancies, the minister said. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On March 27, 2021 at approx. 6:40 am a passerby reported someone at an ATM, in the 400 blk 9th St., tampering with the ATM. Members attended and found the cash slot had been damaged, and the suspect had left prior. Members spoke with security who saw the suspect and knew him. The 51 year old male, was located in the 800 blk Rosser Ave., and he was arrested and released to appear in court on 2021-06-03 on charges of Mischief under $5000.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release A 36 year-old male was arrested on Friday morning at Brandon Correctional Centre for two counts of failing to comply with a court order.  The accused has been in custody since November, 2020, and is bound by two non-communication orders that prohibit him from having contact with an ex-partner.  Despite these orders, the accused made in excess of 445 calls to his ex-partner.  The accused was scheduled to appear before the Court on March 27, 2021.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Break & Enters: Members dealt with a number of break and enters reported Friday morning.  All were to sheds or garages located on residential property.  A shed was broken into on Waverly Drive and two bicycles were stolen, both of which were recovered.  A detached garage was broken into on the 600 block of 37th Street, and a bicycle stolen from there.  A work shed was also broken into on the 600 block 37th Street and some tools stolen.  These three break and enters are believed to be related.  A fourth break and enter was reported to a detached garage on the 600 block 24th Street and articles stolen.  These items were recovered during a separate incident, and a suspect identified.  These incidents are all still under investigation

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On March 25, 2021, police were flagged down by a witness who observed a male pushing a cart full of stolen items from a business in the Corral Centre at approximately 11:00 am.  The male was already some distance away from the area as he travelled south along 18th street N.  Police stopped the male near 18th street N. and McGregor Ave. In the cart were a number of stolen items including power tools.  The 23-year-old male was arrested and released to appear in court on June 14, 2021 on a charge of Theft Under $5000.