Manitoba Public Insurance reported net income of $176.6 million for the first nine months of its 2019/20 fiscal year – an increase of $89.2 million over the same time period last year. This includes net income from the Basic insurance line of business of $121.2 million in the first nine months ending November 30, 2019. “MPI remains in a solid financial position heading into the final quarter of the fiscal year,” said Mark Giesbrecht, Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Manitoba Public Insurance. Total earned revenues for the first nine months rose by $52.1 million from the same period last year, driven mainly by higher motor vehicle premium revenue resulting from an increase in the number of motor vehicles insured, the value of these vehicles, and an overall 1.8 per cent increase in Basic insurance rates ordered by the Public Utilities Board effective March 1, 2019. “Factoring out impacts on provisions for unpaid claims due to changing interest rates which are hedged through the Corporation’s asset-liability management process, net claims incurred decreased year over year by $3.2 million. This improvement resulted from a combination of lower accident frequency and improved claims handling,” said Giesbrecht. Recently, the Public Utilities Board approved MPI’s rate application of an overall rate decrease of 0.6 per cent along with the Corporation’s proposed Capital Management Plan and 100 per cent Minimum Capital Test Basic target capital level. “MPI’s new capital target and framework will serve to protect ratepayers from future rate hikes and aligns the interests of the Basic and Extension lines of business,” added Giesbrecht. The new rates take effect March 1, 2020. (Source: Manitoba Public Insurance News Release)

Brandon School Division buses will not be operating outside the city of Brandon for Thursday January 16th all day due to extreme cold; all Brandon School Division schools are open; buses will be running within the city of Brandon; attendance at schools is at parental discretion where travel is required. Please call your school if you are not going to be attending. All Brandon School Division Staff are to report to work. (submitted)

A new program this fall will help Indigenous students at Brandon University make a successful transition to post-secondary life, and it is thanks to a large and generous donation. Daphne Wagner and her husband David Green, along with their children Lita and Michael, have committed funding to launch the program, which will help Indigenous students entering business, science or health studies transition effectively to university life — and support them through the completion of their degrees. “David and I believe that education is a powerful tool to improve lives, and enhance self-sufficiency, not only for the individual but for family and community,” Daphne said. “We are privileged to partner with Brandon University to increase the reach and efficacy of their existing programs.” Wagner is an alumna of BU with degrees from the School of Music and the Faculty of Arts. She and Green have also previously funded a BU music bursary. “We are very thankful for this extremely generous gift, which creates new ways for us to better support Indigenous students at Brandon University,” said Carla Eisler, BU’s Director of Advancement and Alumni Affairs. The new program will be called the Al and Bee Wagner Indigenous Transition Program, after Wagner’s parents. Incoming students will also participate in developing an additional Indigenous name for the program. “This is about supporting young Indigenous adults through their entire university journey, including academic and cultural resources, from their first entrance to university and on through a successful graduation,” said BU President Dr. David Docherty. “We know that, as a western, colonial institution, we do not always present a welcoming or familiar face to students with Indigenous backgrounds. I am so grateful to Daphne and David for their vision and their benevolence in helping us adapt to better serve these students.” A coordinator for the Al and Bee Wagner Indigenous Transition Program will be hired in the near future to work with Brandon University, local knowledge-keepers, and Indigenous communities to create a program that will best suit the academic, cultural and community needs of BU Indigenous students. The program is expected to launch in Fall 2020, and will start each year with a pre-orientation in August and will include academic tutoring and mentorship. Wagner and Green’s donation is one of the largest ever received by BU. The gift will be delivered over the next five years and will fully cover startup and costs for those years of the program, as well as its regular assessment. (Source: Brandon University News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On January 12, 2020, after 1:00 am, police received a report that an individual was failing to abide by their curfew. A witness reports that the suspect was at a social event in the community. She was posting photos of herself on the Snapchat app while at the event which caught the attention of the witness. Police confirmed that the suspect was not at home by checking her residence and speaking with her family. The 19-year-old female later learned that police had been looking for her and turned herself in to Brandon Police Service. She will appear in court on March 2, 2020 on a charge of Fail to Comply with Conditions of Undertaking.

Brandon, MB – Thanks to a new feature of the City of Brandon’s continually-expanding “Virtual City Hall” initiative, Brandon residents can now register and renew their annual pet licences online! As per City of Brandon Animal Control By-Law No. 5900, dogs or cats over six months of age – whether they are considered to be indoor pets or not – must be licensed on an annual basis. With this new online service, dog and cat owners can now visit www.brandon.ca and click on the “Animal Licence Application” icon or visit https://petlicense.brandon.ca directly to fill out their application for a new animal license or animal license renewal, which must include submission of their pet’s most current rabies vaccination expiry date and, if applicable, proof of spay or neuter. Once the application is processed by City staff, an invoice is then sent back to the applicant, who can either pay online by credit card, or with other forms of payment by visiting the By-law Compliance Office on the main floor of Brandon City Hall, 410-9th Street. Following processing of payment, the valid licence tag is then mailed out to the applicant. Pet licences can still easily be obtained through the Finance and Legislative Services Departments at Brandon City Hall. As per the 2020 Fee Schedule, the cost to register a spayed/neutered cat or dog is $20, while the cost to register an unspayed/unneutered cat or dog is $56. Proof of up-to-date rabies vaccination and spay/neuter must be presented prior to the issuance of a licence. The Brandon Police Service’s Animal Control officers patrol the City and local dog parks and can request to see a pet’s licence at any time. The fine for an unlicensed cat or dog, as per the City of Brandon Compliance By-law, is $100.00. Cat and dog owners are also cautioned that if their unlicensed cat or dog is ever apprehended by Brandon Police Service Animal Control officers, they will be subject to a fine. In addition, a licence must be purchased for an apprehended animal prior to it being returned to the owner’s possession, along with additional impound fees. General information about licensing within the City of Brandon can be obtained by contacting the City of Brandon Legislative Services Department’s By-law Compliance Clerk at 204-729-2230 or by visiting the Bylaw Compliance Office on the main floor of Brandon City Hall, 410-9th Street. (City of Brandon Public Notice)