MIKE STACKHOUSE I don’t usually spend two straight weeks on the same topic, but the Omar Khadr matter remains in the limelight as I continue to be amazed at the number of people I have encountered who are okay with Canada supporting terrorism and harboring a terrorist. I think what disgusts me the most are the Canadian people who show tremendous sympathy for Khadr and absolutely none for the families of the two people (one a fatality and one a serious, permanent injury) Khadr struck when he lobbed a grenade at them during a firefight in Afghanistan when Khadr was a 15-year-old. I don’t have enough space to provide a complete timeline of the Khadr matter, but the guy spent precious little time in Canada even though he was born here. My son was born in Brandon, but moved to Yorkton within two weeks. If he goes on to do something famous, is he recognized by Brandon or Yorkton? That’s Omar Khadr. He was born here, but never lived here to any point that he would recall it. When Omar was 15, he was already in the company of Osama Bin Laden. The two broke bread together (figure of speech). Think about that. We paid $10.5 million to a guy who was at the right hand of Osama Bin Laden. Khadr, who was badly injured in the firefight where the American medic was killed, expressed happiness when learning he had killed an American and signed a statement of facts confessing as such. Khadr later claimed that confession was made as a result of torture, but a judge ruled the confession came after investigators provided video evidence to Khadr of him building IEDs (bombs). Khadr would go on to spend ten years at Guantanamo and Canada was under pressure by the American government to take him back and have his time served here, something the Stephen Harper government wanted no part of. By 2012, he was repatriated back to Canada and then released from custody in 2015 altogether. Meanwhile, back in 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the federal government infringed on Khadr’s rights when it sent its own interrogators (this was back when Chretien/Martin ran the country) to question Khadr after the poor lad was deprived of sleep (not allowed to snooze for more than 3 hours at a time). He also did not have a lawyer present. At first, Khadr sought $100,000. He, later, raised the amount to $20 million and the Supreme Court ruled financial compensation, “left to government to decide how best to respond”, but the Court also noted the original remedy sought by Khadr was his return to Canada; which was granted. Khadr supporters hang their hat on two things: him being a child soldier and his confession was gleaned through torture. Mainstream media has even just accepted the term child soldier for Khadr, yet you see legal matters all the time where a 15 year-old who commits murder is tried as an adult. It’s not like he was 6. Khadr even persuaded his father to let him fight. The intent when he threw the grenade really can’t be disputed. Al Qaeda doesn’t even meet the standard of a legal army, so Khadr is an unlawful combatant (terrorist) by legal jargon. His claims of torture are also not necessarily fact. One court ruled he was treated ‘humanely’. Be careful before you label these court decisions as a joke (if you support Khadr) because it’s a court’s decision that you are so quick to agree with when it comes to accepting this gross payout to him. Also, former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff called Khadr’s treatment to be ‘an acceptable form of duress’. The only court to ever rule on torture, determined there was ‘no credible evidence the accused (Khadr) was ever tortured...even using a liberal interpretation considering the accused’s age’. In another instance where Khadr claimed to have been tortured, there was video tape evidence that supported the contrary and the court said, ‘he was not abused or mistreated in any way by any of the guards’. So, why pay him? Clearly, our very liberal justice system felt Khadr’s rights were violated (but our legal system has also allowed a cannibal to change his name and walk free and, most recently, allowed a mother who killed her six kids to do just eight years of hard time). It was Justin Trudeau’s government’s call to decide how much dough to give this terrorist. The Supreme Court even said so. Trudeau decided $10.5 million. And, for that he’s either nuts or a supporter of terror. Either way, he should pay when we go to vote in 2019. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in ensuring a Canadian’s rights are never breached. But, there has to be balance between compensation for when breaches are made and allowing someone to profit from crime. Fast fact - you may have seen the story of the Canadian man who took his pregnant wife back packing through Afghanistan, only to be kidnapped and now he and his wife are raising their family as captors of al Qaeda. Well, that guy was once married to Omar Khadr’s sister. That sister is in jail in Turkey for terror related accusations. Omar, when asked in 2015 about violent jihad says, “It’s not something I believe in right now.” Like, as in he may believe in it at some point down the road? And, we just paid him $10.5 million for potential recruiting efforts? I’ve never been more ashamed to say I’m Canadian.

It's costly to speed, just ask a 38 year old male who was clocked doing 172 km/h in a 100 km/h zone this morning. He was fined $682 for speeding. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Facebook page the driver had a lifetime driving suspension, and indicated that he was speeding as he was on his way to court in Minnedosa to deal with a previous suspended license driving charge. In addition to the speeding charge he was also charged with drive without drivers liability insurance and drive while disqualified. Those fines have yet to be determined.      

BRANDON, Man. —Brandon University (BU) is a significant economic driver of the city and is responsible for more than $417 million in economic activity in Brandon and Westman every year, according to a new BU study, which also found that the university created 927 jobs in the province. “It is impossible to calculate the full impact that BU has on our city’s social and cultural scene,” says Dr. Steve Robinson, BU’s incoming Interim President. “Brandon University attracts both youth and educated professionals to Brandon, who contribute to our region in many important non-economic ways, from volunteering to voting. This is the best estimate we can give for the economic side of the equation — the hard dollars that BU brings to Brandon every year.” The economic impact study was led by Dr. Kim Lemky, in collaboration with the BU Institutional Data Analysis Unit (IDA). They applied two separate methods of analysis that result in unique outputs and the ability to compare BU’s impact to other post-secondary institutions. Using the Sudmant method, one of the standard economic analyses for universities in Canada, the team calculated an annual economic impact of $417.1 million for the university in the 2014–15 academic year. That includes direct, indirect and induced value that Brandon University is responsible for generating. While it is relatively straightforward to tally up the amount that Brandon University itself spends in the local economy every year, and to add in the effect of faculty, staff and student spending, Brandon University also attracts tens of thousands of visitors, contributes to local industry through innovation and research, and is responsible for increasing the lifetime earnings of its alumni. “University graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn thousands of dollars more every year than people without a degree, and when you consider that the vast majority of BU alumni stay within the region, the value of a BU degree is compounded,” Dr. Lemky said, adding that data from BU Alumni Relations show that about three-quarters of graduates from BU stay to live and work in the region. The Sudmant method used in the study also highlights Brandon University’s research contributions, including supporting three research institutes and educating the second-highest number of graduate students of Manitoba universities. “Research at Brandon University creates new knowledge, applies knowledge in new ways, and comes up with industry-focused solutions that improve other sectors of the economy,” Dr. Lemky said. “This is one of the key ways through which Brandon University helps drive the local and regional economy.” For instance, last year, Brandon University celebrated more than $6.25 million in federal Tri-Agency research grants awarded to researchers in recent years. Along with using the Sudmant method, the team led by Dr. Lemky conducted a second analysis using the Canadian Input/Output Model, which provides calculated impacts in specific areas. The Canadian I/O Model found that Brandon University contributed $122.9 million in total gross output to the Manitoba economy through 2014–15, added $81.4 million to GDP, generated 46.8 million in labour income, created a total of 927 jobs, and produced $5.1 million in indirect taxes — even when the added gains from research and alumni activity used in the Sudmant method are subtracted. “This very conservative estimate doesn’t include BU’s research or alumni impact, which are two areas in which we do very well,” Dr. Robinson said. “In particular, our faculty have had tremendous recent success in securing federal research dollars for Brandon. It is gratifying to see that BU is growing by building on its roots as an undergraduate teaching university to now further manifest its benefits to the region.” Brandon University also plays an outsized role in attracting young people to the city. Data included in the economic impact report found that fewer than a quarter of BU’s students graduated from a Brandon high school. Nearly two-thirds came from elsewhere in Manitoba, with the remainder coming from out-of-province or from another country. Overall, the study finds that BU contributes an economic impact that is consistent with its size as a post-secondary institution. “It is the first time in many years that a study of this type has been done for Brandon University and it shows that this university has comparably significant economic impacts on the city and the region,” said current BU President Dr. Gervan Fearon. “Every dollar in provincial funding provided to Brandon University generates more than $11 in economic impact — an outstanding return on investment by any measure and testimony to the transformative impact and economic value of post-secondary education and research in our region.” Economic impact is only one measure of the university’s complete value to the area, he added. “When coupled with the athletic, artistic and cultural contributions that our faculty, staff and students bring to the community and society, it truly shows that Brandon University is an extraordinary asset that strengthens the attractiveness of our region as a place to live, to conduct business, and to invest in innovation as well as to study,” Dr. Fearon said. “This analysis ultimately shows that Brandon University has a bright and important future ahead, which supports the quality of life and standard of living throughout Brandon, southwestern Manitoba and the province.” The complete report is available online at BrandonU.ca/Economic-Impact

Province of Manitoba News release The Manitoba government is investing in capital upgrades for Brandon’s Keystone Centre, Indigenous and Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke and Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler announced today. “The Keystone Centre is a significant part of the city of Brandon and the local economy,” said Clarke.  “We are investing in this facility to ensure it will continue to serve residents, businesses and visitors to the Westman region for years to come.” Clarke confirmed the Keystone Centre will receive $375,000 for capital upgrades in the 2017-18 fiscal year, in addition to a $375,000 operating grant, for a total of $750,000 from the province. “Our government recognizes the important economic and social contribution of the Keystone Centre for western Manitoba and especially for our agriculture industry,” said Eichler.  “Each year, the Keystone Centre becomes a hub for agriculture activity as the host venue of our province’s marquee industry events.  This investment by the province will enable the facility to continue as a leading event centre in western Canada.” Eichler noted that since 2005, the Manitoba government has provided over $9 million in capital funding directly to the Keystone Centre, with an additional $2.5 million for renovations and upgrades for hosting the 2010 Memorial Cup. “From one of our funding partners, we’re grateful for any contribution we receive to help with the ongoing Keystone capital needs," said Shawn Berry, board chair, Keystone Centre.  “We are hopeful this is a first step in long-term capital infrastructure funding for the Keystone Centre.” “The Keystone Centre plays a vitally important role in the success of not only Brandon’s economy, but the regional economy, as well.  In its 2015 – 2018 Strategic Plan, this city council listed the Keystone Centre’s long-term capital needs and an improved governance model as a major priority, so we are pleased to see the Province of Manitoba commit funding to the facility this year and we look forward to productive discussions with the province on the Keystone Centre’s future,” said Mayor Rick Chrest, City of Brandon. The Keystone Centre is located on 90 acres in the city of Brandon and offers 540,000 square feet of multi-use space.  It hosts more than 1,500 events annually.

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon and Brandon Transit wish to inform the public that changes to the City’s public transit route network will come into effect at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 31st, 2017. While all routes will see some degree of change, Brandon Transit officials would like to assure the public that NO changes are being made to the current service hours, which are Monday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Sunday and statutory holidays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Transit officials have finalized the new route network following a period of public consultation and review this spring. Detailed maps and route schedules for all finalized new routes can be found on the Brandon Transit website at http://brandontransit.ca/routes-schedules/route-changes. Through the consultation and review process, planners have adjusted multiple stop locations, have added requested sections, and have reversed the direction of travel on some routes to better meet the needs of riders. In addition, transit stops will be removed along Braecrest Drive and McDonald Avenue due to very low ridership along these streets. Brandon Transit will continue to provide public transit to this area via a Trans-Cab system. Riders who use the current stops along Braecrest Drive and McDonald Avenue are urged to contact Brandon Transit by phone at 204-729-2279 or by emailing transit@brandon.ca to learn more about the new method available for accessing transit services along those streets. New route names, chosen from a variety of suggestions submitted by Brandon Transit riders and staff, will also come into effect on Monday, July 31st, and are as follows: Route 4 – TransCanada Route 5 – Assiniboine Route 8 – Maryland West Route 14 – Victoria West Route 15 – East Hospital/ACC Route 16 – South End Link Route 17 – South Central Route 22 – Riverheights West Route 23 – 1st Street South New signage at all route stop locations will be in place in time for the new network’s implementation, and it is anticipated Brandon Transit’s Google Trip planner site will be updated one week in advance of the new route network’s start date. All questions relating to the new route network should be directed to Brandon Transit via email at transit@brandon.ca, by phone at 204-729-2279 or via online form at http://brandontransit.ca/contact-info/contact-us-online.