MPI thanks the Public Utilities Board (PUB) for its response to the Corporation’s 2025/26 General Rate Application, which begins April 1, 2025. MPI respects the independent role of the PUB and will work to implement the order that has been issued for the Corporation’s compulsory line of business (Basic insurance). Coverage under MPI’s Basic insurance is mandatory for Manitoba drivers and rates are regulated and approved by PUB annually. For the 2025/26 insurance year, PUB has ordered a 5.7 per cent increase to Basic insurance rates, which will represent an increase of $50.84 per year or $4.24 per month for the average passenger vehicle policy. To ensure customers can choose the type of coverage that best meets their needs, MPI also offers additional options through its Extension line of business. These products are not mandatory and customers may choose to purchase them from any insurance provider in the province. With 96 per cent of customers choosing to purchase Extension products from MPI, the Corporation is proud of the value and convenience these options offer to Manitobans. MPI’s Extension product portfolio includes additional third-party liability coverage, rental vehicle insurance and the option for customers to pay slightly higher premiums for their insurance to reduce the deductible they would pay in the event of a claim. For example, MPI’s current Basic insurance deductible is $750, but most Manitobans choose to pay for additional Extension coverage that reduces their deductible to $200. In the current insurance year, MPI’s Board of Directors approved a 10.32 per cent increase to Extension rates, which represented an increase of $9.60 per year for the average passenger vehicle policy. Beginning April 1, 2025, Extension rates will increase by two per cent, which will represent an increase of $1.99 per year on the average passenger vehicle policy. MPI regularly reviews the pricing of its products to ensure we are continuing to provide high-value options for customers that are priced competitively when compared to other providers. The PUB has also approved MPI’s application for a $10 increase to the cost of an annual driver’s licence. This helps support the Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP), one of the most comprehensive universal injury protection plans in North America. MPI has not increased the cost of a driver’s licence since 1997. An expansion of the Driver Safety Rating system was also approved in the 2025/26 order. Customers who move to the new level 19 on the scale will receive an additional discount above the current maximum of 46 per cent. All changes delivered in the order will be in effect as of April 1, 2025

The City of Brandon will be releasing the 2025 proposed municipal budget this week. All documents will be available on brandon.ca tomorrow, Jan 8, 2025. The municipal budget is written by city staff, then debated, amended and passed by City Council. Brandon City Council will deliberate the 2025 proposed budget as prepared by City administration on Fri, Jan. 24 and Sat, Jan. 25. Deliberations will be held in the Council Chamber on the 2nd floor of Brandon City Hall at 410 – 9th Street and are open to the public and media to observe. The deliberations will also be livestreamed via the City of Brandon YouTube channel. Westman Communications Group TV (WCGtv) will also be live streaming this event. Prior to Budget Deliberations, the following pre-budget sessions will take place: Capital Budget – Part I            Wed, Jan. 8, 6 – 9 p.m. in Council Chambers Capital Budget – Part II           Mon, Jan. 13, 6 - 9 p.m. in Council Chambers Public Open House                 Thu, Jan. 16, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in City Hall Foyer Other Budgetary Items            Tue, Jan. 21, 6 – 9 p.m. in Council Chambers The public open house on Jan. 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. is a come-and-go event where members of the public can ask specific questions regarding the proposed budget to city administration. A brief presentation by the Director of Finance will be held at 5:30 p.m. The 2025 proposed budget will require an additional $6.2 million in municipal taxes levied. That would require a 12% increase in revenue, which for an average property owner would be an 11.7% increase in the municipal portion of their tax bill from last year. The proposed combined general and utility budgets are $153.4 million. The proposed capital plan is $151.6 million, which includes $37.9 million in Federal and Provincial grant funding. Based on an average single-family residential property assessed at $301,300, the daily cost is $6.59, or an annual cost of $2,406 (municipal taxes only). Major projects from the proposed capital budget includes: $30.7 million for wastewater infrastructure enhancements and preservation including the Southwest Wastewater Servicing Project $28.5 million for the water treatment facility expansion $18.9 million for land drainage improvements, including the Southeast Drainage Project $13.2 million for upgrades for streets, sidewalks, and active transportation $6.1 million for completion of the upgrades for the Brandon’s Community Sportsplex ice arena, which is expected to be opened by fall 2025 $5.8 million for refurbishment of Transit Fleet $4.6 million for the completion of the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Complex, which is expected to open by summer 2025 Other notable items in the proposed operating budget include increased funding for improved road and property restoration, a new low-income water audit / fixture subsidy program, and enhanced Transit security. City Council welcomes comments or feedback on the proposed 2025 budget, which can be sent via email to budget@brandon.ca.

Greetings everyone a few transactions to report. Keystone Motor Inn on 18th Street has been SOLD to the current owners of the Travelodge ( North 40 ). Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre  has been sold after 60 years by Ryan Main and his family to a company in Steinbach. Millers Pharmacy on 18th Street has been sold to new owners. Smitten celebrated 15 years in business in December. Darryl Wolski - darryl@bdnmb.ca

The Manitoba government is introducing several new measures to help improve student safety and bring greater accountability, discipline and transparency for teachers through legislative amendments, acting Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today. “There is nothing more important than ensuring that children are safe,” said Schmidt. “Teachers have a great role to play in a child’s life and parents and caregivers are entrusting teachers with their children’s education and well-being. Our government is strengthening the teacher professional conduct review process through an online registry and the appointment of an independent commissioner, which will give parents and caregivers reassurance that reviews will be done in reliable, transparent way that keeps student safety at the centre.” The new teacher certification and professional conduct framework through the Education Administration Amendment Act includes a public registry of certified Manitoba teachers who have a teaching certificate as well as information on whether a teacher’s certificate has been suspended or cancelled. The teacher registry is now available to the public online. “The new framework modernizes the way we regulate the teaching profession in Manitoba,” added Schmidt. “As a parent, this is an issue that’s close to my heart because when we talk about teacher professional conduct, we’re talking about student safety.” The new teacher professional conduct review process has now taken effect. The review process will be led by an independent commissioner, Bobbi Taillefer, who will receive and investigate complaints, facilitate consent resolution agreements and refer cases to a hearing panel for adjudication. The hearing panel will be made up of teachers, representatives nominated by the Manitoba School Boards Association and members of the public, which include: Erin Bockstael (public representative), manager of family and community programs at the Women’s Health Clinic; Gavin Bruce Strang (public representative), a professor in the department of history at Brandon University; Gord Schumacher (public representative), the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police; Raven-Dominique Gobeil (public representative), the senior in-house attorney for the First Nations Family Advocate Office; Kevin Sterner (independent schools representative); Morgan Whiteway (Manitoba School Boards Association representative); Elizabeth Mitchell (Manitoba School Boards Association representative); Alison Bourrier (Manitoba School Boards Association representative); Charles Cochrane (Manitoba School Boards Association representative); Vinh Huynh (Manitoba Teacher Society representative); Jesse Thomaschewski (Manitoba Teacher Society representative); and Nicole Lavallee (Manitoba Teacher Society representative). “Moving forward, Manitoba students and parents will benefit from enhanced protections and transparency,” said Noni Classen, director of education and support services, Canadian Centre for Child Protection. “We believe these changes will enhance the trust and confidence students and their families have in Manitoba’s school system.” The registry is available to the public at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/profcert/registry/index.html. The commissioner of teacher professional conduct’s website is also available to the public at: www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/commissioner/index.html.

In 2025 there will be many unanswered questions regarding various topics of conversation in the Wheat City.  As a result we would like to present the “Top 10 Questions to be Answered in Brandon in 2025. In no particular order. 10. With the acquisition of Alex Garrett, will the Wheat Kings look to trade Carson Bjarnson prior to the January 9 trade deadline? The return would be massive. 9. US sandwich chain Jimmy John's has started their expansion into Canada, is Brandon a possible destination? 8. Will 2025 finally be the year we see movement on the pad development at WestVic Common? 7. Eastside Eatery is running a promotion to see who can eat a burger with the most patties, the record presently sits at 17, is 20 possible in the New Year? 6. Ice at the Sportsplex, will it make its long-waited appearance or will their be additional costs/hidden surprises that will delay or derail the project entirely? 5. The Brandon Wheat Kings captured the 2023-2024 Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League title, can they repeat in 2024/25? They currently sit atop the standings after 30-games, 4. What will become of the building at 1650 Park Ave (former home of Kam Lung Asian Cuisine)? Will a new tenant move in and give it a go or will the property be re-developed? 3. What can be done about the plethora of pot holes on city streets? As a friend once said “We used to drive on the left of the roads, we now drive of what's left of the roads”. 2. What is the over/under of the number of new convenience stores that will popup in the city? 1. In 2023 we asked if drivers in the city would learn the concept of merging lanes heading north on 18th St, it's safe to say that this question can once again be asked in 2025.