The Province’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) has approved revised water and wastewater rates for the City of Brandon Water and Wastewater Utility effective October 1, 2023. Upcoming utility rates have also been approved for January 1, 2024, January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. A synopsis of the approved rates are as follows:   Current Rates Oct. 1, 2023 Jan. 1, 2024 Jan. 1, 2025 Jan. 1, 2026 Monthly Service Charge* $4.66 $4.80 $5.11 $5.42 $5.74 Quarterly Service Charge $17.48 $18.00 $19.17 $20.34 $21.51 Water (per CM) $1.66 $1.80 $2.10 $2.40 $2.71 Wastewater (per CM) $1.63 $1.79 $2.14 $2.49 $2.84 Debenture Surcharge $0.172 $0.172 $0.172 $0.172 $0.172 Deficit Rate Riders      Water (per CM) - $0.19 $0.19 $0.19 $0.19      Wastewater (per CM) - $0.21 $0.21 $0.21 $0.21 Wastewater Only Customers      Monthly Charge ** - $34.80 $40.36 $45.92 $51.49      Quarterly Charge *** - $108.00 $124.92 $141.84 $158.76 *Based on a quarterly charge discounted by 20% due to monthly payments being automatic **Based on 45 cubic meters of wastewater fee and deficit rate rider plus Quarterly Service Charge  ***Based on 15 cubic meters of wastewater fee and deficit rate rider plus Monthly Service Charge To continue to have an effective water and sewer system, the City of Brandon must collect for multiple years of deficit operations, as defined by unique accounting formulas, as well as to fund proper operations and necessary capital upgrades. “The City of Brandon continues to focus on delivering safe, clean water to all existing Brandon households at a fair rate,” says Ron Bowles, City of Brandon City Manager. “We know the high cost of living is making it harder for everyone to stay ahead, and no one, including City Hall enjoys seeing rates rise. However, the City of Brandon must catch up with the actual cost of water operations to prevent an even bigger rate jump later.” Bowles also says that while we recognize that the new rates come into effect with short notice and are effective as of October 1, it is our legal responsibility to follow the PUB Board Order which considers the impact on both rate payers and the financial sustainability of Brandon’s utility. City Hall and City Council have worked diligently with our federal and provincial partners to secure financial commitments, keeping Brandon’s costs down as much as possible. For example, the City recently received $61 million from the Federal and Provincial Governments to help upgrade our ever-important water treatment facility. The next step in the process is for the Water and Wastewater Rates By-Law No. 7342 to be amended and presented to City Council at the next general City Council meeting on November 6, 2023. The complete Board Order from the Public Utilities Board can be viewed on their website at:  pubmanitoba.ca/v1/proceedings-decisions/orders/pubs/23-orders/119-23.pdf.

The City of Brandon is providing an update on some city services affected by an explosion that took place in September at the Civic Services Complex, located on 900 Richmond Avenue East. On Thursday, September 7, 2023, an explosion causing considerable damage occurred at the Civic Services Complex, located at 900 Richmond Avenue East. While the incident is still under investigation, work to repair damage from the explosion is underway and is expected to take several months. While repairs are taking place, the building cannot be used for city operations. With the inability to operate in specific areas of the complex and to continue to serve our residents, the City has secured a temporary location for some services of the Civic Services Complex. This location is at 382 Park Avenue East. Residents can attend this location in person effective Monday, October 23, the hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m., excluding statutory holidays. The Civic Services Complex will serve as a home for internal city departments, including the public works team. In person services include the assessment of root claim forms and public works admin support. A few other departments including Brandon Transit and Fleet Services that were housed at the Civic Services Complex are working in other city facilities. Root Claim Form The City of Brandon offers a reimbursement program for labour and equipment costs related to the removal of sewer blockages caused by tree roots. While forms can be given in person at the Civic Services Complex, residents can now submit their claims online at the Root Claim Form or by emailing brandon@roots.ca.  Details on tree location and requirements for reimbursement can be found in the Water and Waste By-Law No. 5957 in Section 61 on page 27 of the bylaw. Transportation Services Brandon Transit passes can be purchased at several sales outlets including Sobeys, Safeway, and the Transit Information Centre located at 21 – 8th Street. A list of all locations can be found at brandontransit.ca/transit/where-to-buy.  Applications for Brandon Access Transit can be submitted online via brandontransit.ca/brandon-access-transit/brandon-access-transit-application-form. Paper copies can be obtained at the Transit Information Centre. The process for booking a trip remains the same and eligible clients can call 204-729-2437 to book their next trip. The City’s Fleet Services is no longer accepting any drop in visits from salespersons. Such visits are temporarily on hold but will be open by appointment only in the next 6-8 weeks. Appointments can be made by calling 204-729-2578. “While there has been disruption to the Civic Services Complex building, the City has maintained full operation of all its core operation services,” says Patrick Pulak, General Manager of Operations. “I want to thank our team of departments, city staff, and residents who have reached out over the last few weeks. Together we have worked to ensure city operations continued in a seamless manner through this transition.” Please continue to call public works at 204-729-2285 regarding any enquiries or report a public works issue online at www.brandon.ca/report-an-issue. Further updates will be released as needed.

On October 22, 2023, police responded to a report of damage to a vehicle.  Investigation revealed that following an argument between two males, one male threw a potting plant through a vehicle window belonging to the other male and ran into a house.  The 23-year-old male was arrested and later released to appear in court on December 4, 2023, on a charge of Mischief Under $5000.

As a result of ongoing investigations, a 14 year old male was charged with a Break an Enter to a school in August where he stole $7,800 worth of computer equipment, some of which he was later found to be in possession of. On October 19th he was also caught stealing a laptop computer from a school. He was charged for these offences and released to appear in court at a later date.

The Manitoba government has appointed a new board of directors for Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) in an effort to resume services and return financial accountability to the Crown corporation, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, minister responsible for MPI, announced today. “We are acting quickly to appoint a proven team of leaders dedicated to setting a new direction and preserving our public auto insurance model,” said Wiebe. “There is a clear need for oversight, accountability and a new relationship with employees, and I am confident that this board has the experience and ability to find that ground.” MPI’s 1,700 employees have been on strike since Aug. 28 and an overhaul of the corporation’s technology systems has nearly tripled in cost to nearly $300 million, said the minister. The organization is also currently undergoing an external organizational review, noted Wiebe. The new board of directors will be chaired by Carmen Nedohin, former chairperson of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission and a former Manitoba Hydro board member. Nedohin will be supported by several former MPI employees as well as labour and community leaders, and experts in asset management, information technology and actuarial science. The board’s top priority will be to resolve the current strike with an agreement that is both fair to employees and responsible to Manitoba ratepayers, noted Wiebe. “I am excited to start working with the board and want to thank all members for accepting this responsibility,” said Wiebe. “This board will stay on top of operations and provide the oversight required to return MPI to its once great status as a leader in the field providing Manitobans with affordable insurance.” New board members are: Carmen Nedohin (chair) – Winnipeg chapter president, Canadian Association of Retired Persons; lay bencher, Law Society of Manitoba; former chairperson, Manitoba Liquor Control Commission; former Manitoba Hydro board member. Gina McKay – president, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Manitoba; CUPE regional vice-president for Manitoba; executive vice-president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour; equity vice-president – 2SLGBTQI+, Canadian Labour Congress; proud queer and Métis labour leader. Luke Johnston – vice-president and chief risk officer, Manitoba Blue Cross; former chief actuary and vice-president, product and risk management at MPI. Candy Wong – portfolio manager, international strategies, environmental, social and governance (ESG) and risk management, Civil Service Superannuation Board of Manitoba. Fran Frederickson – former school trustee; former board member, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries; former insurance broker; former MPI employee specializing in instructional design. Marilyn McLaren – former president and CEO, Manitoba Public Insurance; former board chair, United Way Winnipeg; former board chair, Harvest Manitoba. JD Devgan – MLA for McPhillips; former director of government and community engagement, University of Manitoba; former vice-president, Sikh Society of Manitoba. Diane Roussin (returning member) – dedicated community leader working to protect the rights of Indigenous families; proud member of Skownan First Nation. Christian Dandeneau – co-founder and CEO of ID Fusion, an Indigenous-owned company; member of the federal external advisory committee on regulatory competitiveness; proud of his francophone Métis heritage. MPI administers the Drivers and Vehicles Act on behalf of the Manitoba government and provides driver licensing and vehicle registration functions under the act. Its primary purpose is to administer the basic compulsory, universally available auto insurance program. MPI also offers optional expanded-benefits auto insurance for all Manitobans and auto insurance for fleets based in Manitoba. This year, its 50th year in operation, MPI administered more than 1.25 million policies and handled more than 260,000 claims.