Brandon Sun – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

Kevin Ramasamy, a building maintenance worker with the City of Brandon, replaces burned-out light bulbs in the city’s post-top lanterns along Rosser Avenue on a bright Wednesday afternoon in downtown Brandon. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

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Nov. 6, 12 PM: 7°c Windy Nov. 6, 6 PM: 8°c Windy

Brandon MB

-3°C, Cloudy

Ottawa pledges $1B for housing, mental health in Winnipeg

Erik Pindera 2 minute read 2:00 AM EST

WINNIPEG — Prime Minister Mark Carney will be in Winnipeg today to announce more than $1 billion for transitional and supportive housing in Winnipeg as well as a centre for mental health and addictions.

The commitment was outlined in the federal government’s 2026 budget, released Thursday, and is part of a strategy to combat homelessness across the country.

The federal government says the cash is part of a partnership with the Manitoba government to create “the conditions” needed to end homelessness in Winnipeg.

Premier Wab Kinew, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham and Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada will also speak at today’s event.

Local

Health region deficit drops by almost 50%

Rylee Gerrard 3 minute read Preview

Health region deficit drops by almost 50%

Rylee Gerrard 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:06 PM EST

Prairie Mountain Health saw its deficit fall by almost 50 per cent in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the health authority said during its annual general meeting on Thursday.

The decrease from a deficit of $34.9 million in 2024-25 to this year’s $18.4 million is largely due to less dependence on agency nurses, said chief financial officer Dan McGregor.

“We’ve had a decrease in our agency use, which certainly has helped decrease that deficit amount,” McGregor said during the online meeting that was attended by about 60 people.

According to the annual report, staffing hours for agency nurses and health-care aides dropped by 36 per cent from 115,108 hours to 73,204 hours in the reported period from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

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Yesterday at 10:06 PM EST

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Finance Minister Adrien Sala speaks during a meeting with municipal officials in Oak Lake on Thursday. (Alex Lambert/The Brandon Sun)

Sala touts economic record in Oak Lake

Alex Lambert 4 minute read Preview

Sala touts economic record in Oak Lake

Alex Lambert 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:04 PM EST

OAK LAKE — Manitoba’s finance minister said the province is “outperforming” its economic outlook forecasts despite pressures from south of the border.

The governing NDP is making “irrefutable” progress toward balancing the budget during its first term, despite walking into a $1.6-billion deficit when the party won the October 2023 election, Adrien Sala said at an economic update for municipal officials in Oak Lake.

“Manitoba is standing strong. Our economy continues to move forward in a good way, and we are outperforming almost all expectations that have been outlined for me by the economists we work with and others,” Sala told about 65 attendees at the Oak Lake Community Hall.

He said the government’s outperformance has taken place since U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs hit last year.

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Yesterday at 10:04 PM EST

Local

Xiaoyun Zhang, 49, was killed when a semi-truck failed to stop at a controlled intersection in Brandon and collided with her SUV in May. (GoFundMe)

Province shuts down trucking firm linked to fatal crash

Chris Kitching 3 minute read Preview

Province shuts down trucking firm linked to fatal crash

Chris Kitching 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:03 PM EST

WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg-based trucking company has been shut down by the provincial government after investigators concluded it was connected to a firm that was banned and later linked to a fatal crash in Brandon.

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure found credible evidence to support a tip, which it received from another province, that a company was affiliated with Conquer Transport, a provincial spokesperson said Thursday.

The department confirmed 7Star Ltd.’s safety fitness certificate was recently revoked, meaning it is no longer allowed to operate regulated vehicles in Manitoba.

The carrier’s plates were cancelled in Manitoba, while its safety fitness rating was downgraded to unsatisfactory, the spokesperson said. The company has the right to appeal the decision.

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Yesterday at 10:03 PM EST

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Man accused of assaulting his mother loses bid for bail

Tessa Adamski 3 minute read Preview

Man accused of assaulting his mother loses bid for bail

Tessa Adamski 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:03 PM EST

A Manitoba judge denied a man bail on Thursday, saying his release plan fell short in addressing concerns he wouldn’t reoffend in Brandon as he faces multiple charges, including an assault against his mother.

Brocard Lyons, 42, made his bid for bail in Brandon provincial court with allegations dating back to Nov. 15, 2025, when he visited his mother in the lobby of the Westman Lions Manor on Victoria Avenue East.

He and his mother got into an argument that was overheard by other senior residents in the building after she gave him some money, Crown attorney Andrew Sieklicki said.

The argument escalated when Lyons “aggressively” tugged on his mother’s purse as she was holding it, causing her to fall backwards onto the floor, he said.

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Yesterday at 10:03 PM EST

Local

The front doors of the Brandon courthouse on 11th Street. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

Woman who threatened to kill cousin spared extra time in jail

Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Preview

Woman who threatened to kill cousin spared extra time in jail

Tessa Adamski 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:02 PM EST

A woman was spared extra jail time to continue her rehabilitative efforts in Brandon after she threatened to kill her cousin with a knife this summer while experiencing a mental health crisis.

Jade Brown, 25, was sentenced to 67 days of enhanced credit for time served in custody for uttering threats and a 30-day concurrent sentence for failing to abide by a strict curfew.

Brown pleaded guilty to both charges in Brandon provincial court on Thursday during her sentencing hearing.

Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta told Brown it was a “tough decision” ordering her not to return behind bars and instead focus on growing her supports in the community “because you actually haven’t served enough time in jail for what you did.”

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Yesterday at 10:02 PM EST

Local

A Brandon firefighter pumps water into the front of a burning house in this file photo. Brandon Fire Chief Terry Parlow spoke against a proposed pilot project that would allow fire departments to practise on derelict buildings, saying the risk of fires getting out of control is too great. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files)

Fire chiefs split over proposal to allow controlled burns of derelict structures

Alex Lambert 6 minute read Preview

Fire chiefs split over proposal to allow controlled burns of derelict structures

Alex Lambert 6 minute read Yesterday at 10:01 PM EST

A pair of Westman fire chiefs are split on whether a proposed pilot project involving setting ablaze derelict buildings should be approved.

Five municipalities in southwestern Manitoba are urging the province to implement the program, which is intended to save municipalities money and provide training opportunities for local firefighters.

Souris-Glenwood Fire Chief Chris Couling said the program would provide a good opportunity for his firefighters to gain experience with structure fires, something they aren’t able to practise often.

“Those opportunities are few and far between to work in a structure fire. But I can see a lot of risk with it. And if the risks outweigh the reward, then absolutely, I would never approve of it,” he said.

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Yesterday at 10:01 PM EST

Business

Toronto residents Douglas Bloomfield, from right, his son Phoenix and wife Ame, hold a Canadian flag and a hockey stick to show their support for Canada regarding trade tariffs in front of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

U.S. midterm results spark joy among Canadians but trust in America remains shaky

Sharif Hassan, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

U.S. midterm results spark joy among Canadians but trust in America remains shaky

Sharif Hassan, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:58 AM EST

TORONTO - Many Canadians welcome the Democratic sweep of U.S. Congress, but have mixed views on whether voters' strong rebuke of President Donald Trump's administration will change their attitude toward America amid the ongoing trade war.

Trump's punishing tariffs on Canadian goods, repeated musings about making Canada the 51st state and escalating tensions that include changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America have had a profound impact on the relationship between the two countries.

The response from Canadians has been strong, with many avoiding cross-border travel and U.S.-made products, and reconsidering the long-standing cultural and economic ties with their American neighbours.

Juli Taylor said even though she's happy with the midterm results, she isn’t planning to visit the United States any time soon.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:58 AM EST

Business

Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, meets with President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama during the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Ghana thanks Carney for working to fix a ‘rigged global system’ for African countries

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Ghana thanks Carney for working to fix a ‘rigged global system’ for African countries

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:58 AM EST

OTTAWA - Ghana's head of state praised Canada this week for advocating against what he called a "rigged global system" that keeps African countries trapped by debt and mired in climate chaos.

His comments come as Canadian officials confirm Ottawa will appoint a new Africa envoy, months after leaving the post vacant.

"Canada has a favourable disposition towards the Global South," Ghana's President John Mahama said Tuesday as he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda.

"With what is going on in the world, I think that this is a time for us to come closer together."

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:58 AM EST

Business

Prime Minister Mark Carney waits to greet Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Here’s what you need to know as the Liberals prepare to table Budget 2026

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Here’s what you need to know as the Liberals prepare to table Budget 2026

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:15 AM EST

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals are teeing up Thursday's budget as the government's next step toward fixing long-standing problems facing Canada's economy.

Budget 2026 will be the second tabled under Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Budgets detail a government's expectations for economic growth and the projected pace of spending and borrowing. They're also political documents that can serve as a launching pad for legislation and government policy initiatives.

In addition to new spending items, Thursday's budget will include an update on the federal government's immigration levels plan.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:15 AM EST