Brandon Sun – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

A construction crew works in a hole in the street at the Victoria Avenue and First Street intersection in the middle of busy traffic on Thursday afternoon. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

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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

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

Local

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

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

Minister of Finance and National Revenue Francois-Philippe Champagne and Prime Minister Mark Carney arrive in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill to table the federal budget in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

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

Erik Pindera 2 minute read Preview

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

Erik Pindera 2 minute read Updated: 9:10 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.

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Updated: 9:10 AM EST

Business

Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill before the tabling of the federal budget in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Carney heads to Winnipeg to tout budget plan to end homelessness in 10 years

Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Carney heads to Winnipeg to tout budget plan to end homelessness in 10 years

Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 9:09 AM EST

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected in Winnipeg today to highlight new measures in the federal budget aimed at eliminating homelessness within 10 years.

It's a goal some support workers are applauding, while cautioning that solutions must involve more than four walls and a roof.

Sara Goldvine is the chief operating officer at Coast Mental Health in Vancouver and says "significant progress" can be made toward the budget's goal, but it will need the right supports.

She says housing and mental health often need holistic support and she's pleased the government is investing in both.

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Updated: 9:09 AM EST

Business

An employment resource centre is seen in Carleton Place, Ont. on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Unemployment rate rose to 6.7% in October, StatCan says

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Unemployment rate rose to 6.7% in October, StatCan says

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 10:08 AM EST

OTTAWA - The unemployment rate rose to 6.7 per cent in October as Statistics Canada says more people were looking for work.

That’s up from 6.5 per cent in September and came alongside a loss of 4,700 jobs in October.

The labour market has been in a tough stretch lately, having shed 110,000 jobs cumulatively across September and August. A Reuters poll of economists had expected the economy would bounce back with a gain of 13,600 jobs in October.

"For anyone hoping that October would bring a recovery in the Canadian job market after back-to-back negative surprises, today’s release is a disappointment," said Sneha Puri, economist with jobs search site Indeed, in a media statement.

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Updated: 10:08 AM EST

Local

The mother and son, who obtained a protection order against another child accused of bullying the son, are shown in their home on Wednesday. (Mikaela MacKenzie/Winnipeg Free Press)

Protection order against accused bully to face legal test

Scott Billeck and Erik Pindera 10 minute read Preview

Protection order against accused bully to face legal test

Scott Billeck and Erik Pindera 10 minute read Updated: 9:10 AM EST

WINNIPEG — Allegations of bullying involving two elementary school students have sparked a lengthy legal battle in Manitoba after a court official granted a Winnipeg boy a protection order against another child accused of targeting him.

A Winnipeg mother said years of bullying accusations, repeated pleas to school officials and growing fears for her son’s safety left her no choice but to obtain the protection order, which was granted in October 2025 by a provincial judicial justice of the peace under Manitoba’s domestic violence and stalking legislation.

Her son was 10 years old at the time the order was granted, while the other boy was 11 years old.

The case ultimately reached the Court of King’s Bench, where a justice ruled in August that the protection order issued against a child under 12 was constitutional.

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Updated: 9:10 AM 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