Housing gains touted in State of the City

Brandon has added more than 400 new housing units and recorded about $150 million in construction activity this year, Mayor Jeff Fawcett told the city’s business leaders on Thursday.

Fawcett, in his State of the City address to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce at the Keystone Centre, pointed out that the total investment includes $80 million in residential development.

“We are helping to expand housing options for Brandon residents, and we’ve exceeded our housing targets with the Housing Accelerator Fund,” he said in reference to the federal program that city officials previously estimated could bring in around $6.2 million.

“This fund is being put to work for new downtown market housing as well as transition and supportive housing across Brandon.”

The city’s housing efforts need a mix of solutions, including homes for first-time buyers with limited resources and for people who want to live in an urban setting but know they’ll never be able to afford to raise a family in Vancouver or Toronto, he said.

Fawcett said demand for housing continues to outpace supply despite significant progress.

“We can’t go fast enough,” he said, pointing to the strong demand for entry-level and workforce housing as the city grows.

While the city has streamlined processes and pushed forward development, Fawcett noted that some projects are facing delays tied to federal approval systems, including those involving the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

Fawcett also noted that housing growth must be matched by infrastructure investment, particularly in water and wastewater systems.

About 43 per cent of recent tax increases have been directed toward infrastructure, he said, describing those investments as essential to supporting both current residents and future expansion.

“We need to make sure we can scale our services in a way that accommodates growth,” he said.

The city has secured more funding from federal and provincial partners for key projects.

“I’ve been actively pursuing the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba to come to the table with investments in our city, and it’s been working,” he said.

“In the last four years, we secured over $106 million for the City of Brandon … This does not happen by accident. It’s a calculated effort to be constantly talking about Brandon at every table in every room.”

In addition to infrastructure, Fawcett pointed to ongoing investments in public safety, which account for roughly 27 per cent of recent tax increases.

These include expanded policing resources, a crisis response unit pairing officers with mental health professionals, and body-worn cameras planned for this year.

He said those efforts are aimed at ensuring Brandon remains a safe and attractive place to live and invest in.

Looking ahead, he pointed to anticipated expansion at CFB Shilo as a major opportunity, with an expected influx of military personnel set to increase demand for housing and services.

“Our goal is to grow our population to 80,000 by 2040,” he said. “This is part of building economic sovereignty. This is part of getting the critical population we need to have the services and identity the Brandonites want.”

Chamber president Jennifer Ludwig said the mayor’s focus on housing reflects what local businesses are experiencing.

“Our members need housing in place to attract and retain workers,” Ludwig told the Sun. “Businesses are also looking for greater transparency and predictability in the city’s budgeting process to help them plan and invest with confidence.”

Fawcett said he is confident that Brandon will attract more investment and build a more vibrant community.

“Brandon is much better off than it was four years ago,” Fawcett said. “We have momentum, and we need to keep building on it.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola