Mayor Fawcett touts financial reset, seeks re-election

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett has listed financial stability and stronger regional partnerships as defining achievements of his first term.

Fawcett, who was elected as Mayor in 2022, has confirmed he’ll seek re-election in the upcoming October municipal vote.

Speaking with the Sun after his address at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce State of the City luncheon on Thursday, he said one of the most meaningful impacts of his nearly four years in office is putting the city on a firmer financial footing.

“We had to get our finances looked at,” Fawcett said in an interview. “We took the decision to bring in an independent third party to assess the city’s books. Take the politicians out of it.”

The findings, he said, showed significant work was needed. While the city did not adopt every recommendation, Fawcett said the process helped reset its financial base and avoid deeper service cuts.

“We were at the cusp of cutting core services if we didn’t do things,” he said. “So we’re stabilizing financially in the City of Brandon. That’s probably one of the main things.”

Fawcett also listed the creation of a collaborative economic development approach, referring to the formation of Grow Brandon as a key milestone. The initiative brings together major community and industry partners to align priorities and plan for long-term growth, he said.

That collaboration, he said, has strengthened relationships with key stakeholders, including nearby CFB Shilo and Manitoba Hydro, positioning the city to benefit from major infrastructure developments.

“We know we have almost a $3-billion project happening … we’re going to get the energy,” Fawcett said, referring to the installation of additional combustion turbines at the Brandon Generating Station. “We’re stabilizing, setting Brandon up for a good future.”

At the end of his State of the City remarks, Fawcett confirmed he will run again for mayor, saying he wants to build on that foundation in a second term.

Looking ahead, his priorities include expanding water and wastewater infrastructure, increasing housing supply, and securing greater federal investment to support growth.

“I want to get a lot more out of the federal government for some of this infrastructure,” he said. The city has been working with other municipalities to advocate for funding similar to what larger regions have received.

Fawcett also pointed to major projects and ambitions still in progress, including efforts to establish a medical school at Brandon University and the development of the Prairie Innovation Centre at Assiniboine College.

Beyond infrastructure, he said, maintaining momentum in economic development and population growth, areas increasingly tied to immigration policy, is important.

Regarding businesses in the region continuing to face labour shortages, Fawcett said the city is advocating for a Manitoba-specific approach to immigration with federal partners.

“Immigration … is a strong driver of growth in Manitoba,” he said. “We need some kind of Manitoba carve-out so we can continue to have this growth.”

He said that while municipalities have limited direct control over immigration, collaboration with provincial and federal officials remains critical to addressing workforce needs and sustaining economic expansion.

As the October election approaches, Fawcett’s pitch to voters centres on continuity, building on financial reforms, deepening partnerships, and advancing major projects already underway.

“We want to keep forging and fostering the relationships that we’ve built,” he said. “Rather than have to rebuild relationships, let’s strengthen the ones that we have.”

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