Investing in Brandon’s future
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As the MLA for Brandon East, I encourage Westman families to ignore the false claims of the opposition that Manitoba’s Budget 2026 has nothing for Brandon. Since 2023, the Manitoba government has reversed the cuts of the previous Progressive Conservative government and for the third year in a row is making historic investments in Westman.
The previous government never fulfilled its commitment to build new schools. Budget 2026, on the other hand, contains $118 million to build four schools, including a new school in southwest Brandon. There is also funding for a new Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine school in Brandon.
The new minor injury clinic in Brandon that our government opened has seen 12,648 visits between September 2024 and January of this year, but that’s just the beginning.
In 2026, we are continuing to reverse the PC cuts that devastated the health-care system. Budget 2026 includes $16.5 million for upgrades to the Brandon Regional Health Centre. This will expand critical care capacity through the addition of 30 new medicine beds, five enhanced critical care spaces and construction of a neonatal intensive care unit. Let’s not forget that the budget also includes $44.1 million for the Neepawa Regional Health Centre, ensuring that Westman families have more options for urgent care. We are backing up our plan with action.
Funding is also allocated for upgrades to Brandon University. In 2024-25, the government invested $2.5 million for design and planning work, and Budget 2026 will provide an additional $2 million in capital funding to advance the renewal of Brandon University’s Brodie Science Centre, creating state-of-the-art laboratories and modernized facilities, a reflection of our increase in funding for universities this year. Total investment this year for post-secondary schools in Manitoba is $882 million, and this year the Brandon School Division received one of the highest increases in the province.
As for supporting local infrastructure, this year we are supporting community development in a way that also addresses affordability. The budget shows $1 million for the City of Brandon — that’s money designated for the Eastview Landfill, the Andrews Field baseball stadium and the Brandon Community Sportsplex in Westman. Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett has credited this investment for lowering property taxes in our city. Free transit for young people is another affordability measure that will help Brandon youth and combined with free child care for Brandon families who need it, this budget tackles affordability head-on.
Other important infrastructure investments include $22 million for the Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) West Water and Wastewater Treatment network, $100,000 for Keystone Lions Humanity Park and another $100,000 for the Keystone Centre, a 100 per cent increase in capital funding for Brandon’s most iconic venue. There is also $94,755 for the Brandon Public Library and Art Gallery renovations, $58,582 for Killarney and Area Foodbank improvements, $100,000 for Souris-Glenwood Community Golf Course infrastructure upgrades, $80,000 for the John Howard Society of Brandon transitional housing programming, $60,425 for United Way Brandon and District’s wellness programming, $100,000 for the Western Manitoba Women’s Centre in Brandon, $20,000 for YMCA of Brandon day camp enhancements for inner-city children. Also in 2026, Manitoba is continuing to fund two safe spaces in Brandon — Franny’s Place and Chelsea’s House.
This past Christmas, Brandon benefited from our decision to sell U.S. liquor stocks for charity. The Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer Board received $500,000, and $200,000 went to Helping Hands.
My friends, I could go on and on, but it would take a number of pages to list all the investments your provincial government is making in Westman. Our government has a track record, and our historic investments in Brandon over the last three years has been really exciting. We know the opposition is trying to say the province is not doing anything for Brandon, but thankfully the people of Westman know better.
GLEN SIMARD
MLA for Brandon East, minister of Municipal and Northern Relations, minister responsible for Francophone Affairs and minister responsible for MBLL