Manitoba Legislative Update

2nd Session, 42nd Legislature

New Bills

Government Bills

Bill 2 The Retail Business Hours Of Operation Act – Currently, retail business hours and days of operation are subject to provincial legislation. This Bill gives local governments authority over these matters.

Bill 3 The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act – This Bill amends The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act to make it a term of the agreement that the operator of a cannabis store must pay to the government a social responsibility fee. The fee is 6% of the operator’s annual cannabis sales revenue or the amount set by regulation.

Bill 4 The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act – This Bill amends The Manitoba Hydro Act to increase the borrowing authority granted to Manitoba Hydro. Currently, Manitoba Hydro may borrow up to $500 million for temporary purposes. This amendment authorizes borrowing up to $1.5 billion for those purposes.

Bill 5 The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act – This Bill amends the Act to prohibit cannabis consumption in public places, unless the consumption is permitted by regulation or under The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Act.

Bill 6 The Planning Amendment Act – This Bill amends The Planning Act to provide that the council of the City of Brandon is the approving authority for the subdivision of land in Brandon.

Bill 7 The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act (Leave for Victims of Interpersonal Violence) – Currently, an employee who is a victim of domestic violence may take a leave from work under The Employment Standards Code. This Bill expands leave eligibility to an employee who is a victim of sexual violence or stalking.

Private Bills

Bill 200 The Legislative Assembly Amendment and Legislative Assembly Management Commission Amendment Act – This Bill amends these Acts to change the definition “recognized opposition party” and the definition “other opposition party” to include political parties that are represented in the Assembly by two or more members, provided that the party’s candidates received at least 10% of the votes cast in the last general election. Such a party and its members are not immediately entitled to any additional funding, salaries or allowances.

Bill 201 The Vital Statistics Amendment Act – This Bill amends The Vital Statistics Act to provide that the birth certificate and other official documents of a person who has changed their sex designation may contain no sex designation or may use an “X”.

Proclamations

SM 2019, c. 16 The Courts Modernization Act – “With the advice and consent of the Executive Council of Manitoba, we name January 1, 2020, as the day on which sections 7, 8, 12, 16, 17, 20 to 23 and 25 of The Courts Modernization Act (Various Acts Amended) (S.M. 2019, c. 16) come into force.”