A number of bills from the previous session of the legislature have been reintroduced, as well as number of new bills as part of the Government’s legislative agenda. To see the government’s news release on this, click here.
Third Session, Forty-Second Legislature
Government Bills
1st Reading
Bill 5 The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (Cannabis Social Responsibility Fee) – 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.
Bill 6 The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act – prohibits cannabis consumption in public places.
Bill 7 The Planning Amendment Act – 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 8 The Pension Benefits Amendment Act – amends The Pension Benefits Act with changes made in response to recommendations from the Manitoba Pension Commission.
Bill 9 The Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act – gives Manitoba a direct and distinct cause of action against manufacturers and wholesalers of opioid products to recover the cost of health care benefits caused or contributed to by an opioid-related wrong.
Bill 10 The Regional Health Authorities Amendment Act (Health System Governance and Accountability) – amends The Regional Health Authorities Act to consolidate administrative services related to health care and to centralize the delivery of certain health services across Manitoba.
Bill 11 The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act – makes amendments to The Workplace Safety and Health Act.
Bill 12 The Crown Land Dispositions Act (Various Acts Amended) – amends The Crown Lands Act, The Expropriation Act, The Land Acquisition Act, The Public Works Act, The Transportation Infrastructure Act and The Water Resources Administration Act.
Bill 13 The Public Sector Construction Projects (Tendering) Act – prohibits the issuing of a tender that would require the successful bidder to employ unionized employees or non-unionized employees for work on the project.
Bill 14 The Minor Amendments and Corrections Act, 2020 – corrects typographical, numbering and other drafting errors. It also makes minor amendments to various Acts.
Bill 15 The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act (Claim Dispute Tribunal) – amends The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act to establish the claim dispute tribunal. The tribunal is an independent body that has exclusive jurisdiction to resolve a dispute between an insured person and MPI concerning vehicle repairs or the amount payable when a vehicle is damaged.
Bill 16 The Labour Relations Amendment Act – makes various amendments to The Labour Relations Act
Bill 17 The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act – amends The Drivers and Vehicles Act. The Registrar of Motor Vehicles may impose an administrative penalty on a driver training school or a driving instructor for a contravention of the Act, the regulations or a permit condition. A penalty may be appealed to the Licence Suspension Appeal Board. Bonding requirements may be set by regulation. Consequential amendments are made to The Highway Traffic Act.
Bill 18 The Workers Compensation Amendment Act – amends The Workers Compensation Act to respond to the 2016-2017 recommendations of the Legislative Review Committee.
Bill 19 The Minor Amendments and Corrections Act, 2020 (2) – Part 2 makes amendments to clarify ministerial responsibility for administration of a statute.
Bill 20 The Vehicle Technology Testing Act (Various Acts Amended) – amends The Highway Traffic Act, The Insurance Act and The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act to allow for the testing of vehicles with automated driving systems or other new technology.
Bill 21 The Conflict of Interest (Members and Ministers) and Related Amendments Act – replaces The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Conflict of Interest Act with a new conflict of interest regime, The Conflict of Interest (Members and Ministers) Act. The current Act focuses on conflicts arising from financial interests. The new Act recognizes that a conflict might arise when a member or minister has an opportunity to place their interest, or the interest of their family or another person, before the public interest. Also includes a number of specific rules and limits.
Bill 22 The Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Amendment Act – amends The Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act to change the oversight and governance framework for Manitoba’s credit union system. The changes are necessary because the federal Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions no longer oversees provincial credit union centrals.
Bill 23 The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Control of Traffic by Flag Persons) – amends The Highway Traffic Act to enable traffic authorities to authorize a flag person to temporarily control traffic on behalf of a third party, such as a festival organizer or a film production company.
Bill 24 The Legal Profession Amendment Act – amends The Legal Profession Act to expand the range of people who can provide legal services beyond lawyers. The Law Society of Manitoba may issue a limited practice certificate that authorizes a person who is not a lawyer to engage in a limited law practice, subject to conditions and restrictions set out in the rules and regulations. These limited practitioners must meet education and training requirements and are regulated by the Law Society.
Bill 25 The Municipal Statutes Amendment Act – amends eight Acts respecting municipal elections and governance in Manitoba.
Bill 26 The Human Rights Code Amendment Act – amends The Human Rights Code. The Manitoba Human Rights Commission’s current responsibilities for administering complaints will now be carried out by the Commission’s executive director. The power to dismiss complaints is broadened and made available before an investigation. If the executive director terminates proceedings or dismisses a complaint on certain grounds, the complainant may ask the Commission to review the decision. An adjudicator must follow a time limit when holding a hearing and issuing a decision and may make certain orders and decisions on an oral basis before issuing them in writing. A $25,000 cap on damages for injury is established as well as factors to consider when awarding such damages. A different adjudicator may be appointed to explore settlement with the parties before a hearing.
Bill 27 The Administrative Tribunal Jurisdiction Act – addresses the ability of administrative tribunals to decide questions of constitutional law. An administrative tribunal cannot decide a question of constitutional law unless the tribunal has been designated by regulation as having jurisdiction to decide that question.
Bill 28 The Water Resources Administration Amendment Act – amends The Water Resources Administration Act to provide the government with increased powers to manage water control works and protect provincial water infrastructure. Provincial water infrastructure consists of water control works under the government’s control as well as any lakes, rivers or other water channels and surrounding embankments that are designated as provincial waterways.
Bill 29 The Reducing Red Tape and Improving Services Act, 2020 – amends several Acts (The Adult Learning Centres Act, The Adult Literacy Act, The Emergency Measures Act, The Financial Administration Act, The Highway Traffic Act, The Labour Relations Act, The Pesticides and Fertilizers Control Act, The Pharmaceutical Act, The Prescription Drugs Cost Assistance Act, The Poverty Reduction Strategy Act, The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act, The Public Officers Act, The Regulated Health Professions Act, The Upper Fort Garry Heritage Provincial Park Act, The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act) and repeals five Acts (The Design Institute Act, The Discriminatory Business Practices Act, The Government Air Service Act, The Heritage Manitoba Act and The New Home Warranty Act) to reduce or eliminate regulatory requirements or prohibitions, to streamline government operations and to eliminate committees.
Bill 30 The Consumer Protection Amendment Act – amends The Consumer Protection Act. The direct sale of furnaces, air conditioners, windows and other household systems and supplies is prohibited. Leases for household systems and supplies or for any product bought through a direct sale cannot be for an indefinite term. Part XXII (Contracts for Cell Phone Services) is repealed.
Bill 31 The Horse Racing Regulatory Modernization Act (Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act and Pari-Mutuel Levy Act Amended) – amends The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act to transfer responsibility for the regulation of all types of horse racing in Manitoba to the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba. A number of amendments are made to The Pari-Mutuel Levy Act.
Bill 32 The Election Financing Amendment and Elections Amendment Act (Government Advertising) – Amendments are made to change the restrictions on government advertising set out in The Election Financing Act. Coordinated amendments are made to The Elections Act and The Election Financing Act to require that the restrictions on government advertising be in place for at least 32 days before a non-fixed date election is called.
Bill 33 The Advanced Education Administration Amendment Act – amends The Advanced Education Administration Act to enable the minister to issue guidelines concerning tuition fees and student fees charged by universities. For colleges, these fees may be set by regulation.
Bill 34 The University College of the North Amendment Act – enables the University College of the North to make by-laws about parking on property that is under the control of the college.
Bill 35 The Public Utilities Ratepayer Protection and Regulatory Reform Act (Various Acts Amended) – amends various Acts. The governance and funding provisions for the Public Utilities Board (the “PUB”) are changed. A new legislative framework is established for the regulation of electricity rates, natural gas rates and basic auto insurance rates, as well as water and wastewater rates within the City of Winnipeg. Other adjustments are made to the PUB’s mandate.
Bill 36 The Public Health Amendment Act (Food Safety and Other Amendments) – This Bill amends The Public Health Act to deal with food safety by: establishing a duty to serve safe food; expanding powers to seize unsafe food; clarifying inspection powers related to food; and expanding regulation-making powers for starting and operating a food establishment.
Bill 38 The Building and Electrical Permitting Improvement Act (Various Acts Amended and Permit Dispute Resolution Act Enacted) – enacts a new Act to resolve disputes related to building and electrical permits.
Makes a number of changes to The Buildings and Mobile Homes Act. Performance standards are established by regulation. Provincial and municipal officials must conduct inspections and make decisions on applications for building permits and occupancy permits within specified time periods.
Makes two major changes to The Manitoba Hydro Act. A code of standards is established by regulation for the installation, repair and use of electric wiring and related equipment across Manitoba. The City of Winnipeg must adopt this code and enforce it in Winnipeg.
Passed
Bill 39 The Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2020 (COVID-19 Response)
Bill 43 The Civil Service Superannuation Amendment Act – makes a number of changes to The Civil Service Superannuation Act regarding: Commuted value, Pension deferral, Employee representatives, Application for pension and election of pension option, Purchase of service, Annuity to estate, as well as miscellaneous amendments.
Private Bills
1st Reading
Bill 200 The Scrap Metal Sales Accountability Act – A seller or provider of scrap metal must furnish information, including the source of the scrap metal, to the dealer at the time of the sale. The scrap metal dealer must keep the information for two years. The information may be given to the police.
Bill 202 The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act (Personal Care Home Staffing Guidelines) – amends The Health Services Insurance Act to require the minister to ensure that the current standards for paid care set out in the guidelines are maintained. The minister must also establish standards to ensure that the direct care provided to residents is adequate.
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