Blog Roundup – May and June 2024

A bi-monthly round-up of blog posts from the Manitoba legal community for the months of May and June 2024

Fillmore Riley

MLT Aikins

Robson Crim Legal Blog

Taylor McCaffrey

TDS law

Legislative Update – June 27, 2024

News

The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba

First Session, Forty-Third Legislature

Government Bills

Introduced

  • Bill 38 An Act Respecting Child and Family Services (Indigenous Jurisdiction and Other Amendments)/Loi concernant les services à l’enfant et à la famille (champ de compétence autochtone et autres modifications)

Child and Family Services Act

  • Amendments to this Act include the following:
  • A preamble is added to the Act and the Declaration of Principles is repealed in light of the principles that were added to the Act in 2023.
  • The director and agencies must facilitate the transition to Indigenous service providers for Indigenous children and families.
  • For the purpose of critical incident reporting, the definition of “critical incident” is changed so that it applies to young adults only if they (and not their family) received services from an agency within a year before a serious injury or death.
  • A person who believes that an Indigenous child might need protection may report the matter to an Indigenous service provider.
  • An agency that receives information that a child might need protection may refer the matter for investigation to an applicable Indigenous service provider or investigate the matter in collaboration with that service provider.
  • An adult who was alleged to have been abused as a child must not be compelled to testify at a hearing about an objection to the entry of their alleged abuser’s name in the child abuse registry.
  • For the purpose of a hearing, a judge or associate judge may order that an Indigenous service provider be substituted for an agency that apprehended a child.
  • A judge or associate judge may appoint a consenting Indigenous service provider as the guardian of a child.
  • An Indigenous service provider with permanent guardianship of a child may apply to court for an order terminating the guardianship.

Child and Family Services Authorities Act

  • Amendments to this Act include the following:
  • An authority must facilitate the transition to Indigenous service providers for Indigenous children and families.
  • The minister may designate an agency, or vary a geographic region, for the purpose of providing joint intake and emergency services if it is necessary because an Indigenous governing body exercises jurisdiction over child and family services.
  • The Metis Authority is disestablished on a date to be fixed by proclamation.

Vital Statistics Act

  • This Act is amended to allow
  • an Indigenous service provider to apply for a birth certificate, a certified copy of a birth registration and, when required for a court proceeding, a certificate of birth registration search; and
  • a person applying for a guardianship or parenting order to apply for a certificate of birth registration search.

Passed

  • Bill 5 The Adult Literacy Act/Loi surl’alphabétisation des adultes SM 2024, c. 3
  • Bill 6 The Manitoba Assistance Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les allocations d’aide du Manitoba SM 2024, c. 4
  • Bill 8 The Safe Access to Abortion Services Act/Loi sur l’accès sécuritaire aux services d’interruption volontaire de grossesse SM 2024, c. 5
  • Bill 10 The Advanced Education Administration Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur l’administration de l’enseignement postsecondaire SM 2024, c. 6
  • Bill 11 The Statutes and Regulations Amendment and Interpretation Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les textes législatifs et réglementaires et la Loi d’interprétation SM 2024, c. 7
  • Bill 13 The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Transportation Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les interventions médicales d’urgence et le transport pour personnes sur civière SM 2024, c. 8
  • Bill 14 The Minor Amendments and Corrections Act, 2024/Loi corrective de 2024 SM 2024, c. 9
  • Bill 15 The Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les caisses populaires et les credit unions SM 2024, c. 10
  • Bill 17 The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur la sécurité et l’hygiène du travail SM 2024, c. 11
  • Bill 18 The Community Child Care Standards Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur la garde d’enfants SM 2024, c. 12
  • Bill 19 The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les conducteurs et les véhicules SM 2024, c. 13
  • Bill 20 The Highway Traffic Amendment Act/Loi modifiant le Code de la route SM 2024, c. 14
  • Bill 22 The Celebration of Nigerian Independence Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)/Loi sur la Journée de la célébration de l’indépendance du Nigeria (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs) SM 2024, c. 15
  • Bill 23 The Change of Name Amendment Act (2)/Loi no 2 modifiant la Loi sur le changement de nom SM 2024, c. 16
  • Bill 24 The Intimate Image Protection Amendment Act (Distribution of Fake Intimate Images)/Loi modifiant la Loi sur la protection des images intimes (distribution de fausses images intimes) SM 2024, c. 17
  • Bill 29 The Body Armour and Fortified Vehicle Control Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur le contrôle des gilets de protection balistique et des véhicules blindés SM 2024, c. 18
  • Bill 30 The Unexplained Wealth Act (Criminal Property Forfeiture Act and Corporations Act Amended)/Loi sur les richesses inexpliquées (modification de la Loi sur la confiscation de biens obtenus ou utilisés criminellement et de la Loi sur les corporations) SM 2024, c. 19
  • Bill 31 The Captured Carbon Storage Act/Loi sur le stockage de carbone capté SM 2024, c. 20
  • Bill 33 The Change of Name Amendment Act (3)/Loi no 3 modifiant la Loi sur le changement de nom SM 2024, c. 21
  • Bill 34 The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur la réglementation des alcools, des jeux et du cannabis SM 2024, c. 22
  • Bill 36 The Regulated Health Professions Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les professions de la santé réglementées SM 2024, c. 23

Private Members’ – Public Bills

Passed

  • Bill 201 The Manitoba Emblems Amendment Act (Provincial Stone)/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les emblèmes du Manitoba (désignation de la pierre provinciale) SM 2024, c. 24
  • Bill 202 The Community Foundation Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)/Loi sur la Journée des fondations communautaires (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs) SM 2024, c. 25
  • Bill 207 The Islamic Heritage Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)/Loi sur le Mois du patrimoine islamique (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs) SM 2024, c. 26
  • Bill 208 The Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)/Loi sur la Journée de visibilité bispirituelle et transgenre (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs) SM 2024, c. 27
  • Bill 211 The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act (Manitoba Parks Licence Plates)/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les conducteurs et les véhicules (plaques d’immatriculation des parcs du Manitoba) SM 2024, c. 28
  • Bill 212 The Asian Heritage Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)/Loi sur le Mois du patrimoine asiatique (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs) SM 2024, c. 29

For the status of all current bills click here.


Regulations

NumberTitleRegisteredPublished
41/2024Community Safety Officers Regulation, amendment10 June 202410 June 2024
42/2024First Nation Safety Officers Regulation, amendment10 June 202410 June 2024
43/2024Recreational Camps Regulation, amendment14 June 202414 June 2024
44/2024Court of King’s Bench Small Claims Practices Regulation, amendment14 June 202414 June 2024
45/2024Fuel Tax Rates Regulation14 June 202414 June 2024
46/2024Joint Intake and Emergency Services by Designated Agencies Regulation, amendment17 June 202417 June 2024
47/2024Declaration of Provincial Roads Regulation, amendment25 June 202425 June 2024
Manitoba Regulations

New King’s Bench Notices

June 21, 2024 – Service of Motion for Default Judgement

King’s Bench Rule 19.02(4) (as modified by Rule 19.09) provides that a party who has been noted in default need not be served with any document in the action, except where the court orders otherwise. Where a party has been noted in default and another party moves before a judge for judgment against the party in default, it should be anticipated that service of the motion for default judgment will be
required in most circumstances where the claim is not for a liquidated amount. Where a liquidated amount is claimed, the presiding judge may still exercise their discretion to require service depending on the nature of the claim and evidence in support of damages. It is anticipated that related rule changes may result.

June 21, 2024 – Counsel’s Approval of Form of Order

King’s Bench Rule 59.03(1) provides that any party affected by an order may prepare a draft of the formal order and shall, unless otherwise ordered by the court, send it to all other parties represented at the hearing for approval of its form.

Effective immediately, where a party is represented by counsel, unless directed otherwise by the court, counsel’s approval of the form of the draft formal order may be indicated by any of the following:

  • Original, copy, or digital signature of counsel indicating their consent to the form of order; or
  • A written representation by counsel who prepared the draft of the formal order certifying that all counsel consent to the form of order.

Click here for all King’s Bench Notices and Practice Directions

Ending soon: Manitoba Articling Program Review

The Law Society of Manitoba (in conjunction with the law societies of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society) is seeking feedback on the types of training and mentoring articling students are receiving, issues related to discrimination or harassment and how prepared articling students feel to practice law in the 21st century.

Articling Students and New Lawyers

Principals, Recruiters and Mentors

The surveys take approximately 15 minutes to complete and your survey responses are anonymous and confidential.

The surveys will remain open until Thursday, June 20, 2024.

2019 Survey Results

In Manitoba, the survey was completed by 83 articling students and 48 principals, recruiters and mentors. The survey revealed several key findings regarding the articling experiences. To learn more download the final report by clicking the link below.

Articling Program Assessment Research Report

New Court of Appeal and King’s Bench Notices

June 4, 2024 – Consolidated Practice Direction

This Consolidated Practice Direction combines and replaces all previously issued practice-related directions, notices and other documents, with the exception of the documents listed below which remain in force and continue to be posted on the Manitoba Courts’ website:

  1. December 14, 2022 – Notice – Further Evidence Rule
  2. December 14, 2022 – Practice Direction – Allegation of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
  3. November 3, 2022 – Practice Direction – Remote Hearings – Changes to Court of Appeal Rules

Amended June 4th – Ordering Transcripts for matters to be heard in the Court of Appeal

This notice is intended to streamline the process for ordering transcripts when appealing from a lower court to the Court of
Appeal.

The Court of Appeal requires one paper copy and one electronic copy of any transcript it is to consider on hearing an appeal, unless a judge orders otherwise. Pursuant to both rule 16(1) of the Court of Appeal Rules (Civil) and rule 11(1)(a) of the Manitoba Criminal Appeal Rules, an appellant is required to provide confirmation that the necessary transcripts have been ordered at the time the initiating document is filed.

Effective immediately, this confirmation shall be in the form of a completed court transcript order request, which is to accompany
the notice of appeal or initiating notice of motion at the time of filing.

See full notice for more information

Click here for all Court of Appeal notices and practice directions

June 3, 2024 – Closure of the Child Protection Docket Friday, June 21, 2024

In order to accommodate members of the Bar who wish to attend the 40th anniversary celebration of the Family Division, the Child Protection Docket will be closed on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Click here for all Court of Appeal notices and practice directions

Please note: The library will be closing early on Friday, December 13th at 11:00AM for a special event.  Regular library service will resume Monday, December 16th at 8:30AM.

Scheduled Maintenance Notice: Please note there will be a brief disruption in accessing the Library website, including catalog and online resources, on the morning of Friday, December 13, 2024.