Legislative Update

Third Session, Forty-Second Legislature

Government Bills

The full text of previously unpublished bills introduced in the fall are now available.

1st Reading

Bill 46 The Court Practice and Administration Act (Various Acts Amended) – amends several Acts that govern the administration and practice of Manitoba’s courts.

Bill 47 The Early Learning and Child Care Act – replaces The Community Child Care Standards Act. It establishes principles of early learning and child care services that must be considered in the administration of the new Act. Consequential amendments are made to The Child and Family Services ActThe Environment ActThe Income Tax ActThe Municipal Assessment Act and The Social Services Appeal Board Act.

Bill 48 The Fiscal Responsibility and Taxpayer Protection Amendment Act – requires that the government not incur a deficit greater than the baseline amount and penalizes ministers by reducing their salaries if the deficit is not reduced by at least $100 million each year. This Bill amends The Fiscal Responsibility and Taxpayer Protection Act

Bill 49 The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act – amends The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Bill 51 The Limitations Act – replaces The Limitation of Actions Act with a new limitations regime, The Limitations Act.

Bill 52 The Minor Amendments and Corrections Act, 2021 – corrects typographical, numbering and other drafting errors. It also makes minor amendments to various Acts.

Bill 53 The Municipal Statutes Amendment Act (2) – amends four Acts: The Municipal Act, The City of Winnipeg Charter, The Municipal Board Act, and The Planning Act

Bill 54 The Personal Health Information Amendment Act – amends The Personal Health Information Act.

Bill 55 The Reducing Red Tape and Improving Services Act, 2021 – amends several Acts and repeals two Acts to reduce or eliminate regulatory requirements or prohibitions and to streamline government operations.

Bill 56 The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Amendment Act – Under The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Act, areas within federal jurisdiction are exempt from the rules respecting smoking and vaping and the advertising and sale of tobacco and vapour products. This Bill removes the exemption. The Act now applies across Manitoba, subject to other legally recognized exceptions.

Bill 57 The Protection of Critical Infrastructure Act – establishes The Protection of Critical Infrastructure Act. An owner or operator of infrastructure may apply to the Court of Queen’s Bench for an order to respond to interference with infrastructure.

Bill 58 The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act – amends The Criminal Property Forfeiture Act. This Bill allows the court to make two new orders before forfeiture proceedings begin, adds new presumptions concerning cash, vehicles and other property, and other changes related to disclosure and offences.

Bill 61 The Apprenticeship and Certification Amendment Act – amends The Apprenticeship and Certification Act.

Bill 62 The Animal Diseases Amendment Act – amends The Animal Diseases Act to require a person to obtain consent before entering a biosecurity zone or interacting with animals in such a zone. A biosecurity zone is an area within a livestock operation to which access is tightly controlled to limit the spread of pathogens. Consent is now also required before interacting with animals in transport. This Bill makes it an offence to block or interfere with a vehicle transporting commercial animals.

Bill 63 The Petty Trespasses Amendment and Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act – amends The Petty Trespasses Act and The Occupiers’ Liability Act. The Petty Trespasses Act is renamed The Trespass Act. Under the current Act, a verbal or written warning is required to make out a trespass offence, unless a property is fully enclosed. This Bill amends the Act so that a warning is no longer required. Under The Occupiers’ Liability Act, an occupier of premises has a limited duty of care to persons driving off-road vehicles or to recreational trail users. This Bill amends the Act to apply the same limited duty of care to anyone 12 years of age or older

Bill 64 The Education Modernization Act – changes the way the education system is governed and delivered in Manitoba. A new Act is enacted and several Acts are amended or repealed.

Bill 67 The Public Health Amendment Act – amends The Public Health Act to enable the chief public health officer to make orders during an epidemic that prevent people from working at more than one hospital, personal care home or other facility. The order may address implementation matters.

2nd Reading

Bill 50 The Legal Aid Manitoba Amendment Act – Currently, the tariff of fees paid to solicitors for providing legal aid is set by regulation under The Legal Aid Manitoba Act. This Bill amends the Act to require the management council of Legal Aid Manitoba to establish the fees.


Check here for the current status of bills.

HeinOnline’s Focus on Canadian Content

With the recent increase in working from home, or difficulties getting to the Great Library to use our print material, HeinOnline is a great resource for Canadian Federal and Provincial historical legislation.

Take a look at this month’s HeinOnline Content highlight to see what they have to offer for your legal research.

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To see what else HeinOnline has to offer visit the February Content Release for more highlights, tips, guides, and updates.

Public Now Able to View Virtual Hearings

Notice – Public Viewing/Attendance at Virtual Hearings (February 26, 2021)

In order to allow the general public to view open hearings, while still maintaining health protocols, the Court of Queen’s Bench has allowed for the viewing of Online and Teleconference hearings.

Click on the notice above to read the full instructions on how to request access and the protocols expected to be followed when participating in these events.

See here for all Queen’s Bench COVID-19 related notices and directives.

Manitoba Legal Blog Round-Up

A bi-monthly consolidation of blog posts from around the Manitoba legal community for the months January and February 2021

Internet Law image courtesy of howtostartablogonline.net
image courtesy of howtostartablogonline.net

Clarke Immigration Law

Robson Crim Legal Blog

Matthew Gould Blog (Criminal Law)

Taylor McCaffrey

Pitblado Law Blog

TDS law

MLT Aikins