Legislative Update – December 10, 2024

by Kayleigh Hykawy | Dec 10, 2024 | Bill Status, Legislation, New Bills

News

• Second Session Ends with Important Legislation to Support Communities, Keep Manitobans Safe Continuing to Move Forward December 5, 2024 – The second session of the 43rd legislature will adjourn until March 5, 2025, with a number of important bills moving forward.
• Manitoba Government Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Licensing Consequences for Convicted Impaired Drivers December 5, 2024 – The Manitoba government has introduced legislation that would impose new, stronger licensing consequences on drivers convicted of impaired driving and refusal offences that cause bodily harm or death, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, minister responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance, announced today.
• Manitoba Government Proclaims Combative Sports Amendment Act, Ensuring Strong Safety Standards for Amateur Combative Sports December 3, 2024 – The Manitoba government has proclaimed legislation and enacted regulation that increases safety standards for all combative sports, Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Nellie Kennedy announced today.
• Manitoba Government Marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 3, 2024 – The Manitoba government is joining people around the world to celebration International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for accessibility, announced today. 

The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba

First Session, Forty-Third Legislature

Government Bills

Introduced

• Bill 5 The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Impaired Driving Measures)/Loi modifiant le Code de la route (mesures en cas d’infractions de conduite avec facultés affaiblies) – The Highway Traffic Act is amended to impose additional consequences when an impaired driving offence involves bodily injury or death.
  • A lifetime licence suspension is imposed on a person who is convicted of two such offences committed within a 10-year period.
  • Additionally, a person who is convicted of such an offence is prohibited from driving with any alcohol in their blood for a 7-year period. A second conviction for such an offence results in a lifetime prohibition if the second offence is committed within 10 years after the first one. Unlike the licence suspension period, the alcohol prohibition period cannot be varied by the Licence Suspension Appeal Board.
  • A person who drives with alcohol in their blood while prohibited from doing so is subject to having their licence suspended and their vehicle impounded. The person might also be required to pay an administrative penalty or to participate in an impaired driving assessment or the ignition-interlock program.
  • An amendment is also made to The Drivers and Vehicles Act.

Private Bills

Introduced

• Bill 215 The Specialist Wait Time Reporting Act/Loi sur la présentation de rapports concernant les temps d’attente pour la consultation de spécialistes – The Specialist Wait Time Reporting Act requires the minister to publicly report on wait times for consulting with a medical specialist and for receiving care from the specialist. The reports must be made twice each year.

For the status of all current bills click here.

Regulations

Legislative Update – December 2, 2024

by Kayleigh Hykawy | Dec 2, 2024 | Bill Status, Legislation, New Bills

News

• Reasons to Hope: Manitoba Government Passes Throne Speech in Legislature November 28, 2024 – The Manitoba government’s throne speech, outlining key priorities for the upcoming year, passed in the legislature this afternoon, Nov. 28, Premier Wab Kinew announced today.

The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba

First Session, Forty-Third Legislature

Government Bills

Introduced

• Bill 2 The Provincial Court Amendment Act – The Provincial Court Act is amended to expand the subjects of continuing education for provincial court judges. Subjects are to include intimate partner violence, coercive control in intimate partner and family relationships and the experiences of Indigenous persons and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.
  • To be eligible for appointment as a judicial justice of the peace, a candidate must agree to participate in continuing education on a number of specified subjects.
  • Funding for continuing education seminars established by the Chief Judge does not lapse.
• Bill 3 The City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment and Planning Amendment Act – The City of Winnipeg Charter and The Planning Act provide that the Municipal Board must hold a hearing on a proposed zoning by-law if a sufficient number of people object to the by-law.
  • The City of Winnipeg Charter is amended to increase the sufficient number of objections from at least 25 to at least 300.
  • The Planning Act is amended to increase the sufficient number of objections from at least 25 to at least
    • 300, for a municipality or planning district with a population of at least 6,000; or
    • the greater of 100 or 5% of the population, for a municipality or planning district with a population of fewer than 6,000.
  • In addition, each Act currently provides that the Municipal Board must hold a hearing when objections to a zoning by-law affecting a particular parcel of land are received from at least 50% of the land owners within 100 metres from the parcel. The provisions are repealed.
• Bill 4 The Planning Amendment Act – The Planning Act is amended to enable a municipality to withdraw from the Capital Planning Region.
  • The date for completing the initial regional plan for the Capital Planning Region is extended.
  • The obligations concerning drinking water and wastewater management plans for municipalities within the capital region are continued and are no longer dependent on membership in the Capital Planning Region.
  • Related amendments are made with respect to other planning regions that may be established in the future.

Private Bills

Introduced

• Bill 208 The Manitoba Small Business Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)/Loi sur le Mois de la petite entreprise au Manitoba (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs) – to proclaim the month of May of each year as Manitoba Small Business Month.
• Bill 209 The Celebration of Philippine Independence Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)/Loi sur la Journée de la célébration de l’indépendance des Philippines (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs) – to proclaim June 12 of each year as Celebration of Philippine Independence Day.
• Bill 210 The Indigenous Veterans Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)/Loi sur la Journée des anciens combattants autochtones (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs) – to proclaim November 8 of each year as Indigenous Veterans Day.

For the status of all current bills click here.

Proclamations

• SM 2022, c. 10 The Police Services Amendment Act (Enhancing Independent Investigation Unit Operations)
  • sections 1 and 5 – comes into force November 22, 2024.
• SM 2023, c. 31 The Combative Sports Amendment Act
  • Whole act in force December 1, 2024

Regulations