Legislative Update: Adjourned for Holiday Season

by George Roy | Dec 8, 2022 | Bill Status, Legislation, New Bills

Government News Releases

• Manitoba Government Reintroduces Bill That Would Modernize Liquor Service Licensing November 29, 2022 – “The bill, first introduced in the spring, would modernize the liquor licensing process and reduce red tape and regulatory burdens through regulation, helping the hospitality industry rebound from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and current inflationary challenges. The bill would extend the ability to sell liquor with takeout and delivery food orders and make it easier for service models such as wine bars, seasonal and pop-up businesses to obtain licences, the minister noted.”
• Manitoba Government Introduces Legislation That Would Repeal the Social Responsibility Fee on Cannabis Sales November 28, 2022 – “Under the proposed legislation, cannabis retailers would no longer be required to remit the fee for sales that take effect starting Jan.1, 2023. Social responsibility fees for the 2022 calendar year would need to be remitted to Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries by June 2023.”
• Manitoba Government Amends Liquor Licensing to Expand Types of Liquor Products Available at Existing Retailers November 28, 2022 – “Additionally, craft liquor manufacturers with retail endorsements on manufacturing licences would now be able to expand the liquor products permitted for retail sale at manufacturing locations. For example, a craft brewery that sells its products at its brewery location would now be able to sell other types of alcohol as well.”
• Manitoba Government Introduces Off-Road Trails Safety and Maintenance Act November 24, 2022 – “Proposed Legislation Would Ensure Off-Road Vehicle Organizations Can Continue Support for Safe, High-quality Recreation Opportunities While Protecting Natural Ecosystems: Wharton”

Recent Bill Activity

The House adjourned on December 1, 2022. The 5^th Session of the 42^nd Legislature will reconvene on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

Introduced

Government Bills

• Bill 8 The Off-Road Trails Safety and Maintenance Act – “establishes The Off-Road Trails Safety and Maintenance Act. A person who registers an off-road vehicle must pay an off-road trails fee. The fee is set at $25, but may be changed by regulation. Permits authorizing people to operate snowmobiles on designated provincial snowmobile trails are now dealt with under this Act.
• Bill 9 The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Amendment Act – “amends The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act and The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act. An existing retail beer vendor or specialty wine store operator that wants to expand the products they sell may enter into an agreement with the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation and obtain a licence that authorizes the sale of other types of liquor from their current premises.
• Bill 10 The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (Social Responsibility Fee Repealed) – “This Bill amends The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act to repeal the requirement for a cannabis store operator to pay to the government a social responsibility fee.”

Private Members’ Bills

• Bill 210 The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act (Leave for Miscarriage or Stillbirth) – “amends The Employment Standards Code. An employee may take up to three days’ paid leave if their pregnancy or the pregnancy of their spouse or common-law partner ends in miscarriage or stillbirth.” 
• Bill 211 The Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Amendment Act – “amends The Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act to prohibit registering and enforcing a civil judgment of a court outside Manitoba concerning abortion services provided in Manitoba.”                                    
• Bill 212 The Regulated Health Professions Amendment Act – “This Bill requires the college of a regulated health profession whose members manage labour or delivery of babies to include in its continuing competency program education and training to ensure that no person experiences forced sterilization.”                                                                 
• Bill 215 The Non-Disclosure Agreements Act – “establishes The Non-Disclosure Agreements Act to restrict or prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements as they relate to claims of harassment and discrimination.”
• Bill 216 The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (Right to Repair Electronic Products) – “amends The Consumer Protection Act. A manufacturer must make the items necessary to maintain and repair its electronic products available to consumers and repair businesses at a reasonable price. If not, the manufacturer must replace the electronic product at no charge or refund the purchase price when requested to do so by the purchaser.
• Bill 217 The Health System Governance and Accountability Amendment Act– “amends The Health System Governance and Accountability Act to require annual reports of health authorities to be tabled in the Assembly and referred to the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development. The Standing Committee must consider each report within 120 days.”
• Bill 218 An Act Respecting the Title “Associate Judge” (Various Acts Amended) – “amends The Court of King’s Bench Act to change the designation of the judicial officials appointed under Division 2 of Part IV of the Act from “master” to “associate judge”. Consequential amendments are made to a number of other statutes.”

Passed

Government Bills

• Bill 3 The Vital Statistics Amendment Act (Name Registration), SM 2022, c. 50
• Bill 4 The Minimum Wage Adjustment Act, 2022 (Employment Standards Code Amended), SM 2022, c. 51
• Bill 5 The Demise of the Crown Act (Various Acts Amended), SM 2022, c. 52

Public Bills

• Bill 213 The Animal Care Amendment Act – ” This Bill amends The Animal Care Act to prohibit leaving a companion animal, such as a dog, in an unattended vehicle if the temperature in the vehicle is dangerously hot or cold for the animal. If the exterior temperature is more than 22 degrees C or less than -10 degrees C, it is presumed that the temperature inside the vehicle is dangerous for the animal. An officer is authorized to use force to enter a locked vehicle to remove an animal if they use the minimum necessary force, report the entry to an animal protection officer and remain with the animal until an animal protection officer arrives on the scene or provides instructions.” SM 2022, c. 54

See here for the current status of all bills.

Legislative Update 5th Session, 42nd Legislature

by George Roy | Nov 29, 2022 | Bill Status, Legislation, New Bills

Government News Releases

• Manitoba Government Introduces Bill to Formalize Plan to Increase Minimum Wage to $15 by October 2023 November 18, 2022 – “The Manitoba government has introduced the Minimum Wage Adjustment Act, which would raise the minimum hourly wage to $14.15 on April 1, 2023, as the second phase of a plan to further increase the minimum wage to $15 on Oct. 1, 2023, Labour.”
• Manitoba Government Introduces Legislation to Expand Types of Characters and Names Available for Registration with Vital Statistics November 17, 2022 – “The Manitoba government has introduced an amendment to the Vital Statistics Act to expand the parameters of name registration to include a wider range of characters and names in recognition of traditional Indigenous and other cultures and languages.”
• Manitoba Government Introduces Official Time Amendment Act November 17, 2022 – “The Manitoba government is proactively introducing the Official Time Amendment Act, which would allow the province to consider adopting permanent daylight saving time should neighbouring jurisdictions enact similar legislation and the majority of Manitobans support this change.”

Recent Bill Activity

Government Bills

Introduced

• Bill 2  The Official Time Amendment Act – “amends The Official Time Act to discontinue the seasonal time change for daylight saving time.”
• Bill 3 The Vital Statistics Amendment Act (Name Registration)   – “amends how a name may be expressed under The Vital Statistics Act. The letters, including marks above and below letters, and other typographical symbols permitted to be used in a name are set out in the Act, and additional ones may be set out in the regulations. The restriction on the number of names that may be included in a surname is removed. In accordance with a person’s traditional culture, a person may be registered under a single name instead of having both a given name and a surname. A registration that included a letter or typographical symbol that is now permitted is validated.”
• Bill 4  The Minimum Wage Adjustment Act, 2022 (Employment Standards Code Amended) – “amends The Employment Standards Code to set the minimum wage at $14.15, effective April 1, 2023.”
• Bill 5 The Demise of the Crown Act (Various Acts Amended) – mends several statutes to deal with the demise of the Crown. The chief legislative counsel is given a revision power to make changes to other Acts and regulations to reflect the change of sovereign.
• Bill 6 The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act – “makes several amendments to The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act. The corporation is not required to pay benefits to a resident of a jurisdiction other than Manitoba if there is an interjurisdictional agreement that exempts the corporation from providing benefits to residents of that jurisdiction. Currently, an accident victim 65 years or older is entitled to an income replacement indemnity only if they are employed at the time of the accident. The entitlement is broadened to also apply if the victim has a job offer or a history of seasonal, casual or temporary employment.
  The corporation is authorized to pay funds in trust to a person to manage on behalf of a victim with impaired cognitive functioning, even if no formal committee or substitute decision maker has been appointed for the victim. The corporation’s ability to recover overpayments is strengthened.”

Public Bills

Introduced

• Bill 200 The Black History Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended) – “amends The Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act. February of each year is proclaimed as Black History Month.”
• Bill 201 The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act – “amends The Residential Tenancies Act. The Act currently establishes a process to set the maximum rent increase that may be charged for most rental units and allows landlords to apply for an order that authorizes rent increases above this amount. This Bill prevents landlords from applying for a larger rent increase unless the landlord has incurred eligible capital expenditures or there has been an extraordinary increase in taxes, utilities or security service costs. Larger rent increases cannot be charged until an order has been made that authorizes the increased rent. Landlords are prevented from removing or reducing rent discounts for one year after an application for a larger rent increase is made and from applying for a larger rent increase within one year after removing or reducing a rent discount.
• Bill 202 The Abortion Protest Buffer Zone Act – ” establishes The Abortion Protest Buffer Zone Act. Access zones are created for clinics and facilities that provide abortion services and for service providers. Certain activities are prohibited within these zones. Certain activities are prohibited on school sites and within 50 metres of school sites.”
• Bill 203 The Orange Shirt Day Statutory Holiday Act (Various Acts Amended) – “This Bill recognizes Orange Shirt Day, September 30, as a provincial statutory holiday for the purposes of The Employment Standards Code and The Interpretation Act.”
• Bill 204 The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act (Licence Plates for MMIWG2S Awareness) – “amends The Drivers and Vehicles Act. It permits an organization to apply to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to make a licence plate available that includes the abbreviation “MMIWG2S”, meaning missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. The plate must also bear a graphic depicting a red hand or a red dress.”
• Bill 205 The Restricting Mandatory Overtime for Nurses Act (Various Acts Amended) – “amends The Employment Standards Code to establish a separate overtime regime for nurses by January 1, 2024. Nurses are not obligated to work overtime in non-urgent circumstances. Amendments to The Licensed Practical Nurses Act and The Regulated Health Professions Act provide that a refusal by a nurse to work overtime in non-urgent circumstances does not constitute professional misconduct or breach the duty of care owed to their patient. This Bill also amends The Health Administration Act to require the minister to report twice a year to the Assembly about nurse position vacancies.”
• Bill 206 The Louis Riel Act – “This Bill bestows the honorary title of “First Premier of Manitoba” on Louis Riel. The Bill requires the Manitoba education curriculum to include the significant contributions of Louis Riel.”
• Bill 207 The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act – “This Bill amends The Criminal Property Forfeiture Act. Currently, money in the criminal property forfeiture fund may be used for programs operated by law enforcement agencies. The Bill enables the money to instead go to non-profit community organizations for social programs, such as affordable housing and restorative justice.”
• Bill 208 The Protecting Youth in Sports Act – “establishes The Protecting Youth in Sports Act. A sports organization or association that receives government funding, a school division or an independent school must ensure that every coach; completes training in the prevention of sexual abuse, harassment, abuse and bullying in sport before commencing coaching youths; and undertakes not to host a young athlete in the coach’s home without prior permission of the athlete’s parent and, in the case of a student participating in an extra-curricular athletic activity, the principal of the student’s school.
• Bill 209 The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act (Referendum Before Privatization of Subsidiary) – “amends The Manitoba Hydro Act. Currently, the government may introduce a bill to privatize Manitoba Hydro only after a referendum has been held in which the majority of voters have approved the privatization. The amendment clarifies that the referendum requirement also applies to the privatization of any subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro.”

See here for the current status of all bills.

Regulations

Regulations of Manitoba