Manitoba Government Modernizing Services to Make Life Easier for Manitoba Families March 15, 2024 – “The Manitoba government has entered into an agreement with the Government of Canada to allocate $1.5 million toward the implementation of an electronic death registration system within the Manitoba’s Vital Statistics Branch, Consumer Protection and Government Services…”
Manitoba Government Back to Session, Ready to Deliver March 6, 2024 – “The Manitoba government is working to fix health care, make people and communities safer, and grow the economy with strong protections for workers, Premier Wab Kinew shared…”
Bill 8 The Safe Access to Abortion Services Act – creates access zones for clinics and prescribed facilities that provide abortion services and for residences of providers of those services.
Bill 10 The Advanced Education Administration Amendment Act – reduces funding to an educational institution that fails to adopt and implement a sexual violence policy that meets the requirements of the Act.
Bill 13 The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Transportation Amendment Act – enables licences to be issued to operators of different parts of an air emergency medical response system. In these circumstances, the licence holders must enter into an agreement with each other regarding the operation of the entire system.
A credit union may terminate a member’s membership without a resolution of directors if the member has engaged in conduct that is abusive, discriminatory or a threat to the health or safety of others in the member’s dealings with the credit union.
A credit union may request that the Registrar advise whether the credit union has the authority to make a by-law before having it considered at a meeting of members of the credit union.
A director nomination proposal must be submitted before a meeting of members in order to be considered at the meeting.
A credit union is no longer required to make a members register available for examination at a meeting of members.
Bill 17 The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act – re-establishes the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health. The council is appointed by the minister and advises the minister on matters relating to the Act and its administration.
Bill 19 The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act – the provisions dealing with written off, salvageable and irreparable motor vehicles will now apply to heavy trailers.
Bill 20 The Highway Traffic Amendment Act – a person who fails to have an ignition-interlock device installed in their vehicle can no longer appeal the suspension of their licence or their participation in the ignition-interlock program.
Bill 203 The Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act – notice of a personal injury claim related to snow or ice on private property must be given within 60 days after the injury occurred.
Manitoba Government Introduces Bill to Recognize Louis Riel as First Premier of Manitoba November 23, 2023 – “The Manitoba government is honouring the legacy of Louis Riel by introducing legislation that would recognize him as the first premier of Manitoba, Premier Wab Kinew, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs and Indigenous Reconciliation, and Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand announced today.”
Manitoba Government Introduces Legislation to Make Lives More Affordable for Manitobans by Lowering Fuel Taxes November 23, 2023 – “Bill 3, The Fuel Tax Amendment Act (Fuel Tax Holiday) would temporarily reduce the provincial fuel tax rate to zero cents per litre on gasoline, natural gas and diesel fuels for road use. This tax pause would remain in place for six months. During the fuel tax holiday, the 14-cent fuel tax rates on gasoline and diesel used to operate motor vehicles will be eliminated, the minister noted..”
Manitoba Government Establishes Southern Manitoba Cabinet Office November 29, 2023 – “The new initiative will be led by Brandon Burley. Burley was the Mayor of Morden for five years from 2018 to 2023, during which time he served as the director of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Prior to holding elected office, Burley was a real estate appraiser. With the position announced today, Burley will serve as a liaison between the premier’s office, cabinet and stakeholders in the Pembina Valley region.”
Manitoba Government Supports Adult Education by Introducing Adult Literacy Act December 1, 2023 – “The adult literacy act establishes and sets the funding eligibility parameters for adult literacy and numeracy programming for Manitobans. The act would ensure the efficacy of literacy programs through program standards and encourage stronger literacy outcomes through a mandated strategy and reporting on outcomes, noted the minister”
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba First Session, Forty-third Legislature
Government Bills
Introduced
Bill 2 The Louis Riel Act – “The Louis Riel Act bestows the honorary title of “First Premier of Manitoba” on Louis Riel. The Manitoba education curriculum must now include the significant contributions of Louis Riel.”
Bill 3 The Fuel Tax Amendment Act (Fuel Tax Holiday) – “The Fuel Tax Act is amended to provide for a tax holiday from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, for fuel purchased for use in operating motor vehicles, farm trucks and fire fighting equipment. A similar tax holiday is provided for multi-jurisdictional carriers who operate without a carrier licence. Regulations may be made to extend the tax holiday for up to six months or to reduce the applicable tax rate during the period from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
Bill 4 The Employment Standards Code Amendment and Interpretation Amendment Act (Orange Shirt Day) – ” The Employment Standards Code and The Interpretation Act are amended to observe Orange Shirt Day (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) as a provincial statutory holiday on September 30. Employers and employees may not substitute a different date for observing Orange Shirt Day. In addition, The Public Schools Act is amended to ensure that, in years when Orange Shirt Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, schools are closed on the following Monday.”
Bill 5 The Adult Literacy Act – “The Adult Literacy Act requires the minister to develop, implement and evaluate an adult literacy strategy in collaboration with others involved in adult literacy. A component of the strategy is the Manitoba Adult Literacy Program, which supports adult literacy programs.”
41 The Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act – This Bill amends The Occupiers’ Liability Act. Notice of a personal injury claim related to snow or ice on private property must be given within 60 days after the injury occurred. The notice must be given to an occupier of the property or a contractor engaged to remove snow or ice on the property. Notice given to one of them is notice to everyone who may be subject to the claim. The 60-day notice period does not apply in cases of injuries resulting in death or if a court determines that there was a reasonable excuse for failing to comply and that the failure does not prejudice the defendant.
43 The Provincial Offences Amendment Act (2) – This Bill amends The Provincial Offences Act. It enables First Nations to have contraventions of their laws dealt with under The Provincial Offences Act, which allows charges to be laid using tickets and provides additional enforcement options to collect unpaid fines.
Changes to King’s Bench Rules – New amendment to the rules dealing with family matters, as well as probate and estate matters, have been approved. See regulations 37/2023, 38/2023, and 39/2023 for full details.
Fifth Session, 42nd Legislature
Government Bills
Introduced
39 The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (3) – amends The Residential Tenancies Act to list examples of information or evidence that the director may consider in an application to evict a tenant for unlawful activity.
40 The Combative Sports Amendment Act – This Bill expands the Commission’s mandate to include licensing and regulating amateur combative sports that the Lieutenant Governor in Council has designated.
233 The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Act – “This Bill establishes The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Act. Title reservation and self-governing authority are provided to members of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Manitoba.”
The Manitoba government has appointed Judge Ryan Rolston as the new chief judge of the provincial court of Manitoba. April 25, 2023 – “The Manitoba government has appointed Judge Ryan Rolston as chief judge of the provincial court of Manitoba, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced today. Rolston was called to the bar in 2000. Since being appointed to the bench, he has been a leader in the education of judges in Manitoba and nationally, having organized seminars as co-chair of the education committee and for the national education committee of the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges. His appointment as a chief judge will come into effect in July for a non-renewable term of seven years.”
237 The Advanced Education Administration Amendment Act – “This Bill amends The Advanced Education Administration Act to include Providence University College and Theological Seminary as a university dealt with under the Act. Providence University College and Theological Seminary is exempted from the guidelines for university tuition fees and student fees.”
238 The Personal Care Home Accountability Act (Various Acts Amended) – “This Bill amends The Health Services Insurance Act to enable family members of personal care home residents to establish family councils. Personal care home operators must provide support for the family councils.”
239 The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (Application Fees and Deposits) – “This Bill amends The Residential Tenancies Act to clarify that a landlord must not charge a prospective tenant any application fees. A landlord is also not permitted to require a tenant to pay a deposit before the landlord and tenant enter into a tenancy agreement. This Bill also amends The Health System Governance and Accountability Act and The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act to ensure that certain information on each personal care home is published on a government website,…”
240 The Remembrance Day Amendment Act – “This Bill amends The Remembrance Day Act to ensure that employees are entitled to wear a poppy in the workplace during the seven-day period leading up to and including Remembrance Day.”
232 The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act (Administrative Penalties for Personal Care Homes) – “This Bill amends The Health Services Insurance Act. An administrative penalty may be imposed on the operator of a personal care home if the operator contravenes a prescribed provision of the Act or regulations. The operator may appeal an administrative penalty to the the Court of King’s Bench.”
235 The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act – “This Bill amends The Employment Standards Code. The length of unpaid leave on the death of a family member is expanded from three days to five days. In addition, an employee may now take up to five days of unpaid leave if the employee or their spouse or common-law partner experiences a loss of pregnancy.”
236 The Public Expression Protection Act – “This Bill establishes The Public Expression Protection Act. A defendant to a civil proceeding may file a motion to dismiss the proceeding on the ground that the proceeding arises from an expression by the defendant on a matter of public interest. Until the motion is finally resolved, no further steps may be taken by any party in the proceeding or in a tribunal proceeding related to the same matter of public interest.”
The Manitoba Law Library would like to acknowledge with gratitude that we are situated on Treaty One Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree and Dakota peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
Printing and Photocopying
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Please note: The library will be closing early on Thursday, April 17th at 11:00AM for a special event. Regular library service will resume Tuesday, April 22nd at 8:30AM.
The Winnipeg Court Complex will be closed April 18th and April 21st. Manitoba Law Library staff will not be onsite during the holiday, but will be available by email on Monday, April 21st. Regular library service will resume Tuesday, April 22nd at 8:30AM.
Please note: The Winnipeg Law Courts will be closed April 18th and April 21st. The Library is closed Friday. Manitoba Law Library staff will be available by email on Monday, April 21st. Regular library service will resume Tuesday, April 22nd at 8:30AM.