Legislative Update

Introduced

Government Bills

Bill 1 An Act respecting the Administration of Oaths of Office (Formal Bill)

Bill 2 The Public Services Sustainability Repeal Act – repeals The Public Services Sustainability Act (which is unproclaimed) and three other legislative references to it.

Bill 4 The Path to Reconciliation Amendment Act – amends The Path to Reconciliation Act to include references to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In addition to the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the calls for justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls are to guide the Government of Manitoba’s commitment to reconciliation.

Bill 5 The Coat of Arms, Emblems and the Manitoba Tartan Amendment Act – amends The Coat of Arms, Emblems and the Manitoba Tartan Act to add the polar bear as one of the designated mammal emblems of Manitoba. The plains bison was previously designated in 2014.

Bill 7 The Police Services Amendment Act (Enhancing Independent Investigation Unit Operations) – makes a number of amendments to The Police Services Act that deal with the operation of the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU), which is responsible for investigating police officer conduct.

Private Bills

Bill 200The 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 201 The Regional Health Authorities Amendment Act – amends The Regional Health Authorities 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 202 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 203 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 204 The Protest Buffer Zone Act (COVID-19 Restrictions) – This Bill establishes The Protest Buffer Zone Act (COVID-19 Restrictions). Buffer zones are created with certain activities prohibited within these buffer zones. 

Bill 205 The Filipino Heritage Month Act – proclaims the month of June of each year as Filipino Heritage Month.

Bill 207 The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act – Enables the money in the criminal property forfeiture fund to instead go to non-profit community organizations for social programs, such as affordable housing and restorative justice.

Second Reading

Bill 3 The Family Maintenance Amendment Act – replaces Part II of The Family Maintenance Act to establish new rules respecting the parentage of children conceived through assisted reproduction, including where a surrogate is used.

Bill 6 The Workers Compensation Amendment ActThe Workers Compensation Act lists specific illnesses and injuries presumed to be caused by firefighting, unless the contrary is proven. This Bill expands the list to include primary site thyroid, pancreatic, ovarian, cervical and penile cancers.


Proclamations

ChapterTitle     (provisions)Date in forceDate signedProclamation
SM 2021, c. 38The Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Amendment Act (whole Act)13 Dec 202124 Nov 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 30The Reducing Red Tape and Improving Services Act, 2020 (subsections 25(3) and (4))1 Dec 202110 Nov 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 27The Human Rights Code Amendment Act (whole Act)1 Jan 202227 Oct 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 28The Administrative Tribunal Jurisdiction Act (whole Act)1 Jan 202227 Oct 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 36The Planning Amendment and City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment Act (various sections29 Oct 202127 Oct 2021Proclamation

See here for the status of all current bills.


Legislative Update

Latest News Releases

Manitoba Government is Modernizing the Family Maintenance Act November 3, 2021 – ” …changes to the Family Maintenance Act to include parentage legislation for children conceived through assisted reproduction with or without surrogacy.”

Manitoba Proclaims Legislation to Promote Timely Resolution of Human Rights Complaints November 2, 2021 – “The legislative changes set out in the Human Rights Code Amendment Act will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022”

Province Proclaims New Legislation to Repeal and Replace the Limitations Act November 2, 2021 – “Statutory limitations ensure that a person can no longer seek the assistance of the court to enforce a legal right after a certain period. This legislation will clarify statutory limitations for the various causes of action in Manitoba.”

Recent Proclamations

ChapterTitle     (provisions)Date in forceDate signedProclamation
SM 2021, c. 27The Human Rights Code Amendment Act (whole Act)1 Jan 202227 Oct 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 28The Administrative Tribunal Jurisdiction Act (whole Act)1 Jan 202227 Oct 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 36The Planning Amendment and City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment Act (various sections)29 Oct 202127 Oct 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 44The Limitations Act (whole Act)30 Sep 202227 Oct 2021Proclamation

Legislative Update – End of Fall Session

Government Concludes Fall Legislative Session, Focused on Protecting Manitobans, Advancing Manitoba (News Release) – “The fall sitting of the third session of the 42nd legislature has concluded, having completed the final stages of implementing Budget 2021 and passing important legislation to protect and improve the services Manitobans rely on, Premier and government house leader Kelvin Goertzen announced today.”

New Bills

Introduced

Bill 76 The Coat of Arms, Emblems and the Manitoba Tartan Amendment Act – amends The Coat of Arms, Emblems and the Manitoba Tartan Act to add the polar bear as one of the designated mammal emblems of Manitoba. The plains bison was previously designated in 2014.

Bill 77 The Appropriation Act, 2021

Bill 78 The Loan Act, 2021

Bill 239 The Protest Buffer Zone Act (COVID-19 Restrictions)

Bill 241 The Consumer Protection Amendment and Farm Machinery and Equipment Amendment Act (Right to Repair — Vehicles and Other Equipment) – amends The Consumer Protection Act and The Farm Machinery and Equipment Act. A manufacturer must make the items necessary to maintain and repair its vehicle, farm equipment and machinery available to purchasers and repair businesses at a reasonable price. If a manufacturer does not make the necessary items available, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle, farm equipment or machinery at no charge or refund the purchase price.


See here for that status of all current bills.


Proclamations

ChapterTitle     (provisions)Date in forceDate signedProclamation
SM 2021, c. 30The Reducing Red Tape and Improving Services Act, 2020 (sections 20 and 22 to 24)18 Oct 202113 Oct 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 40The Court Practice and Administration Act (Various Acts Amended) (Part 2)15 Oct 202113 Oct 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 40The Court Practice and Administration Act (Various Acts Amended) (Parts 1 and 3)1 Jan 202213 Oct 2021Proclamation

Legislative Update – Legislature resumes

Manitoba Legislature Resumes To Complete Budget 2021 Process, Protect Manitobans – “The fall sitting of the third session of the 42nd legislature will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6 with a condensed two-week sitting focused on completing the Budget 2021 financial process including the introduction and passage of the Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act (BITSA).”

Statement From Justice Minister Cameron Friesen On Proclamation Of Bill 6, The Liquor, Gaming And Cannabis Control Amendment Act “…government has proclaimed legislation that prohibits the public consumption of cannabis, complementing existing provisions prohibiting smoking and vaping in public. “

Statement From Justice Minister Cameron Friesen On Proclamation Of Bill 50, The Legal Aid Amendment Act – “… government is acting to remove the tariff from the regulation and allow Legal Aid to manage its budget independently. Legal Aid will create internal policies to ensure the tariff and financial commitments are accounted for.   These changes support Manitoba’s Criminal Justice System Modernization Strategy by improving the timeliness of the justice system.  These regulations come into effect Oct. 7.”

Third Session, Forty-Second Legislature

New Bills

Introduced

Bill 74 The Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 – This Bill implements various tax and other measures announced in the 2021 Manitoba Budget. Additional amendments implement and support the summary budget and make various amendments to tax legislation.

Bill 240 The Recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act (Employment Standards Code and Interpretation Act Amended) – recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30, as a statutory holiday in Manitoba for the purposes of The Employment Standards Code and The Interpretation Act.

Recent Proclamations Coming into Effect

ChapterTitle     (provisions)Date in forceDate signedProclamation
SM 2020, c. 25The Remote Witnessing and Commissioning Act (Various Acts Amended) (whole Act)1 Oct 202129 Sep 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 8The Legal Aid Manitoba Amendment Act (whole Act)7 Oct 202129 Sep 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 13The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (whole Act)15 Oct 202129 Sep 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 30The Reducing Red Tape and Improving Services Act, 2020 (sections 31 and 32)1 Oct 202129 Sep 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 53The Animal Diseases Amendment Act (whole Act)8 Oct 202129 Sep 2021Proclamation
SM 2021, c. 54The Petty Trespasses Amendment and Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act (whole Act)15 Oct 202129 Sep 2021Proclamation

Check here for the current status of all bills.

New Proclamations

The Manitoba Government has proclaimed the following two acts to be in force. Two news releases highlight the new changes to access to locked-in pensions, and compensation for juries.

Province Creates a Strong Pension Framework that Guarantees Protected, Secure and Stable Retirement Income for Manitobans” August 17, 2021
“Amendments to the Pension Benefits Act (PBA) through bill 8 and accompanying regulations will modernize the legislation and create a framework that protects individuals in times of financial hardship and provides greater and easier access to locked-in funds…”

The Pension Benefits Amendment Act (whole Act except subsection 10(1), section 11 and clause 17(a))

Proclamation

Province Proclaims Legislation that Increases Juror Diversity, Allows Increase in Juror Pay” August 17, 2021
“As part of the amendments to the Jury Act, jurors will be paid for their attendance starting on the first day of a jury trial. Changes to the jury regulation under the act increase jurors’ compensation to $80 per day.”

The Court Practice and Administration Act (Various Acts Amended) (Part 6)

Proclamation

Legislative Update

The House adjourned on June 1, 2021.

The 3rd Session of the 42nd Legislature will reconvene on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.

Third Session, Forty-Second Legislature

Private Bills

Introduced

Bill 234 The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (Right to Repair) – 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.

Bill 235 The Scrap Metal Recyclers Act – This Bill establishes The Scrap Metal Recyclers Act. A person must provide personal identification and the source of the scrap metal when they enter into a transaction with a scrap metal recycler. The recycler must keep the identifying information for five years and provide it to the police if required.

Bill 236 The Protecting Communications on Public Interest Matters Act (Court of Queen’s Bench Act and Defamation Act Amended) – amends The Court of Queen’s Bench Act. A defendant may file a motion to dismiss a court proceeding on the ground that the proceeding arose from a communication by the defendant on a matter of public interest. Unless ordered otherwise, the motion stays the court proceeding and any related administrative tribunal proceedings until the motion is decided.
This Bill also amends The Defamation Act. A defendant may rely on the common law defence of qualified privilege even when a communication has been published by the media.

Bill 237 The Elections Amendment Act – amends The Elections Act to require the disclosure of personal financial information by the leader of a political party for a 20-year period.

Bill 238The Apprenticeship and Certification Amendment Act (Apprenticeship Supervision) – amends The Apprenticeship and Certification Act. Currently, the number of apprentices a journeyperson may supervise is set by regulation. This Bill requires a 1 to 1 supervision ratio for most trades.


Check here for the current status of all bills.

The library will be closed on Monday, February 17th for Louis Riel Day. Regular hours will resume Tuesday, February 18th at 8:30 a.m.