Manitoba.

AuthorSignorelli, Andrea
PositionLegislative Reports

2nd Session of the 41st Legislature--Spring Sitting

The Second Session of the 41st Legislature resumed on March 1, 2017, with the House sitting until June 1 to complete consideration of Specified Bills. In the same period, the House completed the Budget debate and began consideration of departmental estimates.

Several Bills received Royal Assent on June 1st, including:

* Bill 9--The Advocate for Children and Youth Act, which expands the mandate of the Children's Advocate of Manitoba;

* Bill 18--The Legislative Security Act, to address security matters within the legislative precinct;

* Bill 19--The Efficiency Manitoba Act, establishing Efficiency Manitoba Inc. with a mandate to achieve electrical energy savings and natural gas savings;

* Bill 21--The Fiscal Responsibility and Taxpayer Protection Act, which replaces the Balanced Budget Act, repealed last year;

* Bill 25--The Cannabis Harm Prevention Act, amending several acts to address health or safety concerns that will arise when cannabis consumption is no longer illegal, and to close any legislative gaps that might be created when cannabis is no longer considered an illegal drug;

* Bill 29--The Health Sector Bargaining Unit Review Act, which establishes a fixed number of bargaining units for each health region and for each province-wide health employer;

* Bill 33--The Minimum Wage Indexation Act, to provide that the minimum wage is adjusted on October 1 of each year to reflect changes in the Manitoba Consumer Price Index.

Budget debate

On April 11, 2017, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen delivered his second budget. Highlights of the government's budget included:

* investments to Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living, including $107.5 million in new spending with targeted investments in primary health care services, cancer drugs, expanded dialysis treatment, mental health services and reduced ambulance fees;

* investments in Manitoba Families, increasing its budget and improving the supply and quality of affordable housing, addressing wait lists for child care spaces, providing appropriate support for Employment Income and Rental Assistance programming clients and protecting the Primary Caregiver Tax Credit;

* funding boost to Manitoba Education and Training with an overall increase of $36 million, including measures that will focus on reducing barriers to post-secondary education for low-income students;

* increase of $12 million to Manitoba Justice including commitments to...

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