Manitoba.

AuthorRecksiedler, Greg
PositionLegislative Reports

4th Session of the 41st Legislature--Spring Sitting

The Fourth Session of the 41st Legislature resumed on March 6, 2019.

The Government introduced a number of bills this session addressing different areas of governance. A total of 20 of these bills were introduced in time to meet the criteria for Specified bill status and therefore guaranteed passage in June (subject to the right of the Opposition designating five of those bills to be delayed until the fall). The legislative agenda includes:

* Bill 2--The Municipal Amendment Act (Strengthening Codes of Conduct for Council Members) includes a number of changes that would strengthen the legislation around Council codes of conduct. These changes would include requiring all Members of Council to undergo mandatory respectful conduct training within six months of being elected or reelected;

* Bill 4--The Public Sector Construction Projects (Tendering) Act, prohibits public sector entities, such as the Manitoba Government, Crown corporations, school boards and regional health authorities, from using unionization status as a tendering requirement. The practice of employees paying dues to unions they are not members of would also be eliminated;

Bill 8--The Referendum Act, requires that a referendum be held before implementing a significant change to the provincial voting scheme and before the Manitoba Legislative Assembly can vote on authorizing an amendment to the Canadian Constitution. These requirements are in addition to existing requirements to hold a referendum on major tax increases or on the privatization of public utilities, including Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation. The Act also proposes a number of steps that the Clerks have flagged could require a Rule change before they could be implemented;

Bill 9--The Family Law Modernization Act, provides for simplification of child support processes so that thousands of matters can be addressed outside of court; expansion of the administrative authority of the Maintenance Enforcement Program so parents can make support arrangements outside of court; improved enforceability of family arbitration awards and creates a three-year pilot project to test a new family dispute resolution model;

Bill 12--The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act, among other measures, strengthens deterrents for the most serious workplace infractions by doubling maximum penalties for offences under the Act to $500,000 (first offence) and $1,000,000 (second/subsequent);

Bill 15--The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (Cannabis Possession Restrictions) makes it an offence to possess more than 30...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT