Manitoba.

• Author: Signorelli, Andrea
• Position: Legislative Reports

3rd Session of the 41st Legislature--Spring Sitting

The Third Session of the 41st Legislature resumed on March 6, 2019 with the summer adjournment scheduled for June 3, 2019. During the Spring sitting, the House considered Specified Government Bills and several Private Members' Bills.

On June 3, 17 Government Bills and four Private Members' Bills received Royal Assent, including:

* Bill 7--The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Immediate Roadside Prohibitions), allowing peace officers to impose immediate roadside prohibitions on drivers based on blood alcohol content;

* Bill 8--The Referendum Act, which 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;

* Bill 9--The Family Law Modernization Act, creating a pilot project for a new dispute resolution process to resolve family disputes outside the traditional court system. The bill includes a simplification of the child support processes, expansion of the administrative authority of the Maintenance Enforcement Program, and improved enforceability of family arbitration awards. The pilot program will last three years;

* Bill 15--The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (Cannabis Possession Restrictions), which prohibits the possession of more than 30 grams of non-medical cannabis in a public place;

* Bill 21--The Legislative Building Centennial Restoration and Preservation Act, allocating $10 million annually for the next 15 years to address much needed restoration and preservation of the Manitoba Legislative Building, the grounds and associated infrastructure;

* Bill 240--The Elections Amendment Act requiring candidates to disclose offences under the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances, and The Income Tax Act or the Income Tax Act (Canada), that they have pleaded guilty to or been found guilty of.

Budgetary Items

The Committee of Supply considered the Estimates of the Departmental Expenditures for one day during the Spring sitting, without therefore completing all the necessary steps for the passage of the budget by the last sitting day before the summer.

Before the House rose for the summer, the Committee of Supply considered and passed supply resolutions dealing with temporary funding for operating and capital expenditures until the main supply bills are completed. The House also dealt with passing all...