Manitoba.

• Author: Signorelli, Andrea
• Position: Legislative Reports

General Election

The 42nd General Election in Manitoba took place on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Once the polls closed and the ballots were counted, the Progressive Conservatives won 36 seats in the 57 seat Legislature and accordingly they remain in government. The New Democratic Party won 18 seats to retain its status as the Official Opposition, and the Liberals won three seats, losing their status as official party (four seats are required under Manitoba rules and legislation for status as recognized party).

A total of 13 new members took their seats in the Manitoba Legislature when the House met for the first time on September 30 to elect a new Speaker and to hear the Speech from the Throne. Among the new MLAs there are eight men, four female, and one gender nonconforming Member. For the first time in the history of the legislative assembly, three black individuals were elected to serve as MLAs in the upcoming Legislature. Also Malaya Marcelino, daughter of former MLA and Minister Flor Marcelino, has been elected to represent the newly created constituency of Notre Dame.

First Session of the 42nd Legislature

The House resumed on September 30 with the First Session of the new Legislature with the Speech from the Throne delivered by the Chief Justice of Manitoba in his role as Administrator of the Province. The address highlighted a range of commitments and proposals in different areas, including:

* completing necessary legislative requirements in order to implement the measures outlined in Budget 2019;

* reducing regulatory red tape and encouraging innovation;

* completing the implementation of the New West Partnership Trade Agreement;

* addressing addictions and public safety issues;

* making strategic investments to strengthen frontline health, education and social services.

A very short debate followed the Throne Speech. The Leader of the Official Opposition, Wab Kinew, the Member for St. Boniface Dougald Lamont (who is also the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party), as well as Premier Brian Pallister spoke to the Address in Reply to the Throne Speech. The motion was then carried.

Sessional Order

After the Throne Speech debate on September 30, the House agreed by leave to consider a Sessional Order to deal with the passage of certain business, including Budget 2019. In accordance to the Sessional Order, all the steps or segments of the financial process introduced and concluded during the 4th Session of the 41st Legislature were...