NDP labour bill among several stalled by Tories

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This article was published 18/03/2024 (580 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With the NDP set to introduce bills Monday to ban the use of replacement workers and make it easier to join a union, the Progressive Conservatives held up the proceedings by raising multiple matters of privilege.

A succession of PC members rose to interrupt matters, beginning with Spruce Woods MLA Grant Jackson, who said Premier Wab Kinew had made derogatory comments about him during question period last week. The rookie member said Kinew repeatedly called him a “failed political staffer” and a “poor quality candidate.” Jackson said it was a breach of his privilege and impeded his ability to serve his constituency. He asked for it to be referred to committee.

Six pieces of proposed legislation were stalled Monday. If that continues Tuesday, the bills will likely not be passed into law before the house rises in June.

Wayne Ewasko also spoke up, saying his reputation was attacked by the premier last week when Kinew implied the Tory Opposition leader’s remarks in support of parental rights were transphobic. He was followed by more PC MLAs, including Obby Khan (Fort Whyte) and Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West).

The visitors gallery was packed with labour representatives and advocates for the LGBTTQ+ community expecting to hear certain bills introduced.

MLA Logan Oxenham (Kirkfield Park), the first transgender member of the legislature, expressed disappointment at not being able to introduce his private member’s bill declaring a Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility when many who advocated for it were present.

“The introduction of that bill was interrupted by what the opposition was doing here today,” said Kinew, who apologized to Oxenham’s guests.

The premier and Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino were flanked by dozens of labour union members and advocates.

Former Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries employee Sean Jackson, who was a strike captain when liquor workers were on the picket line last summer, called the Tory delay tactics discouraging. A bill to ban replacement workers during strikes and lockouts was blocked from being introduced.

“They’re not standing with workers by avoiding this. This is important legislation. It would have assisted throughout the strikes. It would have assisted at the bargaining tables,” said Jackson, who now works with the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union.

Jackson said replacement workers crossed the picket line at his workplace. It made the already difficult decision to go on strike even more challenging, he said.

Ewasko maintained violations of members’ privilege need to be addressed. He said it wasn’t partisan “payback” for the NDP delaying proceedings when it was the official Opposition.

“Whereas the NDP caused unnecessary delays in the past, including a budget at the outset of a pandemic, our members rose on legitimate matters of privilege: putting misleading information on the record, discussing legislation in public without having tabled it in the house, attempting to smear the character and reputation of members, and clearly not addressing important issues being raised in question period,” Ewasko said, reading a prepared statement in his office.

Ewasko called out government house leader and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine for being absent from the house last week and said any delays in the introduction or debate of bills are her responsibility. In the house, Fontaine dismissed opposition members’ matters of privilege.

Balcaen went on at length about his experience as a police officer before explaining that an alleged breach of his privilege occurred when the NDP announced during the election they would implement bail reform, when it is a federal matter not under provincial jurisdiction.

Fontaine said the former Brandon police chief didn’t understand what a matter of privilege is.

“He’s being used by members in his caucus to delay our legislative agenda,” she said. “Let’s get on with the business of this house and move onto bills and do the work we were elected to do.”

With a majority government, all of the NDP bills are expected to pass — if not by June then by the end of this session in November.

In addition to the bills held over from Monday, notice has been given of five new ones to be introduced Tuesday, including the Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act and the Seniors’ Advocate Act.

One veteran political observer said the PC delays may garner support from the party’s grassroots.

“These are major bills and it is understandable that the PCs might wish to prolong debate on them — even to the point of delaying passage until the fall,” said Paul Thomas, University of Manitoba political studies professor emeritus. “I still disapprove of the tactic, which may also be intended to rally the PC party base, which is fragmented and dispirited.”

— with files from Danielle Da Silva

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca