Tory MLA’s bill proposes end to omnibus budget legislation

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This article was published 13/03/2025 (192 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Progressive Conservatives are asking the NDP government to support a bill that would put an end to using omnibus budget bills to ram through legislation without scrutiny.

Midland MLA Lauren Stone’s Bill 224 — the Budget Bill Public Accountability Act — would require provincial budget implementation bills to go through a public hearing and give Manitobans more say over how the province spends their tax dollars.

“Although governments typically consult Manitobans, the important details of the budget aren’t available until after it’s tabled,” Stone said in a news release. “This bill makes sure Manitobans can comment directly on the actual budget decisions that affect their lives and finances.”

Last year, the NDP government added non-budget-related legislation to the budget bill, bypassing public hearings and avoiding scrutiny, Stone said. Bill 224 would close that loophole, ensuring every legislative measure in future budget bills face public accountability before becoming law, she said.

The PCs, while in government, also passed omnibus bills containing non-budget-related legislation.

“This bill is about transparency and letting Manitobans genuinely influence how their tax dollars are spent,” Stone said.