Long list of new legislation set to receive royal assent before MLAs break for summer

The NDP government says it will improve health care, safety and affordability with some of the 44 new pieces of legislation that were set to receive royal assent Monday night before MLAs’ summer recess begins.

Government house leader Nahanni Fontaine said she expected Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville would be in the chamber by 8 p.m. to ensure the government bills become law.

The Progressive Conservatives, meanwhile, said they planned to vote against some of the government’s legislative agenda and that members may be there well past 8 p.m. — and “potentially late into the evening,” Opposition house leader Derek Johnson told reporters.

Last week, MLAs sat for 30 hours as the Tories tried to postpone the government’s budget bill for five months. Premier Wab Kinew threatened to call back the house for the summer if the bill didn’t pass by end of business last Thursday. The budget bill was passed early Friday morning.

Although the PCs have a minority and can’t stop specified government bills from passing before the house rises for summer break, they can delay proceedings.

The PCs say Manitoba has one of the highest inflation rates in the country and the NDP budget bill that received third reading last week doesn’t go far enough. The Tories say removing the provincial sales tax from “junk food” will save a family of four $100 a year. They’ve called for increasing the basic personal income tax exemption to $21,000 from $15,780, saying it would save the average two-income family $1,000 a year.

Manitoba has the highest rate of food inflation and more help is needed, PC Leader Obby Khan said Monday.

“We have constantly brought amendments forward,” Khan told reporters. “We have debated common sense changes and this government refuses to budge — not an inch.”

Fontaine said the budget bill includes free child care for the lowest-income Manitobans, free youth transit and increased tax credits for renters and homeowners.

“That is so progressive and transformative,” she said of the NDP policies.

“It is a reflection of our government’s commitment to Manitoba families… to go above and beyond what other governments across the country are doing.”

Finance Minister Adrien Sala said the NDP government has taken many steps to address affordability since taking office in 2023.

“When we got in, folks would know we had one of the highest rates of inflation in Canada,” Sala told reporters Monday.

Coming out of a global pandemic, Manitoba had Canada’s highest inflation rate — eight per cent — under the former PC government.

“We quashed that with the gas tax cut for the entire year, putting a lot more money in Manitobans’ pockets,” Sala said.

The NDP government reduced the gas tax and froze hydro rates for a year. Now its budget will remove the PST from all prepared foods and snacks at grocery and convenience stores, as of July 1.

“Manitobans can celebrate an important step forward in lowering costs for Manitoba,” Sala said.

Other new legislation on deck for royal assent Monday night included a patient safety charter that enshrines the right to good health care, legislation to implement nurse-to-patient ratios, and eliminating mandatory overtime for nurses, Fontaine said.

She highlighted some other new legislation:

• Changes to employment standards will prohibit employers from requesting a sick note from a health-care practitioner for any injury or illness resulting in an absence of seven consecutive calendar days or less.

• The Long-Bladed Weapon Control Act is being amended to expand its scope to cover pepper spray, with online retailers subject to the same restrictions. Those who resell long-bladed weapons or pepper spray at garage sales, flea markets, via online marketplaces or by other means cannot sell to minors.

• The driver of a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 vehicle — a semi-truck, bus, larger commercial vehicle or emergency vehicle — will be prohibited from driving with any alcohol in their blood.

The PCs held back three government bills until fall; members are scheduled to return to the legislature Sept. 29.

Under legislature rules, the opposition can delay up to five government bills over the summer to allow for further review.

One of the bills expands the scope of regulated water systems that the PCs say is “overreach.” It targets community wells that have been used for generations for livestock, fire protection and emergencies. Another raises the rent control exemption threshold from $1,670 to $2,000. The PCs say landlords may need to increase rents and reduce investment in rental properties as a result.

“We could have held back up to five (bills) if we wanted to, just be in opposition for the sake of opposition,” Khan said.

“I don’t believe in that. We’re holding back three bills that we believe Manitobans have communicated to us — which we’ve seen — are not good legislation for Manitoba.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca