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<\/p>\nThe 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\u2019 summer recess begins.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Progressive Conservatives, meanwhile, said they planned to vote against some of the government\u2019s legislative agenda and that members may be there well past 8 p.m. \u2014 and \u201cpotentially late into the evening,\u201d Opposition house leader Derek Johnson told reporters.<\/p>\n
Last week, MLAs sat for 30 hours as the Tories tried to postpone the government\u2019s budget bill for five months. Premier Wab Kinew threatened to call back the house for the summer if the bill didn\u2019t pass by end of business last Thursday. The budget bill was passed early Friday morning.<\/p>\n
Although the PCs have a minority and can\u2019t stop specified government bills from passing before the house rises for summer break, they can delay proceedings.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t go far enough. The Tories say removing the provincial sales tax from \u201cjunk food\u201d will save a family of four $100 a year. They\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
Manitoba has the highest rate of food inflation and more help is needed, PC Leader Obby Khan said Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have constantly brought amendments forward,\u201d Khan told reporters. \u201cWe have debated common sense changes and this government refuses to budge \u2014 not an inch.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is so progressive and transformative,\u201d she said of the NDP policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a reflection of our government\u2019s commitment to Manitoba families\u2026 to go above and beyond what other governments across the country are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finance Minister Adrien Sala said the NDP government has taken many steps to address affordability since taking office in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we got in, folks would know we had one of the highest rates of inflation in Canada,\u201d Sala told reporters Monday.<\/p>\n
Coming out of a global pandemic, Manitoba had Canada\u2019s highest inflation rate \u2014 eight per cent \u2014 under the former PC government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe quashed that with the gas tax cut for the entire year, putting a lot more money in Manitobans\u2019 pockets,\u201d Sala said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cManitobans can celebrate an important step forward in lowering costs for Manitoba,\u201d Sala said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She highlighted some other new legislation:<\/p>\n
\u2022 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.<\/p>\n
\u2022 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.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The driver of a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 vehicle \u2014 a semi-truck, bus, larger commercial vehicle or emergency vehicle \u2014 will be prohibited from driving with any alcohol in their blood.<\/p>\n
The PCs held back three government bills until fall; members are scheduled to return to the legislature Sept. 29.<\/p>\n
Under legislature rules, the opposition can delay up to five government bills over the summer to allow for further review.<\/p>\n
One of the bills expands the scope of regulated water systems that the PCs say is \u201coverreach.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could have held back up to five (bills) if we wanted to, just be in opposition for the sake of opposition,\u201d Khan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe in that. We\u2019re holding back three bills that we believe Manitobans have communicated to us \u2014 which we\u2019ve seen \u2014 are not good legislation for Manitoba.\u201d<\/p>\n
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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Carol Sanders Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
Legislature reporter
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