Manitoba politicians set to pass a host of new laws before heading into election

Manitoba politicians are working to pass many bills into law by Thursday — the last scheduled sitting before the summer break and the provincial election slated for Oct. 3.

Manitoba politicians are working to pass many bills into law by Thursday — the last scheduled sitting before the summer break and the provincial election slated for Oct. 3.

Aside from its recently passed budget legislation, the Progressive Conservative government is also set to give First Nations communities more power to enforce laws and collect unpaid fines.

Other bills that have passed in recent days or are about to pass include one that would make it easier for victims to sue people who share intimate images without consent.

Several bills from opposition parties are also set to be approved in final votes this week, including one from the New Democrats that would require most businesses to let delivery persons use their washrooms, except where there are safety concerns.

There is also a bill to create a specialty licence plate to raise money for families of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

More than a half-dozen opposition bills, which need support from the majority Tory government, are set to pass in all. The government said it’s a sign of unprecedented co-operation.

“Media will sometimes say it’s combative and we never agree on anything,” Tory house leader Kelvin Goertzen said.

“There’s a lot of stuff that happens behind the scenes.”