Law Cleanup Modernizes and Clarifies Rules

Summary#

This is a cleanup bill. It fixes wording, updates names, and makes small rule changes across many Manitoba laws. The goal is to modernize language, reflect new government structures, and make some rules clearer.

Key changes:

• Replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse and exploitation material” in many laws. Updates French terms to use “gender identity or expression.”
• Adds summaries of licences and permits to annual reports for fisheries, forests, and wildlife, to improve transparency.
• Lets several enforcement programs ask for “documents or information,” not just documents, to do their work.
• Allows a court to extend the deadline to set aside a default conviction (a ticket you didn’t respond to) if the delay was beyond your control.
• Authorizes public safety registries that list businesses that may harm people’s safety or health.
• Renames Manitoba Film and Music to “Manitoba Film and Sound Recording Development Corporation,” while keeping the short name “Manitoba Film & Music.” Validates recent contracts under that name.
• Makes many minor edits: updates minister titles, standardizes when professional discipline hearings can be closed to the public, changes organization names, repeals some outdated private acts, and removes one section from the Local Vehicles for Hire Act.
• Most changes take effect on royal assent. A few have special dates.

What it means for you#

• Parents, caregivers, and children

  • Laws now use clearer, victim‑focused language for child sexual abuse material.
  • In child protection matters, some orders can clearly last up to the age of majority.

• Workers and employers

  • The Workplace Safety and Health Act now allows public registries of people or businesses whose work may harm safety or health. If created, these lists could affect your business reputation and require stronger safety practices.

• People who get tickets or fines

  • If you were convicted by default because you missed a deadline, a justice can now extend the time for you to apply to set that aside if the delay was beyond your control and you act as soon as you can.

• Tenants and landlords

  • Definitions related to sexual violence now refer to “gender identity or expression,” which may help ensure protections cover more people.

• Drivers

  • The definition of a “first suspension and disqualification” for certain Highway Traffic Act suspensions is clarified over a 10‑year period. This helps determine when first‑offence rules apply.

• Hunters, anglers, and forestry users

  • Annual reports must now include a summary of licences and permits issued. This does not change your licence, but it makes government reporting clearer.

• Teachers, health professionals, and other regulated professionals

  • Grounds and rules for holding parts of discipline hearings in private are standardized (mainly in French text). This aims to protect safety, privacy, or fair trials when needed.

• Artists and producers

  • The provincial film and music agency has a new legal name, but it can still be called “Manitoba Film & Music.” Existing deals under the new name are confirmed.

• Francophone community

  • Laws now refer to “Société de la francophonie manitobaine Inc.” instead of the older name.

• Families and service providers in adult care

  • “Residential care facility” is clarified to cover places that provide accommodation, care, and supervision to adults with certain disabilities or disorders. Family‑only care and places already licensed under the Health Services Insurance Act are excluded.

• Ride‑hailing and taxis

  • One section of the Local Vehicles for Hire Act is repealed. Check with your municipality for any local rule changes that may follow.

• General

  • Many small wording fixes, title updates, and repeals of old private acts have no everyday impact.

Expenses#

Estimated fiscal impact: minimal; mainly administrative.

• Adding licence and permit summaries to annual reports uses existing reporting systems.
• Creating any new public safety registries could have one‑time setup and small ongoing costs.
• Renaming an agency and updating references may require minor communications and IT updates.
• Most other changes are wording or housekeeping and do not add program spending.

Proponents' View#

• Updates outdated terms and uses clearer, more respectful language, especially around child sexual abuse and gender identity.
• Improves transparency by listing resource licences and permits in annual reports.
• Strengthens enforcement by allowing agencies to request needed information, not just documents.
• Adds fairness by letting a justice extend deadlines when people miss them for reasons beyond their control.
• Supports public safety by allowing registries of businesses that may put people at risk.
• Aligns laws with current government structures and community organization names; cleans up errors and old statutes.

Opponents' View#

• An omnibus bill can hide significant changes among many small edits, making it hard to scrutinize.
• Public safety registries could harm a business’s reputation if criteria are vague or if listings include errors; strong due‑process rules may be needed.
• Expanding access to “information” may raise privacy concerns if not carefully limited.
• Letting some child‑protection orders last until age of majority could be seen as too broad without clear safeguards.
• Extra reporting requirements, even small, may add administrative work.
• Repealing a section of the Local Vehicles for Hire Act without clear public explanation may create uncertainty for drivers and riders.