Government introduces wide array of proposed legislation

WINNIPEG — The province is looking to crack down on puppy mills and pepper spray in proposed government legislation.

The New Democrats introduced more than a dozen bills Thursday that are set for debate later this year.

Under Bill 19 (The Animal Care Amendment Act), people would need a licence to sell or transfer ownership of pets when selling a large quantity.

That number of pets requiring a licence hasn’t been established yet; licensing requirements for kennels and for breeding or retailing pets would be repealed.

It’s part of an attempt to eliminate puppy mills and bring accountability to breeders, a government spokesperson said.

The province is also looking to increase fines for offences under the Animal Care Amendment Act. A first offence could now carry a $20,000 bill, replacing the current $10,000 limit; subsequent offences could result in fines up to $100,000. Both have jail time options.

Possessing machetes, swords, axes and pepper spray in public spaces could become illegal.

“We want to keep them out of the parks, we want to keep them out of the hospitals, keep them off the buses,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said after introducing Bill 9 (The Street Weapons Control Act).

Law enforcement would be able to seize the weapons in public spaces. First Nations can opt in to the legislation.

“We are not interested in targeting folks who are using the items for legitimate purposes,” Wiebe said. “(But) we know that the simple possession of them in an urban area does not have any legitimate use.”

A different proposed act, Bill 8 (The Long-Bladed Weapon Control Amendment Act), adds pepper spray to the list of items prohibited from being sold to minors. Online sources, such as Facebook Marketplace, would fall under the act through the proposed change.

Wiebe didn’t directly answer how online sales would be policed but said the government is “counting on Manitobans to understand how serious this issue is,” adding people can use common sense.

Under Bill 31 (The Highway Traffic Amendment Act), drivers of class 1 through 4 vehicles — including semi-truck and bus operators — would not be allowed to have any alcohol in their blood. It’s part of the “incremental steps” government is taking to limit impaired drivers, Wiebe said.

Other proposed legislation would limit the need for sick notes to week-long absences or if an employee has been absent for more than 10 scheduled work days in a year. It would also launch a committee to review intimate partner violence deaths and make recommendations to prevent future incidents.

An Employment Standards Code amendment would see up to 16 weeks of unpaid leave made available to people becoming parents via adoption or surrogacy.

Bill 16, the Mental Health Amendment Act, would expand the scope of qualified health professionals who can apply for involuntary psychiatric assessments under the Mental Health Act. They would include physician assistants, clinical assistants and nurse practitioners, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith said.

Expanding authority of qualified health professionals would improve access to urgent mental-health care and alleviate delays in psychiatric assessment and treatment across Manitoba, including in emergency-room crisis response settings and remote areas of Manitoba. The bill would also confirm the authority of qualified health professionals to conduct remote examinations and assessments under the Mental Health Review Board.

Bill 35 (Adult Learning Centres Amendment Act) would allow First Nation band councils to register and operate adult learning centres on their own or in partnership with a recognized educational institution.

Advanced Education Minister Renée Cable called the proposed changes, which she said recognize the expertise and self-determination of First Nations, “well overdue.”

Other proposed legislation seeks to streamline Manitoba’s adult abuse registry, give more powers to environment officers and expand protections for whistleblowers.

Municipalities will be able to opt out of the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, or Capital Planning Region, under Bill 33 (The Planning Amendment and City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment Act).

» Winnipeg Free Press, with files from Carol Sanders and Maggie Macintosh