Latest news with #NahanniFontaine
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tories relent, agree to fast-track trade bill supported by biz community
Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives agreed to fast-track the government's interprovincial trade bill Monday so it could become law before the legislature rises for the summer. Bill 47 The Fair Trade in Canada (Internal Trade Mutual Recognition) Act and Amendments to The Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act (Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day) passed early in the evening as members prepared to stay late to pass 36 bills before the break. The NDP government introduced the bill May 22, well beyond the deadline for ensuring its passage before the recess. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Last week, the PCs offered to speed up the process — to make sure the bill passed — if the NDP agreed to pass four Tory bills. In the end, the PCs agreed to pass the government bill without their bills being passed in return. 'There's always negotiations and there's always something that's given to be able to support Bill 47, and that work took place over the weekend,' government house leader Nahanni Fontaine told reporters. She wasn't prepared to say what the government gave up to ensure the free trade bill became law. 'What I can confirm is I didn't give any bill in exchange,' she said. Premier Wab Kinew wanted the province's fair trade bill passed before he attended Monday's first ministers meeting in Saskatoon with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Manitoba business leaders had supported the NDP government's bill. Since U.S. President Donald Trump waged a trade war with Canada, Carney has said he wants to see a free trade deal among provinces in time for Canada Day. Kinew threatened to extend the legislature sitting for three weeks if the PCs didn't fast-track his government's fair trade bill. The Tories relented, but called it 'weak legislation.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES 'This doesn't support labour mobility,' PC leader Obby Khan told reporters Monday. The legislation removes trade barriers for goods and services between Manitoba and reciprocating jurisdictions in Canada that have similar mutual recognition rules. The goods and services of a reciprocating jurisdiction's standards and approvals would be recognized as meeting the comparable standards and approvals in Manitoba. The mutual recognition rules do not apply to goods and services that are provided by Crown corporations, however. 'The NDP put a watered-down bill forward,' Khan said. 'Weak legislation is better than no legislation — and at least this will give the premier something to move forward with to make Manitoba better.' Fontaine said 36 government bills were expected to receive Royal Assent Monday night before MLAs left the chamber until the session resumes Oct. 1. 'I'm really proud of the of agenda that we've brought forward.' She highlighted a handful of bills, including one that imposes additional consequences when an impaired driving offence involves bodily injury or death and another that orders landlords to cover the cost of displaced tenants when a building is deemed unsafe, 'which we saw at Birchwood Terrace.' Tenants of the building on Portage Avenue were displaced for seven months after its structural stability was questioned. She hailed 'Nello's law,' named in honour of the late education minister Nello Altomare, that amends the Public School Act to ensure every public school provides a nutritious meal program to students. Among the dozens of other bills headed to final approval was one to add gender expression to the human rights code — a move that would include protections for people to be called by their preferred pronouns. The bill, similar to laws in most other provinces, met with a mixture of praise and opposition at public hearings. Another bill would change highway traffic laws to impose new minimum distances for drivers to maintain when coming across snowplows and emergency vehicles. A change to the Public Health Act would eliminate the option of putting people with communicable diseases in jail, and divert them to a hospital or other health facility instead. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES The government did not get all of its legislative agenda passed. A bill to enact tax changes announced in the spring budget, including a change to personal income taxes that will no longer raise tax brackets in line with inflation, will not pass until after the fall. The Tories used their right under house rules to hold back five bills till the fall. One bill includes several proposed changes to observances at schools. O Canada would have to be sung daily, and a little-used provision that required God Save the King to be played would be eliminated. The Tories said the bill would remove the royal anthem as an optional patriotic observance. Another bill held back until fall would lower political donation limits and require political parties to have a code of conduct for election advertising. A third bill would forbid liquor licences in urban convenience stores and gas stations — a move the Tories say will affect small businesses and customer choice in the few locations where such licences have been issued. -With files from the Canadian Press and Maggie Macintosh Carol SandersLegislature reporter 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. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Manitoba pledges $2.5 million to Place of Pride in downtown Winnipeg
The Manitoba government is kicking off Pride month by investing in affordable housing for LGBTQ2 Winnipeggers. Premier Wab Kinew and families minister Nahanni Fontaine announced $2.5 million in funding to Place of Pride in downtown Winnipeg, which houses 30 seniors and offers space for programming and events. This latest round of funding — which is intended to go toward a kitchen, an arts hub, a rooftop patio, and other common spaces — brings the province's total investment in the space to $5.5 million. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'All Manitobans deserve a place where they feel safe and welcome, which is why this investment greatly benefits the seniors and community members who access the space,' Kinew said. Rainbow Resource Centre's executive director said Place of Pride is the culmination of decades of work toward a permanent site for members of the community. Story continues below advertisement 'Place of Pride is a centre for every kind of activity, from support groups and community feasts to educational programs, celebrations, memorial services and art exhibitions.'
Globe and Mail
26-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Manitoba NDP wants interprovincial trade bill passed before summer break
Manitoba's governing New Democrats are hoping to rush a bill on interprovincial trade through the legislature before the summer break, but the Opposition Progressive Conservatives are not yet agreeing. The bill, introduced last week, would remove trade barriers for some goods and services between Manitoba and other jurisdictions with similar laws. There are exceptions to the Manitoba bill, such as goods and services provided by Crown corporations. NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine asked the Tories to agree to pass the bill immediately – a move that would bypass public hearings that are normally mandatory for all non-budget bills. Tory house leader Derek Johnson says the NDP seem to be in a rush now after voting against an earlier private member's bill from the Tories that did not exempt Crown corporations. Fontaine says fast action is needed because of tariffs imposed by the United States, and Johnson says the Tories are willing to consider the idea if the NDP agrees to also pass some Tory bills. The legislature is scheduled to break for the summer next Monday and not resume until Oct. 1.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manitoba NDP wants interprovincial trade bill passed before summer break
WINNIPEG — Manitoba's governing New Democrats are hoping to rush a bill on interprovincial trade through the legislature before the summer break, but the Opposition Progressive Conservatives are not yet agreeing. The bill, introduced last week, would remove trade barriers for some goods and services between Manitoba and other jurisdictions with similar laws. There are exceptions to the Manitoba bill, such as goods and services provided by Crown corporations. NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine asked the Tories to agree to pass the bill immediately -- a move that would bypass public hearings that are normally mandatory for all non-budget bills. Tory house leader Derek Johnson says the NDP seem to be in a rush now after voting against an earlier private member's bill from the Tories that did not exempt Crown corporations. Fontaine says fast action is needed because of tariffs imposed by the United States, and Johnson says the Tories are willing to consider the idea if the NDP agrees to also pass some Tory bills. The legislature is scheduled to break for the summer next Monday and not resume until Oct. 1. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025 Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
26-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
NDP asks Tories to co-operate on passage of interprovincial trade bill before next week's summer break
The NDP government house leader is asking the Tories to co-operate in passing an interprovincial free trade bill before the Manitoba legislature breaks for the summer recess June 2. 'Bill 47 is critical to Manitoba to respond to tariffs introduced by the (U.S. President Donald) Trump administration,' says a letter Nahanni Fontaine sent today to Opposition house leader Derek Johnson. Bill 47, the Fair Trade in Canada (Internal Trade Mutual Recognition) Act and the Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day Act was introduced Thursday, past the deadline for bills to be guaranteed passage before the house rises on Monday. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES House leader Nahanni Fontaine urged the Opposition Tories to support the NDP government's interprovincial trade legislation before the legislature breaks for the summer. 'We must act swiftly to protect Manitoba jobs and our economy,' says Fontaine's letter, which was shared with the Free Press. 'Let's demonstrate together this assembly will meet this historic moment and deliver meaningful action on behalf of all Manitobans.' Johnson and the PC caucus didn't immediately respond when asked if they'd support the speedy passage of the government bill. The Manitoba legislative assembly has been bitterly divided on most issues with speaker Tom Lindsay repeatedly calling for decorum on both sides of the house. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Trade Minister Jamie Moses told the legislative assembly last week that Bill 47 aims to increase the flow of goods, services and investments between Manitoba and the rest of the country. It gives Manitoba the power to designate another province or territory that takes similar steps to remove barriers to trade as a 'reciprocating jurisdiction.' ALEX LUPUL / FREE PRESS FILES Fontaine sent the letter to Opposition House Leader Derek Johnson on Monday. Another region's products will be treated as if they have met local certification, testing and quality standards under the proposed legislation, and will not be subject to additional approval requirements and related fees. Out-of-province services will also be exempt from related red tape. The government wants the bill passed before the house rises next Monday and doesn't return until Oct. 1. Canada's first ministers — including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew — are to meet in Saskatoon next Monday with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney has said he wants an interprovincial free trade deal done in time for Canada Day, July 1. Carol SandersLegislature reporter 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. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
