Manitoba Minute: Issue 85

Manitoba Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Manitoba politics.

📅 This Week In Manitoba: 📅

• Premier Wab Kinew drew national attention after condemning a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down mandatory minimum sentences for child pornography offences. Kinew said offenders “should be buried under the prison” and denied protective custody, aligning himself with those who want Ottawa to use the notwithstanding clause to reverse the decision. The 5-4 ruling found the one-year minimum sentence unconstitutional because it limits judicial discretion in rare cases. The Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba rebuked Kinew’s comments, calling them “an affront to the rule of law” and warning against promoting vigilante justice. Critics say his rhetoric undermines the legal system and fuels public anger toward the courts.
  
  
• The Provincial government has launched a $176.5-million Rental Housing Construction Incentive aimed at boosting the supply of affordable homes across the province. Premier Wab Kinew and Housing Minister Bernadette Smith said the five-year program will offer refundable tax credits of $8,500 per new rental unit, plus an additional $5,000 for affordable units that meet Manitoba Housing rent and income thresholds. Developers and non-profits are eligible for support, provided projects include at least four units and remain rentals for 10 years. Kinew said the plan is designed to make housing attainable for working families and seniors who have been priced out of the market. Local developer Nathan Janzen called the incentive a major step toward expanding quality multi-family housing.
  
  
• Manitoba’s legislature wrapped up its latest session by passing several bills, including one targeting election disinformation. The legislation bans deepfake videos that falsely portray political candidates and imposes fines of up to $20,000 per day for failing to remove misinformation. It also penalizes intentionally misleading statements about voter eligibility, election officials, and ballot or vote-counting providers. Other measures passed include changes to income taxes, halting automatic inflation-based increases in tax brackets, and a bill preventing the sale of many government-funded social housing units without provincial approval. A proposed bill requiring judges to comment whenever the government invokes the notwithstanding clause did not pass and will be reintroduced in the next session.
  
  
• Provincial legislators have passed a bill allowing authorities to detain people high on methamphetamines or other drugs for up to 72 hours. The new law, championed by Premier Wab Kinew, expands existing provisions that limit detentions to 24 hours for alcohol intoxication and will see new “protective care” centres established, including one planned for central Winnipeg. Kinew described the measure as a modern version of the “drunk tank,” aimed at helping those in crisis rather than criminalizing addiction. Critics, including Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw, condemned the plan as “solitary confinement for addicts,” while supporters such as Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham and first responders praised it as a necessary public-safety tool. The Progressive Conservatives backed the bill but unsuccessfully proposed amendments for reporting and buffer zones around schools. Only Wasyliw voted against the legislation, which is expected to take effect within days.
  
  
• Manitoba saw a record tourism year in 2024, welcoming 10.6 million visitors who spent $1.89 billion, marking the third consecutive year of growth in visitor spending. However, Travel Manitoba expects a downturn in 2025 due to the worst wildfire season in 30 years which led to hotel room shortages as evacuees were accommodated. Despite early signs of strong visitation many events and trips were cancelled during the summer. Travel Manitoba noted that domestic tourism may offset some losses, as Manitobans explored the province while avoiding US travel due to political tensions. They also emphasized the importance of international connectivity, especially direct flights, to support northern wildlife and northern lights tourism. The full impact of 2025’s disruptions will become clear with next year’s fiscal data.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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