The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A public smoking ban and welfare reform top the issues on the table as the 38th Manitoba Legislature resumes for the next two weeks. The MLAs are expected to debate the all-party report on smoking, which recommended that indoor smoking in public places be banned across the province by October 1. "The smoking law is ready to go," Premier Gary Doer said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "It will be very consistent with the all-party report." Also up for discussion is a alteration that would eliminate municipal welfare programs in favour of a single-tiered program run by the province. If passed as is expected, the legislation would see municipalities pay into a provincial welfare fund based on their average social assistance expenditures over the past several years. The City of Flin Flon has publicly endorsed this proposed change. As well, the MLAs are expected to discuss a law that would permit police to seize property obtained through crime. Other issues include alterations that would: ensure that MPI, Manitoba Public Insurance, could never be privatized without a referendum; create a new council aimed at attracting and retaining immigrants; ensure that people convicted of Criminal Code offenses that lead to accidents are not able to claim full MPI benefits; and beef up the government's authority regarding the collection of child support payments. Following the current sitting, the Legislature will break until April.
