Manitoba’s official oppositions has exercised its option of delaying some government legislation they feel needs to be more fully considered.

Each spring, the opposition can designate up to five bills to be carried over to the fall sitting of the Legislature, allowing additional time for review and consultation.

The Progressive Conservatives designated Bill 13, The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, last week because they say the proposed changes are anti-tenant and will lead to the deterioration of rental housing stock across the province.

Designating Bill 13 will hold the legislation over until the fall, allowing Manitobans, industry experts and renters more time to consult and consider amendments, said Borderland MLA Josh Guenter, PC critic for Residential Tenancies.

“We are standing up for tenants. This legislation will lead to the deterioration of rental housing stock across Manitoba,” Guenter said.

“This anti-tenant bill will reduce investment in rental units, decrease the number of available units, and lead to higher rents.”

The proposed changes reduce the claimable portion of capital expenses in above-guideline rent increase applications to 50 per cent. That means that a landlord who spends $100,000 fixing a roof or replacing flooring would only be able to recoup $50,000. The monthly rent-control exemption threshold would also rise from $1,670 to $2,000.

The PCs have also designated Bill 21 under which the scope of regulated water systems is expanded, potentially capturing water sources that are not traditional drinking water supplies, including multi-user wells, agricultural bulk fill sites, and community-access wells used for non-potable purposes, said La Vérendrye MLA Konrad Narth, critic for Agriculture and Economic Development.

“This is government overreach, plain and simple,” Narth said, citing serious concerns that the legislation represents government overreach, is disconnected from rural realities and is not grounded in a practical, science-based approach to water safety.

“This bill applies a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores how water systems actually operate in rural Manitoba.”

The legislation also lacks practical flexibility and does not clearly allow for common-sense solutions, such as non-potable designations with proper signage or exemptions for agricultural and emergency use, he added.

PCs also raised concerns about the financial and operational impacts on rural communities, including farms, Hutterite colonies, municipalities, and emergency services, noting that there is no clear plan for how new requirements would be implemented or supported.

A third piece of legislation, The Apprenticeship and Certification Amendment Act, was also designated as an “NDP overreach”, said Guenter, critic for Labour.

Bill 47 would require skilled tradespeople to provide their personal information, certification and qualifications to an online public registry.

The NDP, Guenter  said, failed to consult construction organizations across Manitoba when they introduced the Manitoba Jobs Agreement and the Online Apprenticeship Certification Registry.

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