May 12, 2015
Manitoba Government Introduces Legislation that Would Amend the Boxing Act
– – –Changes would help Promote Professional Combative Sports Events: Minister Lemieux
The Manitoba government today introduced amendments to the Boxing Act which would modernize its language and support efforts already taken to support the province’s sports tourism industry by bringing it in line with the Criminal Code’s section on prize fighting in Canada, Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux announced today.
“These changes would support Manitoba’s efforts to tap into the ever-growing popularity of these sports and bring more professional events to the province,” said Minister Lemieux. “These changes would not only support the government’s approach to becoming a sports tourism destination, but would also be consistent with similar legislation elsewhere in Canada.”
The proposed amendments would see the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission regulate all professional combative sport matches in the province including mixed martial arts. Currently all professional combative sports are defined as a form of boxing.
Additional proposed changes include renaming the Boxing Act to the combative sports act, which would reflect similar changes made to section 83 of the Criminal Code, Minister Lemieux noted.
The minister noted today’s announcement is one in a series of initiatives being unveiled by the Manitoba government as part of the Year of Sport. More information can be found at www.yearofsportmb.ca/.
- 30 -