May 30, 2016
Manitoba Government Introduces Proposed Legislation That Would Strengthen Democracy
Manitoba’s new government introduced proposed legislation that would require a byelection be conducted within 180 days of a vacancy occurring in a seat in the Manitoba legislature, Justice Minister Heather Stefanson announced.
“The right to vote in free and fair elections is the engine of our democracy,” said Stefanson. “This bill will ensure that every Manitoban is able to select a representative to be their voice in the Manitoba legislature within a reasonable timeframe.”
The minister noted this is the government’s first step toward implementing its Open Government Initiative through a proposed amendment to the Legislative Assembly Act. The amended timeframe would not apply if the vacancy occurs less than one year before a general election is to be held on a fixed date, she added.
The current legislation requires a byelection to be held within one year of a vacancy and under the previous government, Manitobans were left without representation for 350 days in the Morris constituency and 341 days in the constituency of The Pas.
“Under the previous administration, Manitobans in some constituencies waited far longer than was necessary for a byelection to be called, leaving them without representation for nearly an entire year,” added Stefanson. “This amendment reflects our government’s profound respect for the voices of Manitobans and our commitment to clean, open and transparent government.”
The text of the bill can be found at https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/41-1/b002e.php.
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