View From the Legislature

This is a particularly busy session of the Manitoba Legislature in terms of legislation that I am sponsoring. All told I will be introducing more than 15 bills for debate.

As winter slowly begins to loosen its grip on Manitobans, there are encouraging signs on a number of fronts.

A new session of the Manitoba Legislature began last week and while I am adjusting to another new role, this time as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, there was a very familiar feeling to this new session.

On Saturday the Manitoba Legislature grounds were a sea of blue and yellow as thousands of Manitobans came together wearing and flying the colours of Ukraine to condemn the invasion of that country by the Russian President.

For Manitobans of a certain age, the name Candace Derksen is an immediate and emotional reminder of the young 13-year-old Winnipeg girl who went missing in November 1984 on her way home from school.

This week I will be participating virtually in a national meeting with provincial Minister’s of Justice from all provinces and territories. We will also be joined for part of the discussion by the federal Minister of Justice as well.

Every February, schools and libraries around the province make plans to promote and celebrate “I Love to Read Month.” And every year this special month is given a theme on which activities and reading plans can be built.

This past Tuesday was recognized in Manitoba and in other provinces as RCMP Appreciation Day. It is an annual day that is set aside to thank the men and women of Canada’s national police force.

In one of my first duties as Manitoba’s new Minister of Justice and Attorney General, I was honoured to be able to join the virtual 2022 Mid-Winter Conference of the Manitoba Bar Association (MBA) this past Saturday morning.

On Tuesday, Premier Heather Stefanson changed her provincial cabinet with a number of ministers taking on new roles and some new MLAs being added to the cabinet.