Manitoba legislature session may be extended to pass 72-hour detention bill

The sculpture titled "The Golden Boy" tops the exterior of the Manitoba legislature is seen in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG — In the words of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, a "game of chicken" is underway at the legislature with Kinew threatening to extend the current session in order to pass a bill that would allow intoxicated people to be detained longer.

Kinew's New Democrats introduced a bill Oct. 2 that would increase the maximum amount of time intoxicated people can be detained to 72 hours from the current 24 hours. The change is aimed at dealing with people high on methamphetamines and other long-lasting drugs.

The NDP hoped to pass the bill within a matter of weeks, and before the scheduled end of the legislature session this Thursday. But the Opposition Progressive Conservatives have proposed amendments, partly based on public feedback during recent a committee hearing, and have not committed to letting the bill go to a final vote immediately.

"If they want to have a legislative game of chicken, OK, you've got it," Kinew said in question period Monday.

"We will continue recalling the house this fall, this winter, and we will keep doing that until Bill 48 passes."

Police, first responders and Winnipeg's mayor support the bill, but some community groups oppose it over issues ranging from the proposed location of new detox centres to concerns that a 72-hour detention is oppressive and effectively criminalizes addiction.

When a legislature session ends, bills not passed into law die. The government can reintroduce them in the next session, but that means the bills would restart at square one, with more debate and another round of public committee hearings. That could delay passage for up to a year.

The partisan dispute also threatens to derail another bill introduced only recently — one that would require judges to offer their opinion any time a Manitoba government uses the notwithstanding clause to override sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

A delay could also push back the provincial throne speech that is normally delivered in mid-November to outline the government's agenda for the coming year.

This week's proceedings are already partially tied up with a final vote on a budget bill and a few bills held over from the spring.

The standoff has led to some offers of horse-trading. The NDP offered to support one of the Tory amendments, house leader Nahanni Fontaine said, but that did not secure a deal.

"To me, it's very clear ... that this is all political theatre," Fontaine told reporters.

The Tories have accused the NDP of trying to rush through a flawed bill.

"This is a serious bill. We have to get it right," PC Leader Obby Khan said.

The Tories have proposed an agreement in which some Opposition bills would pass as well. But there was no deal as of Monday evening.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2025

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press