Progress made on bill to allow Manitoba authorities to hold intoxicated people longer

A site in Point Douglas is being eyed as a new spot for a longer-term detention centre for intoxicated people.

WINNIPEG — A bill that would allow severely intoxicated people in Manitoba to be held for longer periods of time could become law very soon.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives joined the NDP government in voting to send the bill to public hearings, which may come as early as next week.

The bill is aimed at dealing with the rising use of methamphetamines, which can affect people for days, and would increase the maximum detention period to 72 hours from the current 24.

The government also plans to have new facilities called “protective care centres,” which are not yet defined but would offer more health care than regular detention centres.

Premier Wab Kinew says he hopes to see a 20-bed facility at 190 Disraeli Freeway in Winnipeg — an area once considered for a supervised drug consumption site that ran into opposition from local residents.

The Opposition Tories say they are in favour of allowing people to be detained longer but have unanswered questions about the government’s plan, such as what happens to someone in a rural area, hours away from a designated care centre.

“What happens, say in Roblin, Man. ... but there’s not a protection site in Roblin?” Tory legislature member Jeff Bereza said.

“Who transports that person to a protective site ... is there special vehicles needed to do that?”

The bill was introduced in the legislature last week and Kinew said Thursday he would like to see it become law quickly.

“This is about keeping the community safe,” Kinew said.

“Having a facility to keep people there, so that they’re not being a harm to themselves or others is an important response to the ... meth crisis and part of our strategy.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2025.

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press