Fort Garry, May 29, 2025 – Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has introduced Bill 229, The Human Rights Code Amendment Act (Non-Disclosure Agreements), which would make it illegal to use NDAs to silence individuals who have experienced harassment or discrimination in Manitoba workplaces.
“For too long, NDAs have been used to protect powerful perpetrators and bury the truth,” said Wasyliw. “This bill ensures survivors can speak out and that companies can no longer pay for silence.”
The bill amends The Human Rights Code to make it a violation to attempt or threaten to enforce an agreement clause that:
Any such clause in an agreement entered into after the law comes into force would be considered legally unenforceable.
Wasyliw noted that in Manitoba and beyond, high-profile cases have revealed a troubling pattern: powerful executives harass or abuse employees, then hide behind NDAs while repeating the same behaviour unchecked.
“This bill forces companies to confront wrongdoing instead of covering it up,” said Wasyliw. “It ends the legal protection of abusers and puts the focus back on accountability and culture change.”
For more information, please contact the Fort Garry Constituency office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca
Fort Garry, May 23, 2025 – This week, independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has introduced The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act, legislation that would allow funds seized from criminal activity to be used not only for law enforcement, but also for community-led programs that address the root causes of crime.
“True public safety comes from investment in people, not just policing,” said Wasyliw. “This bill ensures that funds from criminal property forfeiture can be used to support things like affordable housing, addictions treatment, harm reduction and restorative justice.”
Currently, the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund is largely directed toward law enforcement initiatives. The proposed amendment would allow the money to also be used for:
Wasyliw emphasized that communities must be able to trust that public safety funding is being used to make a meaningful difference, not just to respond after harm has occurred.
“This is about focusing on the conditions that keep people safe in the first place,” he said. “Manitobans want real investments in safer neighbourhoods, and that starts with supporting the organizations already doing the work on the ground.”
For more information, please contact the Fort Garry Constituency office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca.
Fort Garry, May 15, 2024 – Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has introduced The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Reason for Traffic Stop), legislation that would require peace officers to clearly state the reason for a traffic stop before proceeding with any further interaction.
“No one should be pulled over without being told why,” said Wasyliw. “That small act of transparency is essential to building trust between communities and law enforcement.”
Under the proposed amendment:
Wasyliw noted that while traffic stops are routine for many, they are also one of the most common and visible interactions between the police and the public. Clear communication at the outset is key to maintaining public confidence in policing.
“This change strengthens accountability and protects all Manitobans,” said Wasyliw. “Black, Indigenous and racialized communities have experienced disproportionate and sometimes unjustified stops. This bill takes a step toward more consistent and respectful policing.”
Chris Gamby, on behalf of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba, attended in the gallery in support of the bill.
“There are many perfectly good reasons for officers to pull over any motor vehicle operating on our roadways. Transparency and openness when conducting these stops is a straightforward measure that should help people understand what is happening and why, making the process better for all parties. In the considered opinion of our association, anything that can improve relations between police and the community that they serve is to be lauded.” said Gamby.
For more information, please contact the Fort Garry Constituency office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca.
Fort Garry, May 8, 2025 – Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has introduced The Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act, a bill that would require property owners to provide energy efficiency reports before listing a home or rental unit in Manitoba.
With the cost of housing reaching unaffordable levels, Wasyliw said it’s time to address one of the hidden costs of housing, the cost of heating a poorly built or inefficient home.
“Many renters have no idea how energy efficient a unit is until their first heating bill arrives,” said Wasyliw. “This bill protects renters by requiring landlords to test and disclose the energy performance of their units.”
This bill would apply to newly built or significantly renovated residential units, commercial buildings and specified rental properties where the tenant pays for heat. If passed, the bill would:
“This helps buyers too,” said Wasyliw. “People should know if they’re walking into a future renovation or a home that will cost them thousands in heating. Efficiency labelling gives new builders a reason to build to higher standards.”
Wasyliw noted that the measure would make housing more affordable, reduce CO2 emissions and help create green jobs in the construction and home assessment sectors.
The Independent MLA was joined in the gallery by Green Party of MB Leadership Team members, Janine Gibson, Dennis Bayomi and Laura Potts, attending in support of the bill.
Gibson stated “Bill 217 is innovative in its approach, encouraging of deeper responsibility across the board, exactly the needed legislation the Green Party supports. We congratulate Mark and his team for crafting this work.”
For more information, please contact the Fort Garry Constituency office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca.
Fort Garry, April 24, 2025 – Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has introduced The Board Parity and Diversity Act, a bill that aims to make Manitoba a national leader in boardroom equity and corporate accountability.
The legislation applies to corporations with 50 or more employees and sets minimum standards for board diversity and independence. It ensures no board can have more members who identify as male than those who do not, and mandates that every board must include at least one person who identifies as Black, Indigenous or a person of colour, or as being disabled by barriers under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. Additionally, each board must include at least one employee who is not in senior management.
“This bill is about recognizing that representation is structural,” Said Wasyliw. “Power must be shared if it’s going to be fair. Right now, too many decisions are being made behind closed doors by boards that don’t reflect the diversity of their workforce or their community.”
To ensure board independence, the bill requires a majority of directors to be free from ties to the company’s executive or management teams for at least five years. It also requires every director to submit a public declaration of their self-identified characteristics, a declaration that cannot be legally challenged for inaccuracy. Corporations found in violation of the Act could face fines of up to $50,000.
“This legislation is a bold but necessary step to modernize Manitoba’s corporate governance. Diverse boards make better decisions, and this bill ensures more voices are heard at the table,” said Wasyliw.
For more information, please contact the Fort Garry Constituency Office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca.
Fort Garry, March 27, 2025 – Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has introduced The Public Schools Amendment Act (Teaching Experience of Principals), a bill that strengthens Manitoba’s education system by requiring that principals have a minimum of two years of teaching experience.
“Principals are not just managers, they are mentors, hiring authorities and the cornerstone of a school’s educational culture,” said Wasyliw. “To truly lead, they need firsthand classroom experience. This bill ensures that school leaders understand what their teachers face every day and can provide effective, informed guidance.”
Under the legislation, a person may only be employed as a principal if they have at least two years of teaching experience while holding a valid teacher’s certificate. They requirement does not apply to current principals or principals of schools with fewer than three teachers.
Wasyliw noted that this is a direct response to the decline in education standards in Manitoba. “If we want to reverse the trend and give our children the best possible start, we need strong, experienced leaders in every school, leaders who are grounded in evidence-based teaching practices and understand how to build modern, inclusive learning environments.”
For more information, contact the Fort Garry Constituency Office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca.
Fort Garry, March 18, 2025 – Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has introduced The Budget Impact Reporting Act, a bill that increases transparency and accountability by requiring the government to report on the effects of budget measures on economic and social inclusion, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
“Manitobans deserve to know how government decisions impact affordability, equality, and climate sustainability,” said Wasyliw. “Right now, our tax system isn’t fair to everyone, and tax changes have very different effects on different demographics. This bill ensures that every tax change, new program, or spending decision is evaluated for its impact on poverty reduction, racial and gender equity, and environmental sustainability. It also requires the government to clearly highlight who is and isn’t benefiting from tax changes, so Manitobans can see whether policies are truly fair.”
Under this legislation, the Minister of Finance must publicly release reports assessing how budget measures affect gender inequality, racial disparities, and poverty, in line with established indicators. Additionally, the Act requires analysis of the expected greenhouse gas emissions resulting from financial decisions, reinforcing Manitoba’s commitment to sustainable economic growth.
This legislation comes at a time when, under the Kinew government, Manitoba has gone backwards on environmental issues. Without clear accountability, tax policies have disproportionately benefited some while leaving others behind.
By increasing transparency in the budget process, this bill helps Manitobans hold their government accountable and ensures that budget policies contribute to a fairer, more sustainable future for all.
For more information, please contact the Fort Garry Constituency Office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca.
Fort Garry, March 13, 2025 – Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has introduced The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, a bill aimed at addressing Manitoba’s skyrocketing housing costs and closing loopholes that have allowed landlords to exploit tenants with unfair rent hikes.
Manitoba has the fastest-growing rents in Canada despite being a rent-controlled jurisdiction. According to a Rentals.ca report, Manitoba led the country in rent growth in 2024 with a 5% annual increase, bringing the average monthly rent to $1,618, despite a 3% rent control cap. This discrepancy is due to the Above Guideline Rent Increase (AGI) loophole, which enables landlords to apply for rent increases beyond the cap year after year. Often, landlords justify these hikes by citing cosmetic renovations or maintenance costs that should fall under normal wear and tear rather than essential repairs.
Between 2019 and 2021, nearly 60,000 rental units were affected by AGIs, with rent increases averaging over 10% annually, far exceeding the regulated cap. This has resulted in renovictions, where tenants are priced out of their homes due to aggressive rent hikes, contributing to gentrification and displacement. Currently, 40% of Manitobans rent, and in Fort Garry, that number rises to 50%. The cost-of-living crisis, driven in part by unaffordable housing, demands immediate action.
During the 2023 election, Premier Wab Kinew promised to tighten regulations on AGIs to make rent more affordable. However, his government failed to deliver. Instead, the Kinew government introduced a bill on May 23, 2024, just days before the spring session ended, without ensuring its passage, allowing it to die on the Order Paper. Since then, the government has shown no urgency in addressing rent affordability, leaving renters without relief as costs continue to rise.
MLA Wasyliw’s bill introduces clear, enforceable restrictions on AGIs, ensuring that rent increases beyond the cap can only be approved for essential structural repairs, increased security costs, or rising municipal taxes. It also closes loopholes that allow landlords to remove rent discounts before applying for an AGI and introduces phased-in rent increases to prevent sudden financial hardship for tenants.
Members of the West Broadway Tenants Committee were present in the gallery during the bill’s introduction and are available to speak with the press about their experiences and the urgent need for tenant protections.
"Premier Wab Kinew promised Manitobans that he would close these loopholes and make housing more affordable. A year has passed, and instead of taking action, he allowed his own bill to die on the Order Paper,” said Wasyliw, “Meanwhile, Manitoba now has the fastest-growing rents in the country, and the crisis is only getting worse. Renters can’t afford to wait any longer. We need real protections now."
For more information, please contact the Fort Garry Constituency Office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca.
Fort Garry, March 6, 2025 – Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw has once again introduced Bill 206 – The Homeowner Protection from Unsolicited Purchase Offers Act, reaffirming his commitment to safeguarding homeowners from predatory real estate practices.
The bill previously went to a vote in the last session, where the Kinew government joined with the PCs to vote it down, despite its critical protections for vulnerable homeowners. Now, Wasyliw is bringing it forward once more, urging the government to stand with homeowners rather than siding with aggressive real estate wholesalers.
As Manitoba’s housing market continues to grow, seniors, low-income homeowners and those facing financial hardship are increasingly targeted by unsolicited purchase offers, often pressured into selling their homes for well below market value.
Bill 206 seeks to put an end to these exploitative practices by introducing key safeguards:
Wasyliw has heard firsthand from Fort Garry constituents about the coercive tactics used by certain private home-buying organizations. Without stronger legal protections, homeowners remain vulnerable to high-pressure sales tactics that put their financial security at risk.
“This bill is about fairness and ensuring that Manitobans don’t get pushed out of their homes through deception or pressure,” said Wasyliw. “Last time, this government chose to side with real estate wholesalers over everyday homeowners. I’m reintroducing Bill 206 because Manitobans deserve better.”
For more information, please contact the Fort Garry Constituency Office at 204-421-4241 or mark@markwasyliwmla.ca.