2nd Session, 43rd Legislature

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Bill 40

AN ACT RESPECTING "O CANADA" AND OTHER OBSERVANCES AND LAND AND TREATY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN SCHOOLS (EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION ACT AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT AMENDED)

(Assented to                                         )

HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

PART 1
THE EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION ACT

C.C.S.M. c. E10 amended

1   The Education Administration Act is amended by this Part.

2   Section 1 is amended by repealing the definition "board".

3   Sections 10 to 17 are repealed.

Transitional

4   On the coming into force of this Part,

(a) the Advisory Board is dissolved; and

(b) the appointment of each member of the Advisory Board is revoked and the rights and obligations of the member in relation to the appointment are extinguished.

PART 2
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT

C.C.S.M. c. P250 amended

5   The Public Schools Act is amended by this Part.

6   Subsection 1(1) is amended

(a) by repealing the definition "advisory board"; and

(b) in the definition "regulations", by striking out ", by the minister, or by the Advisory Board" and substituting "or by the minister".

7(1)   Subsection 41(1) is amended by adding the following after clause (b.4):

(b.5) establish a written policy respecting land acknowledgements and treaty acknowledgements, and ensure that the policy is implemented in each school in the school division or school district;

7(2)   The following is added after subsection 41(1.8):

Land and treaty acknowledgement policy

41(1.9)   A policy respecting land acknowledgements and treaty acknowledgements must

(a) promote awareness and understanding of the purpose of land acknowledgements and treaty acknowledgments and their importance in furthering reconciliation;

(b) set out considerations for the use of land acknowledgements and treaty acknowledgements during the school year; and

(c) address the content of land acknowledgements and treaty acknowledgments.

8   Clause 60(5)(c.1) is amended by striking out "85.1 (Remembrance Day exercise)" and substituting "85.2 (Remembrance Day observance)".

9(1)   The centred heading before section 84 of the French version is amended by striking out "MANIFESTATIONS" and substituting "ACTIVITÉS".

9(2)   Subsection 84(1) is amended in the section by striking out everything after "non-sectarian".

9(3)   Subsections 84(2) to (7) are repealed.

10   Sections 85 and 85.1 are replaced with the following:

National anthem

85   At the beginning of every school day, the principal of each school must ensure that the first verse and chorus of "O Canada" are sung in the school and observed in a respectful manner.

Citizenship exercises

85.1   Every year on a day set aside by proclamation of the Governor General or Lieutenant Governor, the principal of each school must ensure that exercises with special emphasis on citizenship are held.

Remembrance Day observance

85.2   Every year on a school day between November 4 and November 10, the principal of each school must ensure that a Remembrance Day observance is held.

Regulations

85.3   The minister may make regulations respecting observances under sections 85, 85.1 and 85.2, including regulations respecting their form and content.

11   Subsection 208(3) is amended by striking out "85" and substituting "85.1".

PART 3
REPEAL AND COMING INTO FORCE

Consequential repeal of regulations

12   The following regulations are repealed:

(a) the Religious Exercises in Schools Regulation, Manitoba Regulation 554/88;

(b) the Schools Patriotic Observances Regulation, Manitoba Regulation 472/88 R.

Coming into force

13   This Act comes into force on July 1, 2025.