LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minimum Wage

Oct 1: Manitoba increased its general minimum wage by 40 cents to $16.40 per hour. The same percentage adjustments were made to the separate construction and skilled tradesperson trainee minimum wages.

Action Point: Find out how to avoid common payroll errors when adjusting to minimum wage increases.

Immigration

Sep 16: Manitoba employers who want to hire temporary foreign workers must use the new Employer Registration application form. The government recommends that employers complete the form electronically, save a copy on their computer, and submit an application via email to wrapacertificates@gov.mb.ca. The old form will no longer be accepted.

New Laws

Aug 28: Manitoba announced that it will provide more than $100 million in additional supports for workers, businesses, and producers affected by the latest U.S. tariffs, including $50 million for the Manitoba Trade Resilience Loan Program to provide repayable working capital financing at low interest rates, a $500,000 increase to the Export Support Program, $250,000 to enhance existing export advisory services to support export readiness and market development, $500,000 to the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters to expand the Made-in-Manitoba initiative, and $500,000 to support interprovincial trade missions for Manitoba alcohol producers and craft breweries.

Action Point: Find out about the 8 ways U.S. tariffs affect Canadian workplaces and HR activities.

Payroll

Aug 28: In response to the new Trump tariffs, Manitoba will invest $13.7 million to establish a Tariff Workforce Stabilization and Youth Employment Program offering wage subsidy supports to employers. Manitoba will also allow businesses to defer provincially administered tax payments such as retail sales tax and payroll tax payments for the period of Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026.

New Laws

Sep 16: The Governments of Canada and Manitoba are jointly investing more than $3.8 million to create the Manitoba Defence and Dual-Use Innovation Bridge. A partnership among RRC Polytech, Manitoba Aerospace Inc., and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, the program will offer targeted training and supports to enable over 100 Manitoba small- and medium-sized businesses to participate in domestic and international defence supply chains.

New Laws

Aug 28: The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) announced the following measures to protect farmers against the latest U.S. tariffs: i. increasing the Operating Credit Guarantee Program to $3 million for individuals, corporations, and partnerships; ii. increasing the guaranteed portion of loans under both the Operating Credit Guarantee Program and Diversification Loan Guarantee (DLG) program from 25% to 33.33; iii. expanding DLG Program eligibility to include grain and oilseed operations and allow “investment in primary agricultural infrastructure in Manitoba” as an eligible purpose; and iv. increasing DLG loan amounts from $1.5 million to $5 million.

Health & Safety

Sep 1: Revised Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Regulations requiring employers to provide free menstrual products in workplace washrooms at no cost to employees took effect in Manitoba. Employers must also provide at least one choice of tampon and one choice of pad along with a covered container for disposal of menstrual products near each washroom toilet.

Action Point: Find out more about new OHS menstruation product rules.

CASES

There are no cases to report this month.