A bill to increase the ability of the Independent Investigations unit has been put on the back burner since it was proposed in 2021.
It passed second, first, and third readings and reached royal assent on June 1, 2022 — the steps necessary for a bill to become law — but it was never proclaimed.
This bill looks to give Manitoba's police watchdog more power to penalize officers who don't comply with their requests.
They also would allow the unit to introduce fines or jail time for most police officers who do not comply with any of its "reasonable" requests and would forbid the IIU from seconding active police officers as investigators.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the bill has not become law because of its complexities, but he hopes to have it proclaimed by early next year.
