The Manitoba Assistance Act

The Manitoba Assistance Act, C.C.S.M. c. A150 bilingual version (HTML) Table of Contents Section 1 Definitions 1.1 Repealed 1.2 Purpose 2 Provision of things and services 2.1 Director 3 Moneys payable from Consolidated Fund 4 Repealed 5 Income assistance 5.1 General assistance 5.2-5.3 Repealed 5.3.1 Shelter assistance 5.3.2 Combining payments 5.3.3 Portability of shelter assistance 5.4 Obligations re employment 5.5 Consequences of outstanding warrant 5.6 Financial resources 6 Repealed 7 Action on behalf of recipient 8 Legal aid as a benefit 9 Variation of assistance 10-14 Repealed 15 Agreements with Canada 16 Agreements with other provinces 16.1 Agreements re services 16.2 Contributions by municipalities 16.3 Promotion of employment opportunities 17 Administration and annual report 18 Applications 19 Regulations 20 Recovery of payments 21 Registration of statement in Land Titles Office 22 Offence 22.1 Information exchange authorized 23 C.C.S.M. reference WHEREAS the goal of Manitoba's employment and income assistance program is to provide basic and temporary financial assistance to those in need while at the same time supporting recipients in becoming financially self-sufficient; AND WHEREAS to enable recipients to become self-sufficient, they should receive assistance and supports that are informed by assessments and address the unique and complex social, medical, educational, and employment barriers facing those recipients; AND WHEREAS recipients have a corresponding duty to actively engage in planning and programming provided under Manitoba's employment and income assistance program to the full extent of their abilities; HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows: Definitions 1 In this Act, "adult education" means (a) vocational or other employment-related training, and (b) literacy or other educational upgrading, including a course or program of study offered at an adult learning centre; (« éducation aux adultes ») "agency" means an agency as defined in The Child and Family Services Act ; (« office ») "appeal board" means the Social Services Appeal Board under The Social Services Appeal Board Act ; (« Commission d'appel ») "applicant" means a person who applies for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance; (« requérant ») "assistance" means assistance as defined in The Social Services Administration Act ; (« aide ») "child" means an individual actually or apparently under 18 years of age; (« enfant ») "common-law partner" of a person means a person who, not being married to the other person, is cohabiting with the other person (a) in a conjugal relationship of some permanence, or (b) in circumstances that indicate to the director that their relationship is conjugal; (« conjoint de fait ») "crisis intervention facility" means a facility approved by the minister for providing shelter and protection to persons who have been abused by other persons; (« établissement d'intervention d'urgence ») "dependant" , with respect to any person, means the person's spouse and includes any child who is dependant upon the person for support but does not include the spouse of any child to whom this definition applies; (« personne à charge ») "director" means the person designated as Director of Assistance under section 2.1; (« directeur ») "general assistance" means an amount paid to a person under section 5.1; (« aide générale ») "hospital" means a hospital as defined in The Health Services Insurance Act or The Mental Health Act ; (« hôpital ») "income assistance" means an amount paid to any person pursuant to section 5; (« aide au revenu ») "minister" means the member of the Executive Council charged by the Lieutenant Governor in Council with the administration of this Act; (« ministre ») "municipality" does not include (a) the City of Winnipeg, or (b) a municipality that was a local government district that is continued as a municipality under section 428 of The Municipal Act , but does include a local government district that has not been continued as a municipality; (« municipalité ») "prescribed" means prescribed by regulation; (Version anglaise seulement) "recipient" means a person to whom income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance is being, or has been, provided; (« bénéficiaire ») "shelter assistance" means an amount paid to a person under section 5.3.1; (« aide au logement ») "social services" means services having as their object the lessening, removal or prevention of the causes and effects of poverty, child neglect or dependence on income assistance, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes (a) rehabilitation services, (b) case work, counselling, assessment and referral services, (c) adoption services, (d) homemaker, day care and similar services, (e) community development services, (f) consulting, research and evaluation services with respect to social programs, and (g) administrative, secretarial and clerical services, including staff training, relating to the provision of any of the foregoing services or provision of income assistance or indigent relief. (« services sociaux ») R.S.M. 1987 Supp., c. 4, s. 21 ; R.S.M. 1987 Supp., c. 31, s. 17 ; S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 2 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 3 and 4; S.M. 2001, c. 9, s. 31 ; S.M. 2001, c. 43, s. 9 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 2 (as amended by S.M. 2005, c. 42, s. 10 ); S.M. 2004, c. 42, s. 26 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 8 ; S.M. 2021, c. 15, s. 78 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 3 ; S.M. 2024, c. 4, s. 2 ; S.M. 2025, c. 11, s. 13 . 1.1 [Repealed] S.M. 1996, c. 58, s. 473 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 3 . Purpose 1.2 The purpose of this Act is to enable all Manitobans to meet their basic and essential needs if they have insufficient means of supporting themselves or their families and to empower them to become self-supporting through work or training. S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 4 . Provision of things and services 2 Subject to this Act and the regulations, the Government of Manitoba may take measures to provide to residents of Manitoba those things and services that are essential to health and well-being, including a basic living allowance, an allowance for shelter, essential health services and a funeral upon death. S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 5 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 4 . Director 2.1(1) The minister must designate a person as Director of Assistance. Director may delegate 2.1(2) The director may, in writing, authorize a person or class of persons to perform any of the director's duties or exercise any of the director's powers under this Act or the regulations. S.M. 2004, c. 42, s. 26 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 9 . Moneys payable from Consolidated Fund 3 Amounts expended by the government for the purposes mentioned in section 2 may be paid from the Consolidated Fund with moneys authorized by an Act of the Legislature to be so paid and applied. S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 3 . 4 [Repealed] S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 4 . Income assistance 5(1) The director shall provide income assistance, in accordance with this Act and the regulations, to or in respect of a person who, in the opinion of the director is a person (a) who, by reason of age or by reason of physical or mental ill health, incapacity or disorder likely to continue for a period of more than one year (i) is unable to earn an income sufficient to meet the basic necessities of themselves and their dependants, if any; or (ii) is unable to care for themselves and requires to be cared for by another person or in an institution or home for the aged or the infirm; or (b) who is a widowed spouse with a dependant child or dependant children; or (c) who is a parent with a dependant child or children and (i) is deserted by, or is living separate and apart from, their spouse, or (ii) is the spouse of a person who is sentenced to and is serving a prison term, or (iii) is not married, or (iv) is divorced; or (d) who is a child that has been placed temporarily by the director or an agency without the transfer of guardianship in a foster home, group foster home or in an institution, in accordance with the provisions of The Child and Family Services Act ; or (e) who has been apprehended as a child in need of protection under The Child and Family Services Act and (i) is in the charge of an agency during the period before the investigation by the judge under that Act, or (ii) has been committed under that Act to the care and custody of an agency, or (iii) having been committed, as described in subclause (ii), is admitted to a hospital and is in receipt of hospital care and treatment in respect of which they are not an insured person under The Health Services Insurance Act ; or (f) who is a child both of whose parents are dead or in the opinion of the director are unable to contribute to their maintenance and who is wholly dependent on another person for their basic necessities; or (g) who has one or more dependants in need of special care as that expression is defined in the regulations; or (h) [repealed] S.M. 1993, c. 31, s. 2 ; (i) who is a person requiring the protection of and residing in a crisis intervention facility. 5(2) [Repealed] S.M. 1993, c. 31, s. 2 . Income assistance to employed persons 5(3) In the case of a person who (a) is employed, or has any other source of income; (b) has one or more dependants in need of special care; and (c) is not otherwise eligible for income assistance; the income assistance may be granted only for the purpose of meeting the costs of the special care. Special care defined 5(4) For the purposes of this section "special care" means care provided to a dependant of an applicant or recipient in a residential welfare institution that has been approved by the minister, or in a day nursery that has been approved by the minister, or care approved by the director and provided to a dependant by a nurse, housekeeper, or homemaker in the home of the applicant or recipient or in a foster home. 5(5) [Renumbered as subsection 18(3)] R.S.M. 1987 Supp., c. 31, s. 17 ; R.S.M. 1987 Corr.; S.M. 1989-90, c. 21, s. 2 ; S.M. 1993, c. 31, s. 2 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 6 ; S.M. 2002, c. 24, s. 24 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 5 ; S.M. 2008, c. 42, s. 31 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 10 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 5 . General assistance 5.1 Where a person (a) [repealed] S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 6 ; (b) is not a person described in section 5; and (c) applies to the director for general assistance; the director shall provide general assistance to or in respect of that person in accordance with this Act and the regulations. S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 5 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 7 ; S.M. 1996, c. 58, s. 473 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 6 . 5.2 [Repealed] S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 5 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 7 . 5.3(1) [Repealed] S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 11 . 5.3(2) [Repealed] S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 8 . S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 5 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 8 ; S.M. 1996, c. 58, s. 473 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 8 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 11 . Shelter assistance 5.3.1(1) The director must provide assistance in support of shelter costs in accordance with this Act and the regulations to (a) persons who receive income assistance; (b) persons who receive general assistance; and (c) persons who (i) do not receive income assistance or general assistance, (ii) reside in eligible rental accommodations, and (iii) meet prescribed eligibility requirements. Calculating shelter assistance 5.3.1(2) The amount of shelter assistance payable is to be calculated in accordance with the regulations. Maximum shelter assistance — 75% of median market rent 5.3.1(3) The maximum set out in the regulations for shelter assistance payable to a person who resides in eligible rental accommodations must be at least 75% of the median market rent in relation to that person's household. Median market rent is to be determined annually in accordance with the regulations. Definition — eligible rental accommodation 5.3.1(4) In this section, "eligible rental accommodations" means eligible rental accommodations as defined in the regulations. S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 12 ; S.M. 2015, c. 40, s. 50 . Combining payments 5.3.2 If a person receives income assistance or general assistance, the director may combine any shelter assistance payable to that person with the person's income assistance or general assistance into one payment. S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 12 . Portability of shelter assistance 5.3.3 The director must take steps to ensure that a person who receives shelter assistance while receiving income assistance or general assistance continues to receive shelter assistance even if the recipient no longer qualifies for income assistance or general assistance, provided that the recipient continues to meet the applicable eligibility requirements. S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 12 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 7 . Obligations re employment 5.4(1) A person applying for or receiving income assistance or general assistance and a prescribed dependant of that person each has an obligation to satisfy the director that the person or dependant (a) has met the employment obligations set out in the regulations that they are required to meet; and (b) has undertaken or participated in the following to the extent they are required to do so under the regulations: (i) employment enhancement measures, (ii) supportive programming or treatment programs. Adult education as employment enhancement measure 5.4(1.1) When deciding on employment enhancement measures for an applicant or recipient, the director must consider whether adult education is the most appropriate employment enhancement measure. Where employment obligations not met 5.4(2) If an applicant, recipient or dependant fails to satisfy the director under subsection (1), the director may deny, reduce, suspend or discontinue the income assistance or general assistance otherwise payable, in accordance with the regulations. S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 9 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 9 (as amended by S.M. 2005, c. 42, s. 10 ); S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 13 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 8 ; S.M. 2024, c. 4, s. 3 . Consequences of outstanding warrant 5.5(1) Except in circumstances prescribed by regulation or when the director believes that it would cause significant hardship, the director must discontinue, suspend or reduce the income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance payable to a recipient if a warrant for the arrest of the recipient or any of their dependants has been issued in respect of a prescribed offence and the warrant has not been executed. Denial of application due to outstanding warrant 5.5(2) Except in circumstances prescribed by regulation or when the director believes it would cause significant hardship, the director must deny an application for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance if a warrant for the arrest of the applicant has been issued in respect of a prescribed offence and the warrant has not been executed. Definition of "prescribed offence" 5.5(3) In this section and section 22.1, "prescribed offence" means an offence under the Criminal Code (Canada) or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) that is prescribed in the regulations. S.M. 2011, c. 39, s. 2 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 14 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 9 . Financial resources 5.6(1) The director must take an applicant's or recipient's financial resources into account in determining their eligibility for a payment under this Act. Determination of financial resources 5.6(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), subject to any prescribed exclusions, an applicant's or recipient's financial resources include the following: (a) all income from any source received by the applicant or recipient, their spouse or common-law partner or any of their dependants; (b) all real and personal property held by the applicant or recipient, their spouse or common-law partner or any of their dependants; (c) gifts and gratuities, whether in cash or in kind, received on a one-time or recurring basis by the applicant or recipient, their spouse or common-law partner or any of their dependants; (d) the value, as determined by the director, of free shelter, free board or free lodging received by the applicant or recipient, their spouse or common-law partner or any of their dependants. S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 10 . 6 [Repealed] S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 11 . 7(1) to (4) [Repealed] S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 6 . Bringing an action on behalf of recipient 7(5) Where a recipient has a right to bring an action against a person who is or might be indebted or liable to that recipient for payment of money and the recipient has not done so at the time that assistance is granted, the director or any person acting under the authority of the director may bring action in the name and on behalf of the recipient. S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 6 . Establishment of legal aid as a benefit 8(1) Payment of the cost of legal aid in civil matters, where furnished under The Legal Aid Manitoba Act to persons who while the legal aid is being so furnished are receiving or are eligible to receive income assistance under this Act, is established as a class of benefits under this Act. Legal aid an additional benefit 8(2) The class of benefits established under subsection (1) is additional to and separate from income assistance and neither the need for that class of benefits by any person nor the provision of that class of benefits to any person shall be taken into account as a factor in determining the eligibility or the extent of the eligibility of that person for income assistance under this Act and the regulations. Legal aid grants deemed to be for this section 8(3) Such monies out of any grants paid to Legal Aid Manitoba under subsection 25(2) of The Legal Aid Manitoba Act as are used under that Act to pay the cost of legal aid in a civil matter furnished to a person who, while the legal aid is being so furnished, is receiving or is eligible to receive income assistance under this Act are deemed to be monies paid and used for the purposes of this section. S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 3 ; S.M. 2004, c. 50, s. 18 . Variation of assistance 9(1) If, on the basis of information received, the director is of the opinion that the income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance being paid to a recipient should be discontinued, reduced, suspended or increased, the director may order that change in writing. Notice to recipient or applicant 9(2) The director or a person acting under the authority of the director shall forthwith notify an applicant or recipient or a person who has applied for or is or was receiving income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance in writing of any decision or order which denies, discontinues, reduces or suspends income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance to the applicant, recipient or person, stating the reasons for the decision or order and advising the applicant, recipient or person, as the case may be, that they have the right under the Act to appeal the decision or order to the appeal board. Right of appeal 9(3) A person may appeal to the appeal board if the person is of the view that they were treated unfairly because (a) they were not allowed to apply or re-apply for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance; (b) their request for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance or an increase in income assistance or general assistance was not decided within a reasonable time; (c) their application for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance was denied; (d) their income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance was cancelled, suspended, varied or withheld; or (e) the amount of income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance granted is insufficient to meet their needs. Notice of appeal 9(4) A person who receives a notice under subsection (2) and who wishes to appeal the decision or order for any of the reasons set out in subsection (3) may file a written notice of appeal with the appeal board in accordance with The Social Services Appeal Board Act , and the provisions of that Act apply with respect to the appeal. Interpretation 9(4.1) For the purpose of subsection 12(1) of The Social Services Appeal Board Act , an appeal under clause (3)⁠(a) or (b) of this Act is deemed to be an appeal of a decision of the director. 9(5) [Repealed] S.M. 2001, c. 9, s. 31 . Documents respondent to provide 9(6) For the purpose of clause 15(2)⁠(b) of The Social Services Appeal Board Act , the respondent shall provide the appeal board with (a) a copy of the appellant's application for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance; (b) particulars of the financial resources of the appellant; and (c) evidence that the requirements of subsection (2) have been met; (d) [repealed] S.M. 2001, c. 9, s. 31 . 9(7) to (10) [Repealed] S.M. 2001, c. 9, s. 31 . 9(11) [Repealed] S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 7 . 9(12) [Repealed] S.M. 2001, c. 9, s. 31 . Court of Appeal fees and costs 9(13) Despite any fees prescribed under The Court Services Fees Act , no fee is payable in respect of an appeal of a decision of the appeal board to the Court of Appeal. But the Court of Appeal may award costs in respect of a successful or unsuccessful appeal. 9(14) [Repealed] S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 12 . S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 7 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 3 ; S.M. 2001, c. 9, s. 31 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 10 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 14 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 12 ; S.M. 2024, c. 9, s. 4 . 10 to 14 [Repealed] S.M. 1990-91, c. 12, s. 18 ; S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 8 to 12; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 10 and 11; S.M. 1996, c. 58, s. 473 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 11 . Agreements with Canada 15 With the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the Government of Manitoba may enter into agreements with the Government of Canada under which the Government of Manitoba may be reimbursed, in whole or in part, for its costs incurred in providing income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance and any associated administrative costs. S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 13 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 3 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 12 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 14 . Agreements with other provinces 16 The Government of Manitoba may, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with the Crown in right of another province of Canada, or with the Crown in right of Canada or other duly constituted authority administering a territory of Canada (a) for the payment of income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance to residents of that other province or that territory who are temporarily in Manitoba; and (b) for the granting of moneys or assistance equivalent to income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance to residents of Manitoba who are temporarily in that other province or that territory; (c) [repealed] S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 13 ; upon such terms and conditions as may be mutually satisfactory to the parties to the agreement. S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 12 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 13 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 14 . Agreements re services 16.1 The minister may enter into agreements with persons and organizations for the provision of services under this Act and payment for the services. S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 13 . Contributions by municipalities 16.2(1) A municipality must pay an annual amount to the Government of Manitoba as a contribution toward the cost of providing general assistance and shelter assistance to a person who receives general assistance. Contribution average annual cost for 1995-2001 16.2(2) A municipality's annual contribution shall be its average annual cost of providing municipal assistance over the calendar years 1995 through 2001. Calculation of annual cost 16.2(3) A municipality's annual cost of providing municipal assistance is to be calculated by adding (a) the shareable cost of municipal assistance paid to or on behalf of persons by the municipality for the year, less the total amount of grants it received under section 11 of this Act for that year; and (b) if the municipality received a grant under section 13 of this Act for the year, the total eligible staff and administrative service costs incurred by the municipality for that year, less the amount of that grant. Orders by LG in C 16.2(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order, establish when and how a municipality's contribution is to be paid. Definitions 16.2(5) The following definitions apply in this section. "eligible staff and administrative service costs" means (a) the annual costs for salary and wages of municipal staff engaged in full-time social services work, in excess of the costs for those purposes in 1964; and (b) the annual administrative service costs associated with clause (a), where the services are administrative services the costs of which were formerly shareable with the Government of Canada under the Canada Assistance Plan . (« frais admissibles engagés relativement au personnel et aux services administratifs ») "municipal assistance" means municipal assistance as defined in section 1 of this Act as that definition read on January 1, 2003. (« aide municipale ») "shareable cost of municipal assistance" means shareable cost of municipal assistance as defined in subsection 11(1) of this Act as that provision read on January 1, 2003. (« montant partageable d'aide municipale ») S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 14 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 15 . Promotion of employment opportunities 16.3 Every municipality must identify and promote employment opportunities for recipients of income assistance and general assistance in accordance with the terms of an agreement to be reached between municipalities and the minister. S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 14 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 16 . Administration and annual report 17(1) The minister is responsible for the administration of this Act; and the director shall make an annual report to the minister respecting the administration thereof. Tabling of report 17(2) The minister shall lay the annual report before the Legislative Assembly forthwith if it is then in session and, if not, then within 15 days of the beginning of the next following session thereof. Applications 18(1) Any person may apply for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance. Form of application 18(2) Every application is to be made to the director on an application form approved by the minister and must contain all of the information required by the form. Common-law relationships 18(3) Where two persons are common-law partners, they shall, for the purposes of this Act and the regulations, be treated in the same manner as two persons who are legally married, and any application by either or both of them for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance shall be dealt with in every respect in that manner. S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 14 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 10 and 17; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 13 . Regulations 19(1) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act according to their intent, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make such regulations and orders as are ancillary thereto and are not inconsistent therewith; and every regulation or order made under, and in accordance with the authority granted by, this section has the force of law; and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations and orders, (a) [repealed] S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 15 ; (b) defining "basic necessity" and establishing the cost of basic necessities, or a method for establishing those costs, for the purpose of determining (i) an applicant's or recipient's eligibility for income assistance under section 5, or (ii) the amount of income assistance to be provided under section 5; (c) for the purpose of section 5.6, excluding any income or asset or type of income or asset when determining an applicant's or recipient's financial resources; (d) prescribing rules for determining the amount of income assistance or general assistance that a recipient is entitled to receive and for determining whether an applicant is entitled to receive any income assistance or general assistance; (e) fixing the amount of income assistance or general assistance that may be paid to an applicant or a recipient; (e.1) respecting shelter assistance, including regulations that establish eligibility requirements for shelter assistance, determine the amount of shelter assistance to be provided to an eligible person, define "eligible rental accommodations" and establish a method for determining median market rent; (f) prescribing procedures to be followed in the administration of the Act and prescribing forms for use for any purpose under this Act or the regulations, or providing that forms prescribed or approved by the minister shall be used for any purpose under this Act or the regulations; (g) prescribing conditions that a recipient is required to comply with in order to be eligible to continue to receive income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance or an applicant is required to comply with to be eligible to receive income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance; (g.1) specifying applicants, recipients or dependants for the purposes of section 5.4; (g.2) establishing employment obligations and employment enhancement measures for the purposes of subsection 5.4(1) and establishing the circumstances in which an applicant, recipient or dependant is required (i) to comply with an employment obligation, or (ii) to undertake an employment enhancement measure; (g.3) establishing the manner in which income assistance or general assistance may be denied, reduced, suspended or discontinued under subsection 5.4(2) and prescribing the amount of any reduction; (g.4) prescribing circumstances in which the director may, despite an unexecuted arrest warrant, (i) provide unreduced and uninterrupted income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance for the purpose of subsection 5.5(1), and (ii) accept an application for income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance for the purpose of subsection 5.5(2); (g.5) respecting the discontinuance, suspension or reduction of income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance under subsection 5.5(1), including prescribing the amount of any reduction or the manner in which any reduction is to be calculated; (g.6) prescribing offences under the Criminal Code (Canada) and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada), for the purpose of subsection 5.5(3); (h) to (j) [repealed] S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 15 ; (k) [repealed] S.M. 1993, c. 31, s. 3 ; (l) prescribing terms for discharging any lien and charge for the purposes of section 21; (m) defining words, phrases or forms for which no definition is given in the Act; (n) [repealed] S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 15 ; (o) making any provision of this Act apply to the granting of general assistance; (o.1) prescribing anything referred to in this Act as being prescribed; (p) [repealed] S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 15 ; (q) respecting any matter the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out the intent and purpose of this Act. Retroactive regulation 19(2) A regulation under clause (1)⁠(c) may be made with retroactive effect, but only to the extent that it applies to any additional benefits receivable by a recipient. Retroactive regulations 19(3) A regulation under clause (1)⁠(d), (e) or (e.1) may be made with retroactive effect. Classes of applicants and recipients 19(4) A regulation made under subsection (1) may establish classes of applicants and recipients and provide differently for different classes. S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 14 ; S.M. 1993, c. 31, s. 3 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 3 and 15; S.M. 1996, c. 58, s. 473 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 15 (as amended by S.M. 2005, c. 42, s. 10 ); S.M. 2011, c. 39, s. 3 ; S.M. 2013, c. 39, Sch. A, s. 53 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 18 ; S.M. 2015, c. 40, s. 50 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 14 ; S.M. 2024, c. 9, s. 4 . Recovery of payments made in error or on false statements 20(1) Where the government has provided or paid assistance or any income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance to or for a person, if the assistance or income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance, or any part thereof, would not have been provided or paid except for (a) a false statement or misrepresentation made by the person; (a.1) the person's failure to inform the director of a material change in circumstances affecting the person's entitlement to income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance; or (b) an error; the government may recover from the person, or their executors or administrators, or their spouse, or the executors or administrators of their spouse, and, if the person is an infant, their parent or guardian or any person legally liable to pay their expenses, the amount of that assistance or income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance or that part thereof as a debt due and owing from the person to the Crown. Recovery from person liable for maintenance 20(2) Where the government has provided or paid assistance or any income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance to or for a person, if the assistance or income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance or any part thereof would not have been provided or paid except for the neglect or failure of another person to comply with any law or the order of any court requiring that other person to maintain or to contribute toward the maintenance of the person to or for whom the assistance or income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance or part was provided or paid, the government may recover from that other person, or their executors or administrators, the amount of that assistance or income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance or part, up to the total amount that the other person neglected or failed to provide or pay, as a debt due and owing from that other person to the Crown. Deductions to recover debt 20(3) Despite any other provision of this Act or the regulations, if a person who is a recipient incurs or has incurred a debt to the Crown under subsection (1) or (2) of this Act or under section 21 of The Disability Support Act , the director may authorize the deduction of an amount from income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance paid to the person until the indebtedness is discharged. The amount to be deducted must not be so large as to cause undue hardship to the person. Unpaid balance continued as debt 20(4) Where pursuant to subsection (3), deductions are made from the income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance payable to a person and the income assistance, general assistance or shelter assistance is for any reason discontinued or terminated and the amount deducted is insufficient to discharge the person's indebtedness to the Crown, the unpaid balance continues to be a debt owed by that person to the Crown until fully paid and discharged. S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 15 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 3 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 16 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 19 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 15 . Registration of statement 21(1) Where (a) a debt becomes due and owing from a person to the Crown under section 20; or (b) the government has made any payment to or for a person to cover (i) the principal portion of any instalment payable under a real property mortgage or an agreement for the sale of land, or any part of that principal portion, or (ii) arrears of real property taxes, or any part of those arrears, or (iii) the cost of such building repairs as may be defined in the regulations to be major repairs; the minister may cause to be registered in any Land Titles Office in the province a statement showing the minister's address for service certifying the amount of the debt, payment, assistance or income assistance or general assistance, and in the statement the minister shall name the person indebted. Statement of charge and registration 21(2) From the time of its registration, a statement registered under subsection (1), except as hereinafter mentioned, binds and forms a lien and charge on all lands of the debtor against which the statement is registered by instrument charging specific land, and, while registered in the general register, against all lands of the debtor in the Land Titles District in which the statement is registered that are held in a name identical to that of the debtor set out in the statement whether or not the lands registered under the Real Property Act for the amount certified in the statement and the amount of (a) any debt that subsequently becomes due and owing from the person to the Crown under section 20 after the statement is registered; and (b) any payment of a kind described in clause (1)⁠(b) subsequently made by the government to or for the debtor. No affidavit of execution 21(3) A statement submitted for registration under subsection (1) shall be registered on its mere production, without any affidavit of execution. Discharge of lien 21(4) A lien created by the registration of a statement under subsection (1) may be discharged by the registration in the same office where the statement is registered of a discharge executed by the minister. Notice 21(5) When a statement is registered against an identified parcel of land, the District Registrar shall forthwith notify the registered owner of the registration by ordinary mail sent to the address shown on the title. R.S.M. 1987 Supp., c. 28, s. 13 ; S.M. 1990-91, c. 12, s. 18 ; S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 16 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 3 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 17 . Offence 22(1) A person is guilty of an offence who (a) makes a false statement in any form, application, record or return prescribed or used for the purposes of this Act; or (b) fails to inform the director of a material change in circumstances affecting their entitlement to a payment or service under this Act within 30 days after the change occurs. Penalty 22(2) A person convicted of an offence under subsection (1) is liable to either or both of the following: (a) a fine of not more than $5,000; (b) imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months. Restitution 22(3) In addition to imposing a penalty under subsection (2), the convicting judge or justice may order the person convicted to pay restitution of any amount paid to the person under this Act as a result of the offence. Filing order in court 22(4) A restitution order made under subsection (3) may be filed in the Court of King's Bench and, on being filed, may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment of the court. Time limit for prosecution 22(5) A prosecution under this Act may not be commenced later than four years after the day the alleged offence was committed. S.M. 1992, c. 30, s. 17 ; S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 3 ; S.M. 1996, c. 58, s. 473 ; S.M. 2004, c. 2, s. 18 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 20 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. B, s. 16 . Information exchange authorized 22.1(1) In order to determine whether a warrant for the arrest of an applicant, recipient or dependant has not been executed for the purposes of section 5.5, (a) the Department of Justice is authorized to disclose personal information about persons who are the subjects of unexecuted arrest warrants in respect of a prescribed offence to the director; and (b) the director is authorized to collect personal information about persons who are the subjects of unexecuted arrest warrants in respect of a prescribed offence from the Department of Justice. Definition 22.1(2) In this section, "personal information" means personal information as defined in The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act , but does not include personal health information as defined in The Personal Health Information Act . S.M. 2011, c. 39, s. 4 . C.C.S.M. reference 23 This Act may be referred to as chapter A150 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba . S.M. 1996, c. 41, s. 16 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 21 .