Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press

Manitoba Opposition leader Obby Khan stripped a Progressive Conservative caucus member of his critic duties Thursday, as questions continued to swirl about the former government’s actions related to a proposed silica sand mine.

Jeff Wharton, one of three Tories found this week to have violated the province's conflict of interest law, is to remain in caucus but will no longer serve as critic for business, mining, trade and job creation.

"I have removed his critic role in light of this report that came out ... and we'll move forward from there," Khan said.

Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson and two of her Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers acted improperly by pushing for the approval of a silica sand mining project and should be fined, says a report by the province's ethics commissioner.

The report says Stefanson, then-deputy premier Cliff Cullen and then-economic development minister Jeff Wharton tried to get approval for the Sio Silica project after the Tories lost the 2023 election, but before the new NDP government was to be sworn in.

The Manitoba government faced more questions about its property tax reforms Tuesday after some homeowners did not receive a promised $1,500 credit on their annual bill.

Finance Minister Adrien Sala said there was a problem with some homeowners not registering their properties as their primary residence, which is a condition to get the credit. He put part of the blame on municipal governments.

The Manitoba government is hoping to curb the risk of more wildfires by tightening restrictions in some areas.

The new rules expand on restrictions already in effect in many parts of southeast Manitoba, part of the Interlake region and Spruce Woods Provincial Park.

Starting Friday, no fires will be allowed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in those areas, and fires at night must be burned in approved campfire pits.

The number of measles cases in Manitoba has jumped to 20, and health officials say some of the recent cases had no contact with previous ones.

Dr. Davinder Singh, a medical officer of health for the Southern health region, says that's concerning because it's unclear where those people became infected.

Most of the cases have been in the Southern health region and Singh says it is connected to the area's low vaccination rate.

Manitoba's new Opposition leader says his party wants changes and clarity on a bill by the NDP government that would add gender expression to the province's human rights code.

The bill, now making its way through the legislature, would include protections for people to be called by their preferred pronouns.

Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan said Tuesday he has heard concerns by some members of the public who fear people could face a complaint for addressing someone by the wrong gender.

Manitoba's new Opposition leader apologized Monday for election campaign advertisements the Progressive Conservative party ran in the last election that promoted their decision to not search a landfill for the remains of two murder victims.

Obby Khan used his first legislature speech since winning the Tory leadership on April 26 to say sorry to the victims' families and to promise a new tone from his party.

Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives have elected Obby Khan as their new leader.

Khan, a former cabinet minister and pro football player, was chosen by party members over Wally Daudrich, a hotel owner and longtime party board member, in a tight race.

Daudrich garnered 53 more votes than Khan, according to results posted to the party's website.

But under the party's system that uses points for each constituency, Khan won with 50.4 per cent overall to Daudrich's 49.6 per cent.

Dozens of people lined up Thursday night to air opposition to and support for Manitoba's plan to add gender expression to the human rights code — a move that would include protections for people to be called by their preferred pronouns.

Derek deVries, pastor at Park City Gospel Church in Winnipeg, said the NDP government's bill would force Christians to go against their beliefs.

"This (proposed) law forbids Christians from following Christ's example. It requires speech he would not permit," deVries told a legislature committee.

Manitoba's energy regulator has approved higher natural gas prices.

The Public Utilities Board says rates for a typical residential customer will rise 12.4 per cent, or about $73 a year, starting May 1.

The board says the increase is due to several market factors, including reduced natural gas storage levels in North America following a colder winter.

Higher demand for liquefied natural gas was also cited.

Gas rates are reviewed regularly and the next review is slated for August.