Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press

The Manitoba government may soon crack down on people who leave their pets in vehicles in extreme hot or cold weather.

A Progressive Conservative backbencher, Obby Khan, has introduced a private member's bill that would forbid people from leaving a pet unattended in a vehicle when the outside temperature is above 22 C or below -10 C. 

There is an exception if the vehicle is left running and the climate control is on. 

The proposal is similar to recent changes to Winnipeg's pet ownership bylaw, but it would extend the measure across the province.

The Manitoba government is sharply cutting fees it charges its Crown-owned energy utility in a move that could keep electricity rates down with an election less than a year away.

The Progressive Conservative government is halving two fees paid annually by Manitoba Hydro to the province — one for water rental and one for guaranteeing the utility's debt. The changes are retroactive to April 1.

The move will save the Crown corporation almost $190 million a year and help stabilize its finances, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen said Wednesday.

The Manitoba government is planning to do away with seasonal time changes and move to permanent daylight time, but only if the United States leads the way and the idea gets public support.

Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke introduced a bill in the legislature Thursday that would let the province ditch the annual ritual of moving clocks forward an hour in March and back an hour in November.

The aim, she said, is to stay in sync with trading partners south of the border if the U.S. adopts permanent daylight time.

Manitoba Hydro is asking the provincial regulator, the Public Utilities Board, to approve electricity rate increases of 3.5 per cent in each of the next two years. 

It also warns that it will likely need rate hikes above the rate of inflation in the future if it is to meet government debt-reduction targets.

Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government promised to improve health care, tackle crime and set up new oversight for teachers in a pre-election throne speech Tuesday.

The annual speech, which outlines the government's priorities for the coming year, pledges 1,000 addiction treatment spaces and new infrastructure to upgrade or replace aging hospitals.

The province also plans to increase the involvement of the private sector in delivering diagnostic services and surgeries.

The last remnant of a statue of Queen Victoria on the front lawn of the Manitoba legislature is being cleared away in the coming days, more than a year after the statue was toppled.

The large pedestal that served as the base of the statue remained intact and will soon undergo maintenance work.

There is still no decision on what may become of the statue and the pedestal, and the provincial government is examining options for a new statue or other structure to put in its place.

Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government passed several bills into law Thursday night covering items ranging from electricity to weeds before the legislature's autumn break.

One bill approved in a final vote sets debt-reduction targets for Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro and caps annual rate increases. The government said the measures will keep increases reasonable while helping the utility's financial stability.

The Manitoba government offered more money Monday to fight homelessness and help people struggling to pay rent.

Among the changes is a doubling of annual subsidies to shelters, transitional housing services and homeless outreach programs, to $15.1 million from $6.1 million. 

The Manitoba government is starting a review of personal and business taxes with the aim of becoming more competitive with other provinces.

While Manitoba has been recording annual deficits almost every year since 2009 and is facing demands to spend more money on health care, the Progressive Conservative government said a more competitive tax regime would attract more businesses and boost provincial coffers.

"The way we will improve education and social services, health care, is by growing our economy," Premier Heather Stefanson said Wednesday.

Manitoba's Opposition New Democrats will improve health care, keep electricity rates low and simultaneously reduce the deficit if they win the next election, leader Wab Kinew said Sunday at the end of the party's annual convention.

But details on how that might be achieved will only be revealed closer to the provincial election slated for next October.