The Manitoba government has rejected a proposal that would have made all people in the province organ donors unless they specifically requested not to be.

Members of the Progressive Conservative government caucus voted against a private member’s bill from Independent legislature member Steven Fletcher that would have set up presumed consent. Fletcher suggested that would cut long waiting lists for organ transplants. Manitoba, like other provinces, currently has an opt-in model under which people choose to be organ donors by signing up on a provincial website or on certain provincial identity cards.

Fletcher’s bill, introduced last spring, would have presumed people to be organ donors unless they opted out by registering their desire not to donate.

There is no presumed consent anywhere in North America, Fletcher said, but some European countries have it. The Saskatchewan government has been looking at presumed consent as well. Last week, it said that effort continues, but it would focus on other ways to expand the donor pool.

Opposition New Democrat Andrew Swan said Fletcher’s bill warranted more examination, and suggested it could be passed into law with some changes following consultations with experts.

He pointed out there are potential problems with presumed consent, because people may be unaware of how to opt out.

Legislation to allow support to victims of revenge porn introduced

Saskatchewan government is introducing legislation to allow people who have been the target of revenge porn to sue for compensation. The Privacy Amendment Act 2017 was promised in the speech from the throne. It will allow people whose intimate photos or videos have been shared publicly without their consent to sue the people who shared them. “This bill sends a strong message that this callous, criminal behaviour has consequences, and that the government of Saskatchewan stands with the victims of this type of attack,” said Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan in a news release. The amendment to the privacy act will now put the onus on the person who shared the image to prove they had a reasonable basis to think they had been given consent. Victims would not have to wait for charges to be laid  before pursuing a civil lawsuit in small claims court, which is faster and less expensive than the previously-required process for Court of Queen’s Bench.