Bill 210: The Criminal Trespassers Act and Amendments to The Occupiers' Liability Act

This bill primarily affects Manitoba business owners and property occupiers — such as farmers, retail store owners, warehouse operators, construction site managers, and commercial landlords — who face the risk of trespassers entering their properties, sometimes with criminal intent. Under the new law, if someone breaks into your shop, yard, or building to steal or vandalize and gets hurt in the process, you as the occupier generally cannot be sued for their injuries. This is particularly relevant for businesses with large or hard-to-monitor properties, like agricultural operations, industrial yards, or storage facilities, where trespass and theft are recurring concerns. The protection applies regardless of business size, from a solo farmer to a larger commercial operator, as long as the trespasser's presence was unauthorized and criminally motivated.