Manitoba’s 79-year-old Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon was on the job late Wednesday, granting royal assent to 28 bills, including a rush job to hike the minimum wage this fall................

.......University of Manitoba political studies Prof. Christopher Adams said he’s most watching Bill 36 (Manitoba Hydro Amendment and Public Utilities Board Amendment Act), one of five bills the NDP designated to hold over until the fall sitting.

The PCs say Bill 36 stabilizes Hydro and caps electricity rates.

A coalition that plans to fight the bill says it weakens the authority and oversight of the independent Public Utilities Board when it comes to setting electricity rates. The group dubbed Protect the PUB said it is planning a non-partisan campaign to press the PCs to withdraw the bill this fall.

"We don’t know how that will develop over the summer," said Adams. .........