Municipal and provincial leaders in Manitoba say new federal legislation will help protect the province’s first responders.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham and Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe were among the elected officials who joined federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser in Winnipeg for an announcement Tuesday morning.

Representatives of local paramedics’ and firefighters’ unions were also on hand to discuss the impact of the feds’ recent bail reforms on the safety of first responders.

Among the relevant measures in the proposed federal legislation is a new aggravating factor at sentencing, aimed at offenders who commit violence and other crimes against paramedics, firefighters and police while they’re working.

“Violence against our emergency responders is unacceptable, which is

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