The Minister for Sport, Culture, and Heritage hopes people begin viewing concussions in a new light.

Rochelle Squires has brought forward a new bill aimed at improving awareness and safety in regards to concussions in young athletes. The bill specifically targets youth athletes 17 and under.

Squires would like to see the onus off the athlete and onto coaches to make sure youth leave the game after an incident where a concussion may be possible, and only allowed back after being medically cleared.

"I think the time is right for legislation that would not only create awareness, but it would change a culture. That's what the aim of this bill is," she says. "To get people to think about concussions in a different way."

Squires brought the concussion legislation forward in May at which time it received first reading. She expects the bill will receive second reading in the fall when the community will have an opportunity to speak on the issue.

She hopes the bill will receive third reading and Royal Assent later this year.

The main component of Bill 37-The Concussion in Youth Sport Ac' is to raise awareness and to educate people on concussions, Squires said.

"We consulted quite substantively with the medical community, particularly with Dr. (Michael) Ellis, who is at the fore front of concussion management in the Province of Manitoba," added Squires. "He suggested because this is a rapidly evolving field, we want to get the most up to date information on the coaches and parents mind as soon as possible. That's why we are going to have a component where the stakeholders, coaches, and parents need to have annual updated training."

Squires and the rest of her colleagues from other provinces as well as Federal counterparts are having meetings this week in Winnipeg and she's sure discussion on the bill will come up. Upon speaking with the others Squires explained they are very intrigued in the Bill and Manitoba is the first and only province to have a bill like this on the floor at this time.