Hon. Mr. Greg Selinger, Minister of Finance

Bill 47–The Civil Service Amendment Act

Mr. Chairperson: Good morning. Will the Standing Committee on Industrial Relations please come to order. The first order of business this morning is the election of a Vice-Chairperson. Are there any nominations?

Mr. Jim Rondeau (Assiniboia): I nominate Mr. Smith from Brandon.

Mr. Chairperson: Are there any further nominations? Seeing none, Mr. Smith of Brandon West is appointed Vice-Chairperson.

This morning the Committee will consider Bill 47, The Civil Service Amendment Act. We have no presenters registered to make public presentations on Bill 47. Are there any persons in attendance today who wish to make a presentation to Bill 47? Seeing none, is it the will of the Committee to proceed with clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill? [Agreed] Does the Committee wish to indicate how late it is willing to sit this morning?

An Honourable Member: Until the business is done. We will sit till 12.

Mr. Chairperson: Is it the will of the Committee, 12 noon? Okay, 12 noon is the time indicated. Does the Minister responsible for Bill 47 have an opening statement?

Hon. Greg Selinger (Minister of Finance): As I indicated in the Legislature, this is simply a recognition of the past practice. That is all I really wanted to say in the beginning. I would be happy to answer questions and elaborate as requested.

Mr. Chairperson: We thank the Minister. Does the critic from the Official Opposition have an opening statement?

Mr. Ron Schuler (Springfield): I am certainly glad that this committee allowed us two full hours to consider this particular bill, though, I daresay, we probably will not need a full two hours. Certainly we do have some questions in regard to the Bill and are pleased to see that the Minister is here. We would like to have some clarification on it. That would be my opening remarks. We would like to just move right into the questioning part.

Mr. Chairperson: Thank you, Mr. Schuler. During the consideration of a bill, the preamble and the title are postponed until all other clauses have been considered in their proper order.

Clause 1 pass–pass; Clause 2–pass; Clause 3–pass. Shall the preamble pass?

Mr. Schuler: I guess my question to the Minister is: Why was there a feeling of this need to go back to the way things were, moving the hiring process from a more arm's-length organization to bringing it back under the Treasury Board?

Mr. Selinger: I think that is an important question because it requires clarification. The hiring process is not being moved. I just wanted to make sure that the Member was available so that I can give him a complete answer. The bottom line is the hiring process is not being moved. It is staying with the Civil Service Commission.

Mr. Schuler: Through you, Mr. Chair, to the Minister: What do you feel that this will change to improve the whole hiring process that necessitated bringing forth a bill?

Mr. Selinger: No change to the hiring process. This is really a recognition that the collective bargaining process was previously guided by cabinet and Treasury Board, and this makes that official.

Mr. Chairperson: No further questions?

Mr. Schuler: Could we just hold on for a moment, Mr. Chair? Thank you.

Mr. Chairperson: Thank you, Mr. Schuler. Preamble–pass; title–pass. Bill be reported.

That concludes the business before the Committee. Committee rise.

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 10:08 a.m