LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Friday, January 23, 2009
LOCATION Winnipeg, Manitoba
CHAIRPERSON Ms. Jennifer Howard (Fort Rouge)
VICE-CHAIRPERSON Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows)
ATTENDANCE 11 QUORUM 6
Members of the Committee present:
Hon. Mr. Chomiak, Hon. Ms. McGifford
Mr. Altemeyer, Ms. Blady, Mr. Dewar, Mrs. Driedger, Messrs. Goertzen, Graydon, Hawranik, Ms. Howard, Mr. Martindale
APPEARING:
Hon. Jon Gerrard, MLA for River Heights
MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION:
Re-appointment of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner
* * *
Clerk Assistant (Ms. Monique Grenier): Good morning. Will the committee please come to order. I have before me the resignation of Ms. Howard as Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs. Before the committee can proceed with the business before it, it must select a new Chairperson.
Are there any nominations for this position?
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): I nominate Ms. Howard.
Clerk Assistant: Ms. Howard has been nominated. Are there any other nominations? Hearing no other nominations, Ms. Howard is elected Chairperson.
Would you please take the chair.
Madam Chairperson: Our next item of business is the election of a Vice-Chairperson. Are there any nominations?
Mr. Dewar: I nominate Mr. Martindale.
Madam Chairperson: Mr. Martindale has been nominated. Are there any other nominations?
Some Honourable Members: No.
Madam Chairperson: Hearing no other nominations, Mr. Martindale is elected Vice-Chairperson.
Before we begin, I would like to introduce the Clerk's office's newest staff member, Greg Recksiedler, as the Clerk Assistant research officer. Welcome, Greg.
This meeting has been called to consider the re-appointment of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner. Copies of the applicable legislation for this position were circulated at the beginning of the meeting. They should be at your places.
For the information of the committee, section 19.5(1) of The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Conflict of Interest Act states that, on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs, the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council shall appoint a Conflict of Interest Commissioner. The act also specifies that the commissioner is to be appointed on a part-time basis.
I would like to advise the committee that Mr. Bill Norrie's term as the Conflict of Interest Commissioner will expire on February 1, 2009.
Is there any opinion on how long you'd wish to sit this morning?
Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Until we've completed the business.
Madam Chairperson: Okay. It's suggested we sit till we're done our business. Is that agreed? [Agreed]
So how would you like to proceed with the matter before us?
Mr. Chomiak: I suggest we deal with the motions and formalize the motions, and then adjourn.
Madam Chairperson: Okay. So is there a motion that someone would like to present?
Mr. Chomiak: I move that the committee recommends to the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council that Mr. William Norrie be re-appointed as Conflict of Interest Commissioner for an interim period until a new appointment can be made.
Madam Chairperson: The motion has been read. Is there any discussion on that motion?
Mr. Gerald Hawranik (Lac du Bonnet): I would just like to indicate that we've had some discussions with regard to this matter, and we would agree to accept that motion.
Madam Chairperson: Thank you.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Just to indicate from our perspective that we are certainly on board with the motion, and that it's our understanding that every effort will be made to ensure that the new Conflict of Interest Commissioner will be in place before the Throne Speech in the fall.
Madam Chairperson: Thank you.
I forgot to say that the motion is in order, and it has been moved by Mr. Chomiak. Do you need me to re-read the motion? Everybody knows what
Some Honourable Members: Dispense.
Madam Chairperson: Okay. Great. Any other discussion?
Mr. Dewar: I was just listening to Dr. Gerrard's comment. I am not certain, but did you say you want this commissioner to be in place before the Speech from the Throne in April?
Mr. Gerrard: Well, unless the government is planning a surprise, I imagine there is a budget in April, and I wouldn't expect the next Speech from the Throne to be until November, likely, unless the minister would like to
An Honourable Member: What are you trying to tell us, Greg?
An Honourable Member: Did you say April?
An Honourable Member: No, in the fall.
Madam Chairperson: Is there any other discussion on the motion? Seeing none, we move to a vote? We'll move to a vote.
Voice Vote
Madam Chairperson: All those in favour of the motion?
Some Honourable Members: Yea.
Madam Chairperson: All those opposed?
The motion is carried.
An Honourable Member: Unanimous.
Madam Chairperson: Unanimously.
* * *
Madam Chairperson: Given that the committee report containing this recommendation will not be presented until the House resumes, we have an issue of timing to resolve. Normally a re-appointment like this would not be made public until all MLAs are advised by way of the committee report in the House.
Does the committee have any suggestions how to deal with this?
Mr. Chomiak: I have a motion in this regard that I think would satisfy the requirements. That is, I move that the committee authorize the Chairperson to ask the Speaker to inform all MLAs in writing of this re-appointment prior to the presentation of the committee report in the House.
Madam Chairperson: Thank you.
It is moved by Mr. Chomiak, and that motion is in order.
Is there any discussion on that motion?
Voice Vote
Madam Chairperson: Seeing none, all those in favour?
Some Honourable Members: Yea.
Madam Chairperson: Opposed?
Motion carries.
An Honourable Member: Unanimously.
Madam Chairperson: Unanimously.
* * *
Madam Chairperson: So, shortly after 10, what is the will of the committee?
Some Honourable Members: Committee rise.
Madam Chairperson: Committee rise.
COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 10:08 a.m.