LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Monday, December 14, 2009

TIME – 4 p.m.

LOCATION – Winnipeg, Manitoba

CHAIRPERSON – Ms. Sharon Blady (Kirkfield Park)

VICE-CHAIRPERSON – Ms. Marilyn Brick (St. Norbert)

ATTENDANCE – 11    QUORUM – 6

      Members of the Committee present:

      Hon. Mr. Chomiak, Hon. Ms. Howard

      Mses. Blady, Braun, Brick, Messrs. Cullen, Goertzen, Hawranik, Jennissen, Pedersen, Reid

APPEARING:

      Hon. Jon Gerrard, MLA for River Heights

MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION:

      The appointment of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner

* * *

Clerk Assistant (Ms. Monique Grenier): Good afternoon. Will the committee please come to order.

      Before the committee can proceed with the business before it, it must elect a new Chairperson. Are there any nominations for this position?

Ms. Marilyn Brick (St. Norbert): I nominate Ms. Blady.

Clerk Assistant: Ms. Blady has been nominated. Are there any other nominations? Hearing no other nominations, Ms. Blady, will you please take the Chair.

Madam Chairperson: Our next item of business is the election of a Vice-Chairperson. Are there any nominations for this position?

Hon. Jennifer Howard (Minister of Labour and Immigration): I nominate Ms. Brick.

Madam Chairperson: Ms. Brick has been nominated. Are there any other nominations? Hearing no other nominations, you are the Vice‑Chair.

      Matters under consideration: This meeting has been called to consider the appointment of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner. Copies of the applicable legislation for this position were circulated at the commencement of this meeting.

      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-in­Council shall appoint a Conflict of Interest Commissioner. The act also specifies that the commissioner is to be appointed on a part-time basis.

      How long does the committee wish to sit this afternoon?

An Honourable Member: Till business is done.

Madam Chairperson: Okay. How does the committee wish to proceed with the matter before us?

Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Innovation, Energy and Mines): Yes, I'll move a motion, Madam Chairperson.

Madam Chairperson: Okay. On the motion that you–

Mr. Chomiak: I move,

THAT the committee recommends to the Lieutenant-Government-in-Council that Mr. Ron Perozzo be appointed as the Conflict of Interest Commissioner for a term not to exceed three years from date of commencement.

Motion presented.

Madam Chairperson: Thank you. The motion is in order. The floor is open for questions.

      Is the committee–Is–Do I hear any questions?

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I just wondered if the–if there was a c.v. available for Mr. Perozzo?

Mr. Chomiak: I don't have his c.v. right here, but I will get it into the member's hands as soon as possible.

      The member will know that Mr. Perozzo has been a lifelong civil servant and has retired as Deputy Minister of Justice–several times he's retired as Deputy Minister of Justice.

Madam Chairperson: Are there any further questions?

Mr. Gerrard: I'm just–I appreciate the comments, and I know of who we speak and appreciate his qualifications and think he would make an excellent Conflict of Interest Commissioner, but I did think that it would be appropriate to have the c.v. here so that it was, you know, part of the record, as it were.

Madam Chairperson: Are there any further questions? Seeing no further questions, is the committee ready for the question?

Some Honourable Members: Question.

Mr. Gerrard: Can we wait for the c.v.? I expect it's on its way.

Mr. Chomiak: I haven't even text yet.

Madam Chairperson: Okay.

Mr. Chomiak: I'll get it to you right after. We're in a bit of a tight time constraint 'cause we have the other committee, and to vote at 4:30. I'll go right down and get it myself, okay?

Madam Chairperson: Okay. Is the committee ready for the question?

Some Honourable Members: Question.

Madam Chairperson: The question before the committee is as follows:

THAT the committee recommend to the Lieutenant­Governor-in-Council that Mr. Ron Perozzo be appointed as the Conflict of Interest Commissioner for a term not to exceed three years from date of commencement.

      Shall the motion pass?   

Some Honourable Members: Agreed.

Madam Chairperson: The motion is accordingly passed.

      The hour being 4:07, what is the will of the committee?

Some Honourable Members: Committee rise.

Madam Chairperson: Committee rise.

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 4:07 p.m.