2nd Session - 41st Legislature, Legislative Affairs 3, Apr 3, 2017

TIME – 10 a.m.

LOCATION – Winnipeg, Manitoba

CHAIRPERSON – Mrs. Sarah Guillemard (Fort Richmond)

VICE-CHAIRPERSON – Mr. Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail)

ATTENDANCE – 11 QUORUM – 6

Members of the Committee present:

Hon. Mr. Fielding

Ms. Fontaine, Mrs. Guillemard, Ms. Klassen, Messrs. Lagassé, Martin, Ms. Morley‑Lecomte, Messrs. Smith, Swan, Wiebe, Yakimoski

MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION:

Recommendation for the appointment of the Children’s Advocate

* * *

Madam Chairperson: Good morning. Will the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs please come to order.

This meeting has been called to consider the subcommittee's report and recommendation for the appointment of the Children's Advocate. A copy of the applicable legislation for this position has been provided to you for your information.

How long does the committee wish to sit this morning?

Mr. Shannon Martin (Morris): To the point where committee is done, Madam Chair.

Madam Chairperson: It has been suggested we sit until the work of the committee is done.

Is that agreed? [Agreed]

As we are dealing with the hiring process of an independent officer, in following past practice, this committee should continue this meeting in camera. Once we have concluded that discussion, we can resume our proceedings on the record.

Before dealing with the motion to meet in camera, I would like to remind members that only MLAs who are members of this committee and the committee clerk may attend.

Therefore, does the committee grant permission for the Legislative Assembly human resources office staff, Deanna Wilson, to attend the in camera proceedings and to respond to any personnel questions if needed? [Agreed]

Madam Chairperson: Mr. Lagassé?

Oh, sorry. Mr. Martin.

Mr. Martin: I move that the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs now meet in camera.

Motion presented.

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

The committee went in camera at 10:08 a.m.

____________

The committee resumed at 11:20 a.m.

Madam Chairperson: Due to the nature of the items under discussion at today's meeting, I would like to put on the record that appointments or re‑appointments like this would not be made public until an offer is accepted and all MLAs are advised by the committee–oh–by way of the committee report.

I would like to thank the committee and subcommittee for your work on the hiring process of the Children's Advocate.

Now this concludes the business before us.

An Honourable Member: Point of order.

Point of Order

Mr. Andrew Swan (Minto): Before we conclude, I just want to put on the record my concerns about the way the Progress Conservative majority has dealt with this situation, in breach of what I think has been a tradition in this Legislature going back decades, where there's truly been a consensus and the agreement of the government of the day to listen to what opposition members have to say. It's unfortunate this morning that that tradition appears to be broken.

As matters go forward, we will wish all the best to the person ultimately hired into the position of Children's Advocate, a very important position, we can all agree, for Manitoba's children.

I believe it's unfortunate that the Progressive Conservative majority was not prepared to use what I think would have been common sense in considering all potential viable candidates for the position, but we will certainly be prepared to work with the person who is ultimately appointed into this position.

Again, I just say it's unfortunate that today we have the Progressive Conservative Party using its majority to defeat what I think is–was a very reasonable suggestion, a very reasonable idea based on the particular facts, but we will accept the decision of the committee going forward.

Ms. Judy Klassen (Kewatinook): I would also like to put on the record that I want to thank everybody in the subcommittee for the real group effort that we made. There was–in no way did I ever feel that the–there was a majority. It was completely non-partisan.

Amanda did a fantastic job. There was several times where–

Madam Chairperson: Sorry. We're going to be careful not to name members.

An Honourable Member: Oh, sorry. The member for The Pas (Ms. Lathlin) was–

Madam Chairperson: Ms. Klassen.

Ms. Klassen: Thank you, so, I apologize.

The member for The Pas was very great to work with. She did take an active part in every decision, every score that we did for all these candidates. She was the one who put the recommendation forward and we abided–you know, we wanted to work together alongside one another and we went with what she said.

Thank you.

Madam Chairperson: Thank you, Ms. Klassen.

Mr. Martin: Well, just, I mean, in the issue of the record, I mean, it's unfortunate, Madam Chair, that the NDP are using this opportunity to grandstand at the eleventh hour on an important position like this.

As my colleague for Kewatinook did note, this was an all-party decision that was reached through a consensus. There were disagreements along the way on a number of issues, but those disagreements through discussion were dealt with and, ultimately, the candidate was a consensus candidate and the NDP maybe tried to put a revisionist twist on that, but those facts remain.

Thank you.

Madam Chairperson: Thank you, Mr. Martin.

And I do want to address, Mr. Swan, this is technically not a point of order, but I do appreciate the comments that are shared.

* * *

Madam Chairperson: The hour being 11:24 a.m., what is the will of the committee?

Mr. Martin: Committee rise?

Madam Chairperson: Is that agreed? [Agreed]

Okay, committee rise.

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 11:24 a.m.

CORRIGENDUM

On January 23, 2017, page 39, second column, last paragraph, should have read:

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 11:29 a.m.