5th Session - 42nd Legislature, Legislative Affairs 3, Apr 24, 2023

TIME – 12 p.m.

LOCATION – Winnipeg, Manitoba

CHAIRPERSON – Mr. Andrew Micklefield (Rossmere)

VICE-CHAIRPERSON – Mr. Shannon Martin (McPhillips)

ATTENDANCE – 6 QUORUM – 4

Members of the committee present:

Hon. Mr. Goertzen, Hon. Mrs. Guillemard

MLAs Fontaine, Marcelino, Messrs. Martin, Micklefield

MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION:

The Advocate for Children and Youth Act

* * *

Clerk Assistant (Ms. Katerina Tefft): Good afternoon. Will the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs please come to order.

Before the committee can proceed with the business before it, it must elect a Chairperson.

Are there any nominations?

Mr. Shannon Martin (McPhillips): I'd like to nominate Mr. Micklefield.

Clerk Assistant: Mr. Micklefield has been nominated. Are there any other nominations?

Seeing no other nominations, Mr. Micklefield, will you please take the Chair.

Mr. Chairperson: Our next item of business is the election of a Vice-Chairperson.

Are there any nominations?

Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I nominate Mr. Martin.

Mr. Chairperson: Mr. Martin has been nominated. Are there any other nominations?

Hearing no other nominations, Mr. Martin is elected Vice-Chairperson.

This meeting has been called to consider the comprehensive review of The Advocate for Children and Youth Act, as required by section 40 of that act.

Are there any suggestions from the committee as to how long we should sit this afternoon?

Mr. Goertzen: 'Til work of the committee is complete.

Mr. Chairperson: 'Til the work of the committee is complete.

Is that agreed? [Agreed]

The floor is now open for questions and comments.

Mr. Goertzen: I have a motion for the committee, after which I'll give the rationale for the motion. But if I can move it first.

Mr. Chairperson: Please go ahead.

Mr. Goertzen: I move that the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs defer the comprehensive review of The Advocate for Children and Youth Act, as required by section 40 of that act, until the provincial general election scheduled for October 3rd, 2023–until after the provincial general election scheduled for October 3rd, 2023.

Mr. Chairperson: It has been moved by Mr. Goertzen that the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs defer comprehensive review of The Advocate for Children and Youth Act, as required by section 40 of that act, until after the provincial general election scheduled for October 3rd, 2023.

The motion is in order.

Are there any questions?

Mr. Goertzen: More a comment, Mr. Chairperson.

So, we all know the importance of The Advocate for Children and Youth Act. That is why a review clause, I'm sure, was put into the act, because of its importance.

But, in our discussions with the opposition House leaders, I think there's a general understanding that the importance also requires attention and time. The reality is that this summer, many people's attention and time will be diverted because of an upcoming general election, and we don't want to do this in a rush or an improper way.

We want to give full consideration to the act, and that's the reason for the motion, by deferring it to after the general election.

Mr. Chairperson: Are there any other questions?

MLA Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Just a comment, as well. And, as my colleague has said, I think that we are all on the same page as the–in respect of this motion.

And also, we have had those conversations with the office, as well–with the child and youth advocate. And she supports this, as well.

Mr. Chairperson: Are there any other questions?

Seeing no further questions, shall the motion pass?

Some Honourable Members: Pass.

Mr. Chairperson: The motion is accordingly passed.

This concludes the business before the committee.

Are there any further comments?

The hour being 12:06, what is the will of the committee?

An Honourable Member: Committee rise.

Mr. Chairperson: Committee rise.

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 12:06 p.m.

Corrigendum

On January 26, 2023, page 25, second column, the eighth paragraph should have read:

Ms. Karlee Sapoznik Evans (Deputy Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth): To answer the member's question, as the advocate has shared, we continue to see mental health and addictions-related gaps to be one of the key areas. And, as noted in the compliance report that she released on the 17th of January, we have issued–out of the 67 recommendations that we've issued, 20–30 per cent have been related to that specific area. And so, in particular, in terms of the gaps, we've also highlighted this morning the issue of AYAs and homelessness. And so those are two areas in particular that we're seeing as youth are transitioning out of care, massive areas of concern for our office.