News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

December 4, 2017

Province Introduces Legislation that would Modernize Appointed Agencies, Boards and Commissions



The Manitoba government has introduced legislation that proposes to streamline provincially appointed agencies, boards and commissions (ABC’s) to ensure they deliver effective services and provide value for money to the taxpayer, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today.

“Our government is committed to repairing the services we provide for Manitobans and this includes establishing more efficient agencies, boards and commissions to oversee provincial programs and services,” said Pedersen.  “From day one, we have appointed qualified individuals that are representative of our province and have empowered them to get the job done right.  In fact, since forming government, we have appointed more women, more bilingual people, more visible minorities and more people with disabilities than the previous government.”

The boards, committees, councils and commissions streamlining act proposes to amend various acts and would repeal others in order to reduce the size of, eliminate or consolidate a number of ABC’s.  The proposed legislation would reduce board appointments made by government by at least 170 positions, and result in an annual cost savings of over $150,000 in per diems and staff time.  Twenty-five provincially appointed ABC’s are included in the proposed legislation.       

“Many factors, such as organization size, scope, board complexity and director skill set influence the optimal size of a board,” said Thomas A. Bryk, ICD.D, chair, Institute of Corporate Directors (Manitoba Chapter).  “While every board is unique, the trend over the last several decades in both Canada and the United States has been toward smaller boards, with an average board size of nine directors.”

“We believe smaller boards and councils work better together, and are more engaged in both the process and outcomes,” said Pedersen.  “In creating smaller boards, we are following the best practices of the not-for-profit and private sectors.”

The legislation also proposes to amend The Executive Government Organization Act to permit ministers, with the approval of cabinet, to appoint an advisory committee for a specified purpose for a period of no longer than two years.  This provision would ensure newly established ABC’s are time limited, project specific and provided with a clear mandate, the minister said.

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