August 15, 2016
Premier Appoints Additional Member of Treasury Board to Support Government's Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility
– – –Proposed Legislative Change Would Allow for Appointment of Members of the Legislative Assembly: Pallister
Premier Brian Pallister today announced the appointment of an additional member of Treasury Board to support Manitoba’s new government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
“Manitobans have inherited a challenging fiscal situation that threatens our government’s ability to deliver the services, infrastructure and quality of life that citizens of our province expect and deserve,” said Pallister. “Our government has identified the targets that we must deliver in order to get Manitoba back on track and I am confident in the ability of this team to implement many of the initiatives that will eliminate wasteful government spending while ensuring the protection of front-line services.”
Treasury Board is the financial oversight committee of the executive council of the government of Manitoba. It consists of the minister of finance and other government ministers.
Treasury Board members now include:
- Finance Minister Cameron Friesen – chair;
- Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler – vice-chair;
- Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen;
- Families Minister Scott Fielding;
- Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen; and
- Justice Minister Heather Stefanson.
“As deputy premier and minister of justice and attorney general for Manitoba, Heather Stefanson has navigated many of the most complicated files facing our government in our first 100 days,” said the premier. “Having successfully finalized discussions with the federal government and Air Canada to protect and strengthen our province’s diverse aerospace sector and leading the continuing consultations with Indigenous leadership and the federal government on the National Inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Heather will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Treasury Board process.”
The premier also announced plans for the appointment of Reg Helwer, MLA for Brandon West, and Colleen Mayer, MLA for St. Vital, as members of the province’s Treasury Board to provide further scrutiny of government expenditures and operations. On June 14, the government introduced bill 6, the financial administration amendment act, which would permit the appointment of members of the legislative assembly other than ministers to be appointed to Treasury Board. The proposed bill, currently at first reading, would require the chair, vice-chair and a majority of the members of Treasury Board to be ministers.
“An experienced businessman and entrepreneur, Reg Helwer serves as vice-chair of the Public Accounts Committee in his role as MLA while Colleen Mayer brings extensive board experience and dealings with business owners,” said Pallister. “The addition of these two MLAs to Treasury Board would enhance the ability of government’s legislative branch to ensure value for money and the responsible management of Manitobans’ tax dollars.”
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