December 17, 2019
Manitoba Government Releases Transition Binders
– – –Second Time in History Important Briefing Materials Released to Public: Helwer
For the second time in the province’s history, the Manitoba government has proactively disclosed ministerial transition binders, Central Services Minister Reg Helwer, minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission, announced today.
“We are committed to being open and transparent, and the release of these transition binders builds on that commitment,” said Helwer. “Proactively releasing this information helps ensure we are accountable to the citizens of Manitoba and provides detailed background on the current state of government departments.”
One of the key responsibilities of the public service is the preparation of briefing materials for government. These are required whether an election results in a new government or a new mandate for a returning government. Should a current government be returned for another term, changes in ministers and portfolios still require the preparation of briefing materials.
The information includes a description of the department structure, responsibilities, priorities and critical issues, as well as any advisory notes, briefing notes or other materials.
The minister noted these binders were prepared before the recent cabinet shuffle, and do not reflect current department structures. The first time the transition binders and other briefing material was released to the public was following the April 2016 election.
In addition to the release of the transition binders, the government has developed a new, centralized information site called OpenMB to make information more accessible to all Manitobans.
The portal centralizes information, data and public engagement in one place to make the opportunities for engagement more accessible to citizens. With a centralized approach, citizens should be able to find the information they are looking for easily.
To view the most recent transition binders and other materials, visit the Manitoba government’s proactive disclosure website at www.manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/index.html.
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