4th Session - 40th Legislature, Leg Affairs 1, Jun 1, 2015

TIME – 12:15 p.m.

LOCATION – Winnipeg, Manitoba

CHAIRPERSON – Ms. Nancy Allan (St. Vital)

VICE-CHAIRPERSON – Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia)

ATTENDANCE – 11 QUORUM – 6

Members of the Committee present:

Hon. Mr. Chomiak, Hon. Ms. Wight

Ms. Allan, Messrs. Altemeyer, Eichler, Ewasko, Goertzen, Helwer, Jha, Rondeau, Wiebe

MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION:

The process for hiring a new Auditor General

* * *

Madam Chairperson: Good afternoon–yes, it is good afternoon. Will the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs please come to order.

Our first item of business is the election of a Vice-Chairperson. Are there any nominations for this position?

Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Mineral Resources): I nominate Matt Wiebe.

Madam Chairperson: Matt Wiebe has been nominated.

Are there any other nominations?

Hearing no other nominations, Matt Wiebe is elected Vice-Chairperson.

This meeting has been–order, order, order.

This meeting has been called to consider the report and recommendation from the subcommittee regarding the recruitment and selection of the Auditor General.

Before we get started, I have a few points of information for the committee. For your reference, copies of the applicable legislation for this position have been provided for members of the committee. I would note that section 3(1) of The Auditor General Act states that "the President of the Executive Council must convene a meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs if (a) the office of the Auditor General is vacant; (b) the term of the Auditor General in office will expire within 12 months; or (c) the Auditor General has resigned and the resignation takes effect within 12 months."

In this case, the office is currently vacant.

How long does the committee wish to sit this afternoon?

Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): Madam Chairperson, until the work of the committee is complete.

Madam Chairperson: Is it agreed? [Agreed]

So we have agreed that we will sit until the work is completed.

As we will be dealing with the report and recommendation from the subcommittee regarding the recruitment and selection of the Auditor General, following past practices, 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. However, since Honourable Mr. Gerrard was serving on the subcommittee pertaining to this matter, is it the will of this committee to allow him to attend the in camera proceedings? [Agreed]

Thank you.

As well, does the committee grant permission for the Legislative Assembly Human Resources office staff to attend the in camera proceedings? [Agreed]

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

Motion presented.

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

Is the committee ready for the question?

Some Honourable Members: Question.

* (12:20)

Madam Chairperson: Shall the motion pass? [Agreed]

The committee went in camera at 12:20 p.m.

____________

The committee resumed at 12:30 p.m.

Madam Chairperson: We are back. We are now on record.

Due to the nature of the items under discussion at today's meeting, I would like to inform that appointments or reappointments like this would not be made public until all MLAs are advised by the way of the committee report.

I'd like to thank the committee for your work here today. I would also like to thank the members of the subcommittee for their–for your efforts as well as the members of our expert advisory panel for their hard work and their dedication throughout this process.

That concludes the business before the committee. Are there any other comments?

The hour being 12:31, what is the will of the committee?

Some Honourable Members: Rise.

Madam Chairperson: Committee rise.

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 12:31 p.m.