First Session -Thirty-Seventh Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections Chairperson Mr. Conrad Santos Constituency of Wellington Vol. L No.1 -10 a.m., Monday, .July 24, 2000 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Seventh Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation AGLUGUB, Cris The Maples N.D.P. ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital N.D.P. ·ASHTON, Steve, IJon. Thompson N.D.P. ASPER, Linda Riel N.D.P. BARRETT, Becky, Hon. Inkster N.D.P. CALDWELL, Drew, lion. Brandon East N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CIIOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUA Y, Louise Seine River P.C. DERKACJI, Leonard Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary, Hon. Concordia N.D.P. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood P.C. DYCK, Peter Pe111bina P.C. ENNS, Harry Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary Tuxedo P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. La Verendrye N.D.P. LOEWEN, John Fort Whyte P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns N.D.P. MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden P.C. MALOWA Y, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn, Hon. Minto N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PENNER, Jim Steinbach P.C. PITURA, Frank Morris P.C. PRAZNIK, Darren Lac du Bonnet P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. REIMER, Jack Southdale P.C. ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Carman P.C. RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia N.D.P. SALE, Tim, Hon. FortRouge N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.P. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Rossmere N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. SMITH, Joy Fort Garry P.C. SMITH, Scott Brandon West N.D.P. STEFANSON, Eric Kirkfield Park P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS Monday, July 24, 2000 TIME-10 a.m. 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 Annual Reports on the Operations of The Elections Finances Act LOCATION -Winnipeg, Manitoba * * * CHAIRPERSON-Mr. Conrad Santos (Wellington) Mr. Clerk Assistant (Rick Yarish): The first VICE-CHAIRPERSON -Ms. Marianne order of business this morning is the election of Cerilli (Radisson) a Chairperson. Are there nominations? ATTENDANCE -11- QUORUM - 6 Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): I nominate Mr. Santos. Members of the Committee present: Mr. Clerk Assistant: Mr. Santos has been Hon. Mr. Ashton, Hon. Ms. Barrett, Hon. nominated. Are there any further nominations? Mr. Doer, Hon. Ms. Mihychuk Seeing none, Mr. Santos, will you please take the Chair. Ms. Cerilli, Mrs. Dacquay, Mr. Dewar, Mrs. Mitchelson, Messrs. Penner (Emerson), Rocan, Santos Mr. Chairperson: The next order of business this morning is the election of a Vice­ Chairperson. Are there any nominations? APPEARING: Mr. Richard Balasko, Chief Electoral Mr. Dewar: I nominate Ms. Cerilli. Officer Mr. Chairperson: Are there any further MATTERS UNDER DISCUSSION:· : � ..nomin ations? Hearing none, Marianne Cerilli is · ·appointed Vice-Chairperson. 1988, 1990 and 1995 Statutory Reports on the Conduct of Provincial General Elections This morning the Standing Committee on Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Privileges and Elections has several reports Crescentwood and Portage Ia Prairie By­ before it. They are as follows: the 1988, 1990 Elections Dated September 15, 1992 and 1995 Statutory Reports on the Conduct of Provincial General Elections; the 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991' 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the and 1998 Annual Reports on the Operations of Osborne, Rossmere, Rupertsland, St. Johns The Elections Finances Act; the Report of the and The Maples By-Elections Dated Chief Electoral Officer on the Crescentwood and September 21, 1993 Portage Ia Prairie By-Elections Dated September 15, 1992; the Report of the Chief Electoral Statutory Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Osborne, Rossmere, Rupertsland, Officer on the Charleswood By-Election St. Johns and The Maples By-Elections Dated Dated April 28, 1998 September 21, 1993; the Statutory Report of the 2 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA July 24, 2000 Chief Electoral Officer on the Charleswood By­ report upon its publication dealt with by this Election Dated April 28, 1998. committee within the 60 days prescribed in the '99 Jaw. Many of the matters that have been How does the Committee wish to proceed raised over the years have been dealt with in this morning with the consideration of these legislative changes by the previous government, reports? particularly the 1999, after the Monnin recommendations that were forwarded to the Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister of Highways and CEO and dealt with by all political parties in Government Services): I was going to suggest legislation that was passed. we deal in general, and then see where we are at at the end of the Committee hearings and then I certainly think it is appropriate that we deal look at passing individual reports. Since we have with all the reports of the Standing Committee a rather large number of reports, it might be on Privileges and Elections because there is a better to deal in terms of general questioning. continuum of recommendations. For example, the matter of the returning officers goes back in Mr. Chairperson: Any other suggestion? my research to at least '88, if not earlier, and is recommended in various reports from 1988 on to An Honourable Member: Agreed. .this legislature. Mr. Chairperson: It is agreed. Does the The whole issue of third-party issues has Committee wish to indicate how long it will sit been referred to in the reports. However, the this morning? Until? issue of cap was not recommended, but the issue of third-party rules was dealt with by the Chief An Honourable Member: Twelve. Electoral Officer. I think it is important to note those recommendations to this legislature. There Mr. Chairperson: Twelve noon. are some issues that are still outstanding. They are not contained within the Act of the The Honourable First Minister, does he wish Legislature in '99 or in the year 2000. The issue to make an opening statement, and would he of leadership, for example, the rules for please introduce the officials in attendance from leadership races have been referred or referenced Elections Manitoba? by the Elections office. Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Yes. The Chief *( 10:10) Electoral Officer, Mr. Balasko, is here and his staff, Mr. Gibson. I will allow him to introduce My personal view was it was inappropriate, the rest of his staff. I believe he is going to make given the timing of a potential leadership race to a statement to the Committee following the brief change the rules, or initiate rules in the middle of introductory comments of myself and the Leader that process. The acts, Bill 4 and Bill 17 were of the Opposition. tabled after a leadership race was initiated by a political party having standing in this I want to first of all thank the staff of the Legislature, so I did not come forward with any Chief Electoral Officer in dealing with these recommendations in that area-certainly open to reports today in the Standing Committee on suggestions. Privileges and Elections. This recommendation to refer these matters here was passed in There are a number of other recom­ legislation in '85. The '87 report actually was not mendations contained within bills 4 and 17 that dealt with as well before the defeat of the were promises made in the election campaign, government in '88. policy recommendations that we had made to the public and not contained within the Chief We have a number of reports over the last Electoral Officer's reports. Those were promises 12 years. The 1999 report has not yet been made in the election campaign which we are completed, and the '99 legislation which requires proceeding with in office. However, the Chief 60 days would therefore be in effect to have that Electoral Officer has helped us not on the policy July 24, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3 side of the issues but on the technical imple­ I am pleased to have this opportunity this mentation of those recommendations. morning to appear before you to discuss the recommendations that have come from my So I thank the staff or the Chief Electoral office over the years. I want to thank you for Officer for their visit here today, and I know we inviting me. Perhaps it would be helpful if I gave have a lot of work. That concludes my you a little bit of a brief background to the statement. reports themselves and how I think it may be of assistance this morning to focus on some of the items that are outstanding that have not yet been Mr. Chairperson: Thank you, Mr. First dealt with, because there are an awful lot of Minister. Does the critic from the official recommendations before you today. I think that opposition party have an opening statement? will result in a manageable number of recommendations for discussion.