Children’s advocate chosen; NDP takes aim at selection process
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/04/2017 (3138 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
An all-party committee of Manitoba MLAs selected a new Manitoba children’s advocate Monday to succeed Darlene MacDonald.
However, an announcement was put off until the winning candidate is contacted and has accepted the position.
The process was not without controversy.
A pair of NDP committee members told reporters after the in-camera session that they were disappointed that a subcommittee tasked with doing most of the legwork in the hiring had failed to consider a qualified candidate, whose name was not made public.
“We did raise concerns, and I think that the children of Manitoba would have been best served if the subcommittee had cast the net just a little bit wider than they ultimately chose to do,” said Minto MLA Andrew Swan, who spoke to reporters afterwards along with St. Johns MLA Nahanni Fontaine.
The legislative affairs committee met for close to 90 minutes — mainly behind closed doors — before indicating that it had arrived at a decision.
The selection of the children’s advocate, chief electoral officer, provincial ombudsman and auditor general is done by a bipartisan committee of MLAs. The people in those positions report directly to the legislative assembly, not the government of the day.
Selection is normally done by consensus, although in the past this has contributed to lengthy delays in filling vacancies.
“It’s unfortunate this morning that that tradition appears to be broken,” Swan said, adding however, the NDP would support the winning candidate.
“We wish that new person all the best,” he said.
Morris MLA Shannon Martin said it was unfortunate that the NDP chose to “grandstand at the 11th hour” on an important hiring. He said there had been all-party agreement.
Liberal MLA Judy Klassen (Keewatinook) said she found no fault in the process.
She thanked the subcommittee for a “group effort” that was “completely non-partisan.”
Klassen also singled out The Pas NDP MLA Amanda Lathlin for her work on the subcommittee, suggesting she had played a key role in hiring the new candidate. Lathlin was not present at the committee meeting Monday morning.
MacDonald is stepping down from the advocate’s role after serving the maximum two three-year terms.
larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca