New governance model for Crowns to deter political interference

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This article was published 09/03/2017 (3129 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Progressive Conservative government is creating a new governance model for Crown corporations that it says will increase their accountability.

Crowns Minister Ron Schuler introduced Bill 20 (The Crown Corporations Governance and Accountability Act) in the legislature on Thursday.

The proposed legislation would affect Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, Manitoba Public Insurance and the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corp. and would include:

• Dissolving the Crown Corporation Council and establishing a new secretariat that would provide policy and regulatory oversight support for government and Crown corporations;

• Establishing an accountability-based governance model that would ensure co-ordinated management;

• Establishing board accountability requirements that would clearly define expectations of board members and requirements for reporting including annual reports and budgets; and

• Supplementing accountability requirements with annual mandate letters to board chairs that would set board performance evaluations and measurements against key performance indicators, as well as clarifying the roles of the minister, boards, executive offices and officials.

“Our government is committed to increasing efficiency, accountability and transparency across government including the operations of our Crown corporations,” Schuler said. “The Crown corporations governance and accountability act would introduce new measures that would clearly define the respective roles and responsibilities, reporting requirements and accountability measures of government and the Crown corporations.”

Maintaining the status quo would leave the Crowns corporations vulnerable to political interference, which can unduly influence the work of their boards and executive teams, the minister said.

“This proposed new legislation reaffirms our commitment to eliminate waste and inefficiency while improving the effectiveness in which government delivers services to Manitobans,” he said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca