3rd Session - 41st Legislature, Social & Economic Development 2, May 7, 2018

TIME – 6 p.m.

LOCATION – Winnipeg, Manitoba

CHAIRPERSON – Mr. Dennis Smook (La Verendrye)

VICE-CHAIRPERSON – Mr. Greg Nesbitt (Riding Mountain)

ATTENDANCE – 11 QUORUM – 6

Members of the Committee present:

Hon. Mrs. Cox, Hon. Messrs. Gerrard, Pedersen

Messrs. Bindle, Johnston, Lindsey, Maloway, Ms. Marcelino, Messrs. Nesbitt, Smith, Smook

PUBLIC PRESENTERS:

Bill 15–The Film and Video Classification and Distribution Act

Ken Rodeck, private citizen

MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION:

Bill 3–The Canadian Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Labour Mobility Act and Regulated Health Professions Act Amended)

Bill 10–The Boards, Committees, Councils and Commissions Streamlining Act (Various Acts Amended or Repealed)

Bill 15–The Film and Video Classification and Distribution Act

* * *

Clerk Assistant (Mr. Andrea Signorelli): Good evening. Will the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development please come to order.

Before the committee can proceed before it–with the business before it, it must elect a new Chairperson.

Are there any nominations for this position?

Mr. Kelly Bindle (Thompson): I'd like to nominate the member for La Verendrye, Mr. Dennis Smook.

Clerk Assistant: Mr. Smook has been nominated.

Are there any other nominations?

Hearing no other nominations, Mr. Smook will please take the Chair.

Mr. Chairperson: Our next item of business is the election of a Vice-Chairperson.

Are there any nominations?

Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Scott Johnston (St. James): That's with a T, by the way. Not Johnson, it's Johnston.

Mr. Chairperson: I was going to say St. James.

Mr. Johnston: Sunny St. James.

Mr. Chairman, I would nominate Mr. Nesbitt.

Mr. Chairperson: Mr. Nesbitt has been nominated.

Are there any other nominations?

Seeing none, Mr. Nesbitt has been–or, no–hearing no other nominations, Mr. Nesbitt is elected Vice-Chairperson.

This meeting has been called to consider the following bills: Bill 3, The Canadian Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Labour Mobility Act and Regulated Health Professions Act Amended); Bill 10, The Boards, Committees, Councils and Commissions Streamlining Act (Various Acts Amended or Repealed); Bill 15, The Film and Video Classification and Distribution Act.

We have two presenters registered to speak tonight, as noted on the lists of presenters before you.

Before we proceed with presentations, we do have a number of other items and points of information to consider.

First of all, if there's anyone else in the audience who would like to make a presentation this evening, please register with the staff at the entrance of the room.

Also, for the information of all presenters, while written versions of presentations are not required, if you are going to accompany your presentation with written materials, we ask that you provide 20 copies. If you need help with photocopying, please speak with our staff.

As well, in accordance with our rules, a time limit of 10 minutes has been allotted for presentations with another five minutes allowed for questions from committee members.

If a presenter is not in attendance when their name is called, they will be dropped to the bottom of the list. If the presenter is not in attendance when their name is called a second time, they will be removed from the presenters' list.

Speaking in committee: Prior to proceeding with public presentations, I would like to advise members of the public regarding the process for speaking in committee.

The proceedings of our meetings are recorded, and in order to provide a verbatim transcript, each time someone speak–wishes to speak, whether it be an MLA or a presenter, I first have to say the person's name. This is the signal for the Hansard recorder to turn the mics on and off.

Thank you for your patience. We will now proceed with public presentations. I will now call on Jonathan Alward, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Jonathan Alward?

We will drop Mr. Alward to the bottom of the list.

Bill 15–The Film and Video Classification and Distribution Act

Mr. Chairperson: We will now move to Bill 15 with our first presenter, Ken Rodeck, private citizen. Would Mr. Rodeck be in?

Do you have any written materials for distribution to the committee?

Mr. Ken Rodeck (Private Citizen): No, I don't.

Mr. Chairperson: Well then, you may proceed with your presentation when you are ready.

Mr. Rodeck: Just to give you some background, I'm a past director of the Film Classification Board. I spent some 16 years there. Prior to that I was a filmmaker for almost 20 years, and I'm currently consulting a bit with government for the transition of the board.

It should be noted that I think during my research in that time I don't think there's any other country in–that distributes and classifies material by province in–like Canada does, so I think Canada is quite unique in that regard that provinces still proceed by providing this kind of service.

And, even though the film board has served our community for 102 years, I think, this year, quite well, I think it's time for change, and in the Internet age, it's really the current system is quite inefficient and doesn't really benefit the consumer nor the industry for the most part, so I think it's time for a change in that regard.

Saskatchewan has led the way and is doing–has done something very similar and has been quite successful over the years, so I think I'm quite in favour of this bill and I think it's maybe–I think it's going in the right direction.

Thank you.

Mr. Chairperson: Thank you for your presentation.

Do members of the committee have any questions for the presenter?

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Yes. Just perhaps you can explain a little bit, what are, sort of, major films of their distribution and what are the smaller and often independent films which may be shown at film festivals?

My understanding was that there was some feeling that the delays sometimes with the reviews in Manitoba were causing problems for small producers.

What will happen to those independent films now? [interjection]

Mr. Chairperson: Mr. Rodeck, now–like, you have to wait 'til I recognize you before you speak.

Mr. Rodeck: It is–I don't know that there would be any greater delays going the route that they're choosing to go.

Festivals–quite a bit different because we have set out a process–the film board has set out a process where the–we've provided training for film–for festivals alone to classify the material or to be able to adopt it from another jurisdiction.

So they, in fact, will be saving time. There'll be less time spent submitting material and waiting for it to be classified.

I think for the majority of other films and including independents for small local productions, there's a process in there that allow for not to be reviewed in Manitoba but still to be supportive of local businesses or producers here to, if need be, to give them an exemption or some leeway in terms of allowing the process to be done swiftly, but I don't know that the majority of the films that were ever submitted in Manitoba were submitted to BC.

* (18:10)

This is going to make the whole system much more efficient and probably even for independents.

The less places they have to submit it to is the less cost and the quicker it gets to be able to be on the screen so people can see it.

I hope that answers your question.

Mr. Chairperson: Are there any other questions from the committee?

We thank you for your presentation, Mr. Rodeck.

* * *

Mr. Chairperson: I will now call Jonathan Alward for the second time. Jonathan Alward?

Seeing as that Mr. Alward is not here, his name will be dropped from the list.

That concludes the list of presenters I have before me.

Are there any other persons in attendance who wish to make a presentation?

Seeing none, that concludes public presentations.

* * *

Mr. Chairperson: In what order does the committee wish to proceed with the clause-by-clause consideration of these bills?

Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): Global? Is that–

Mr. Chairperson: No, numerical.

An Honourable Member: Sure. Numerical.

Mr. Chairperson: Everybody in favour of proceeding with the bills, clause by clause in numerical order? [Agreed]

During the consideration of a bill, the preamble, the enacting clause, and the title are postponed until all other clauses have been considered in their proper order. Also, if there is agreement from the committee, the Chair will call clauses in blocks that conform to pages, with the understanding that we will stop at any particular clause or clauses where members may have comments, questions, or amendments to propose.

Is that agreed? [Agreed]

Bill 3–The Canadian Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
(Labour Mobility Act and Regulated Health Professions Act Amended)

Mr. Chairperson: We will now proceed with clause by clause of Bill 3.

Does the minister responsible for Bill 3 have an opening statement?

Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): Very quickly, this bill makes administrative amendments to The Labour Mobility Act and The Regulated Health Professions Act to reflect that the government of Manitoba, and the governments of Canada, and other provinces and territories have agreed to a new domestic trade agreement. This is the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.

With us tonight, we do have Tami Reynolds. She is the internal trade representative from Growth, Enterprise and Trade. And as–coming out of our Estimates process here a few weeks ago, we have set up a briefing for the member for Flin Flon.

I believe it's a week Tuesday, the 15th, where we'll go through any further questions that the member may have about this–about the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, which has already been signed by the provinces and the federal government

Mr. Chairperson: We thank the minister.

Does the critic from the official opposition have an opening statement?

Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): I appreciate what the minister's indicated, that we do have a briefing coming up to talk about the free trade agreement itself and clear up any mysteries that may remain as to which parts of the document actually pertain to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.

As far as this bill itself goes, I'm not going to spend a lot of time arguing or debating this particular bill. I wish we'd had a more robust discussion before the actual free trade agreement itself was signed, because it's with that particular agreement that I particularly have issues with what's been protected, what's not been protected, what's in the best interest of Manitoba citizens, and Manitoba working people, and Manitoba businesses as well.

So with those few words, I will conclude my remarks.

Mr. Chairperson: We thank the member for his comments.

We shall proceed with clause by clause.

Clause 1–pass; clause 2–pass; clause 3–pass; enacting clause–pass; title–pass. Bill be reported.

Thank you.

Bill 10–The Boards, Committees, Councils and Commissions Streamlining Act
(Various Acts Amended or Repealed)

Mr. Chairperson: And we will now proceed to Bill 10, clause by clause.

Does the minister responsible for Bill 10 have an opening statement?

Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): Again, very briefly, this bill changes the structure of 11 boards, committees, councils and commissions to get some uniformity throughout the boards, committees, councils and commissions in terms of size and in terms of reporting entity.

And the part 2 of this bill merges or eliminates several boards, committees, councils and a commission. These were redundant. They were either not meeting, not reporting or both and–or else there was duplication and overlap. So this cleans up a lot of these. And we have been very vigilant on appointing people–gender and ethnic parity on our boards and commissions since we came into government, and we'll continue to do that as well.

Thank you.

Mr. Chairperson: We thank the minister for his statement.

Does the critic from the official opposition have an opening statement?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Mr. Chairperson: Mr. Lindsey.

Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): Thank you, and thank the minister for his brief comments. I get the concept, or we get the concept. We understand that some of these boards haven't met and therefore maybe don't fulfill the obligation that they were originally mandated to.

There may be some justification for reducing the size of some boards, although less representation isn't always the right answer. You don't get the fulsome discussion, perhaps, that you should.

The overall elimination of some boards, such as the minister's advisory committee on workplace health and safety, is one which we most adamantly oppose, looking at the good work that that particular committee has done in providing information, guidance to the minister when it comes to workplace health and safety, which, through no fault of any particular ministers appointed to that position, may not have the first-hand knowledge to do the best, the right thing, to really understand what the issues are.

That particular tripartite committee–or it had members of management, corporations, it had worker representatives–it met on a regular basis.

The subset of that committee, the standing committee for the review of the operation of mines regulation, met with great consistency up until they did the overall review and complete overhaul of the operation of mines regulation, which, for a committee of several different interests, if you will, came to consensus on what that regulation should say on everything except, I believe, two items that we couldn't come to agreement on.

And that was an ongoing review process that made sure that the operation of mine regulation was the best, the most current, the most–offered the best level of protection for working people in that industry, recognizing that, obviously, companies had concerns about costs and implementation, so those things were factored into those discussions on an ongoing basis.

I don't disagree with the five-year review, but in some cases, developing trends in workplace health and safety can't wait for five years because it's workers' lives that are at risk. And those things need to be discussed on an ongoing basis. They need to be discussed at the time that those issues are actually affecting workers and may have long-lasting, serious implications for workers' health, workers' safety and, in fact, workers' lives.

* (18:20)

So, in the strongest of terms, I have to disagree with this government's austerity approach when it comes to workers' lives, that cutting out one of the most valuable committees that a government has ever had, when it comes to protecting Manitobans, is really and truly shameful on this government, and I must condemn this bill that does away with that minister's advisory committee, in the strongest of terms.

Thank you.

Mr. Chairperson: We thank the member for his statement.

We shall now move on to clause by clause.

Clause 1–pass; clauses 2 and 3–pass; clauses 4 and 5–pass; clause 6–pass; clauses 7 through 9–pass; clauses 10 and 11–pass; clauses 12 through 15–pass; clause 16–pass; clauses 17 through 19–pass; clause 20–pass; clauses 21 and 22–pass; clause 23–pass; clause 24–pass; clause 25–pass; clause 26–pass.

Shall clauses 27 and 28 pass?

Some Honourable Members: Pass.

An Honourable Member: No.

Mr. Chairperson: Shall clause–[interjection]

Mr. Lindsey?

Mr. Lindsey: Clause 28 should not pass.

Mr. Chairperson: Clause 27–pass.

Shall clause 28 pass?

Some Honourable Members: Pass.

An Honourable Member: No.

Mr. Chairperson: Mr. Lindsey.

Mr. Lindsey: Clause 28 should not pass. Clause 28 should be repealed. As I've said earlier, doing away with this particular committee is wrong, and I encourage the minister to change his mind on this, and tonight is as good an opportunity as any for the minister to change his mind and withdraw that.

Mr. Chairperson: Clause–shall clause 28 pass?

Some Honourable Members: Pass.

An Honourable Member: No.

Mr. Chairperson: Did I hear a no?

Voice Vote

Mr. Chairperson: Those in favour of clause 28 passing, please say aye.

Some Honourable Members: Aye.

Mr. Chairperson: All those opposed to clause 28 passing?

Some Honourable Members: Nay.

Mr. Chairperson: In my opinion, the Ayes have it.

Recorded Vote

An Honourable Member: Counted vote.

Mr. Chairperson: There has been a counted vote called.

A COUNT-OUT VOTE was taken, the result being as follows: Yeas 6, Nays 4.

Mr. Chairperson: Clause 28 is accordingly passed.

* * *

Mr. Chairperson: Clause 29–pass; clause 30–pass; clause 31–pass; enacting clause–pass; title–pass. Bill be reported.

Bill 15–The Film and Video Classification and Distribution Act

(Continued)

Mr. Chairperson: We will now move on to the clause by clause of Bill 15.

Does the minister responsible for Bill 10 have an opening statement?

Hon. Cathy Cox (Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage): Yes, Mr. Chair.

The purpose of this bill is to repeal the existing legislation and regulations that govern film classification in Manitoba in The Amusements Act. The Film and Video Classification and Distribution Act will eliminate the requirement to maintain the Manitoba Film Classification Board, transferring responsibility to provide film classification to a director.

The director will then enter in a–into an agreement with an external agency, Consumer Protection BC, who will provide Manitoba with film classifications.

This bill will reduce red tape, remove administrative burden and modernizing–and modernize the classifications of films and videos in Manitoba.

Mr. Chairperson: We thank the minister for her statement.

Does the critic from the official opposition have an opening statement?

Ms. Flor Marcelino (Logan): Very briefly, Mr. Chair, we appreciate the timeliness and the appropriateness of this bill, and thanks–and we thank the minister for introducing this bill.

Mr. Chairperson: We thank the member for her statement. We'll now move to clause by clause.

Clause 1–pass; clauses 2 and 3–pass; clauses 4 through 6–pass; clauses 7 through 9–pass; clauses 10 and 11–pass; clauses 12 and 13–pass; clauses 14 and 15–pass; clauses 16 and 17–pass; clause 18–pass; clauses 19 and 20–pass; clause 21–pass; clause 22–pass; clauses 23 and 24–pass; clauses 25 through 27–pass; enacting clause–pass; title–pass. Bill be reported.

The hour being 6:30, what is the will of the committee?

Some Honourable Members: Committee rise.

Mr. Chairperson: Committee rise.

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 6:29 p.m.