August 25, 2022
Recent changes to the Manitoba Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) procedures and practices are resulting in productive meetings and improved effectiveness.
What procedures have changed?
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Calling Meetings |
A long-standing rule had required PAC meetings to be announced by the Government House Leader. Under a new rule, to take effect this fall, the Steering Committee decides the PAC’s agenda and meeting dates, which can then be announced by the chair or vice-chair with their joint agreement. This change empowers committee members to drive committee business and is a leap into greater effectiveness for the committee.
The Government House Leader’s involvement can invite accusations of partisan influence. Even the perception of partisan influence in the scheduling of meetings by them can taint a committee's work.
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Seating Arrangement |
Demonstrating their commitment to tearing down partisan barriers, the committee has adopted a seating arrangement whereby members from one party sit next to members from other political parties, rather than alongside only members from their own party. This mixed seating arrangement stands in contrast to the “opposing benches” seating typical of many Westminster legislatures, where members are grouped by their political parties, and shows how the PAC is unique in its collaborative cross-party focus.
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Holding Pre-Meeting Sessions |
A new process of holding pre-meeting sessions is helping members prepare for public hearings. These sessions are held with representatives from the audit office, caucus staff, and PAC support staff, one week in advance of the hearing. They are helpful for two reasons: they give members the opportunity to get clarity on aspects of the audit reports in advance of the public hearing, and they allow the committee to set a shared purpose for the hearing.
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Focus on Policy Implementation |
At each meeting, the committee’s commitment to focusing on the implementation of policies is reinforced in the chair’s opening statement, which notes that “only questions of an administrative nature are to be placed to the witnesses and that policy questions will not be entertained and are better left for another forum.” This is a great reminder to both members and observers that the PAC has a unique purpose and is unlike other committees.
Furthermore, no ministers have attended the past several meetings. Ministerial attendance at meetings goes against good practice. With ministers present, meetings are more likely to focus on the merits, not the implementation, of policy. This is a departure from past practice and significant for keeping a focus on policy implementation.
Why do these changes matter?
These procedural changes send a powerful message to representatives from government entities that appear before the PAC. They show that the committee is a unified group with a shared purpose, rather than made up of subgroups from different parties with divergent interests. Committees that have a shared purpose have a higher rate of success in seeing recommendations implemented in a timely manner.
The results are starting to show!
The lines of questioning in recent meetings are further demonstrating that the PAC is committed to action. Members from all parties are asking insightful questions and seeking to uncover the root cause of the issues identified in the audit reports.
Of course, procedural changes do not come about on their own. Everyone who has worked hard to make these changes happen should be proud of the impact they have had, and committee members should be proud of their dedication to upholding effective committee practices.
CAAF observations
We applaud the committee's commitment to removing barriers to effectiveness. Being free of government interference (including perceived potential interference), planning work, holding preparation meetings, and asking probing questions are all good practices.
The changes have resulted in a series of productive committee hearings.
Ultimately, it is Manitobans who will benefit from these changes through improved public administration and delivery of programs and services.
If you are interested in learning more tips for improving PAC procedures, check out our Oversight Tips article on the topic.
Manitoba PAC Members
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Jim Maloway, Chairperson |
James Teitsma, Vice-Chairperson |
Dougald Lamont |
Tom Lindsey |
Shannon Martin |
Brad Michaleski |
Lisa Naylor |
Greg Nesbitt |
Dennis Smook |
Mark Wasyliw |
Ian Wishart |
Len Isleifson |
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