An all-party committee of the Manitoba legislative assembly will hold nine public meetings to ask Manitobans how senators should be elected to represent the province in the Senate of Canada.  The seven-person committee will hold meetings around the province in January and February of 2009.

Currently in Canada, senators are appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister and they serve until age 75.

The federal government has committed to moving forward with Senate reform.  In response, Manitoba has established an all-party committee to ask Manitobans how senators could be elected.  A report with recommendations on how Manitoba senators could be chosen is expected by June 4, 2009.  This process reflects legislation Manitoba passed in 2006 to address Senate elections.

Nine public meetings will be held:

• Steinbach:  Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Mennonite Heritage Village Auditorium;
• Carman:  Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Active Living Centre;
• St. Laurent:  Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at the St. Laurent Recreation Centre;
• Flin Flon:  Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Victoria Inn Northern Room;
• Norway House:  Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. at Veteran’s Hall;
• Brandon:  Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Keystone Centre – Assembly Hall;
• Dauphin:  Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. at Credit Union Place – Lion’s Den;
• Russell:  Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Russell Inn – Yellowhead Room;
• Winnipeg:  Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. in Room 255, Legislative Building.

The seven-person sub-committee will be made up of members from a 12-member special legislative committee established to look at how to elect senators.  The sub-committee will conduct the public meetings and report back to the main committee.  On the main committee, there are seven members from the New Democratic Party, four Progressive Conservative members and one Liberal party representative.  Erna Braun, MLA for Rossmere, will chair both the main committee and sub-committee.

To register to make a presentation at the public meetings, please contact:

Clerk’s Office
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Phone:  204-945-3636 or toll free 1-866-626-4862

Manitobans can provide written submissions until March 1, 2009, by sending them to:

Committees Branch
Room 251 – 450 Broadway Ave.
Winnipeg, MB  R3C 0V8
Fax:  204-945-0038
Email:  committees@leg.gov.mb.ca.