4th Session, 41st Legislature
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Bill 2
THE MUNICIPAL AMENDMENT ACT (STRENGTHENING CODES OF CONDUCT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS)
| Bilingual version (PDF) | Explanatory Note |
(Assented to )
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:
The Municipal Act is amended by this Act.
Subsection 84.1(1) is amended by adding "by by-law" after "must".
The following is added after subsection 84.1(2):
A by-law establishing a code of conduct must, without limitation,
(a) establish the process for dealing with contraventions, including the procedures for receiving reports of contraventions;
(b) set out the sanctions that may be imposed on a member or the remedial measures that a member may be required to take if they are found to have contravened the code; and
(c) comply with the requirements of a regulation made under subsection (7).
Subsection 84.1(3) is repealed.
Subsection 84.1(4) is replaced with the following:
Approval of resolution to sanction
To be approved, the number of members who must affirm a resolution to sanction a member is the majority of all members of council, plus one.
Sanctioned member not considered absent
If a sanction imposed on a member results in the member being absent from a regular council meeting, the absence is considered to be with leave of the council for the purpose of clause 94(1)(a).
A by-law or regulation under this section cannot provide that a member who contravenes a code of conduct is disqualified from council or is guilty of an offence.
Regulations concerning codes of conduct
The minister may make regulations
(a) respecting matters that must be addressed and procedures that must be provided for in a code of conduct;
(b) respecting processes to be followed in implementing a code of conduct or any of the procedures required to be provided for in such a code;
(c) respecting sanctions and remedial measures that may be imposed or required to be taken in respect of a breach of a code of conduct;
(d) respecting appeals by members who are sanctioned under a code of conduct, including providing for the designation of a person or body to hear an appeal;
(e) respecting the form and manner in which an appeal must be made, the time within which an appeal must be made, and the consequences of not making an appeal in accordance with the regulations;
(f) respecting responsibility for the costs associated with an appeal;
(g) prescribing standards for updating codes of conduct and ensuring codes are made available to the public;
(h) respecting any other matter that the minister considers necessary or advisable to carry out the intent of this section.
The following is added after section 84.1:
Municipality to arrange code of conduct training
Within the first six months after a member is elected or re-elected,
(a) a municipality must arrange for training to be provided to the member on the code of conduct for members of council; and
(b) the member must undergo the training arranged by the municipality.
Initial training for members in office
Within the first six months after this section comes into force, a municipality must arrange for initial training on the municipality's code of conduct to be provided to each member of council, and every member must undergo the training.
The training provided under this section must consist of the training course on member conduct specified by the minister, and any additional training specified by the municipality.
C.A.O. to report when training is not completed
The chief administrative officer must report to council if a member fails to undergo the training made available to them.
A member who fails to undergo the code of conduct training made available to them within the required time may not carry out a power, duty or function as a member until they have completed the training.
This Act comes into force 180 days after it receives royal assent.