1995 BILL 22 Third Session, 23rd Legislature, 44 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 22 SCIENCE AND RESEARCH AUTHORITY ACT THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR SCIENCE AND RESEARCH First Reading Second Reading Committee of the Whole Third Reading Royal Assent Title: 1995 (23rd, 3rd) Bill 22, Science and Research Authority Act ($)

Bill 22 BILL 22 1995 SCIENCE AND RESEARCH AUTHORITY ACT (Assented to , 1995) Table of Contents

Definitions 1 Board 2 Powers 3 Duties 4 By-laws 5 Fund 6 Payment from Fund 7 Panel 8 Regulations 9 Fiscal year 10 Annual report 11 Repeal 12 Coming into force 13

Definitions 1 In this Act, (a) “Board” means the Science and Research Authority Board established under

section 2; (b) “Fund” means the Science and Research Fund established under

section 6; (c) “Minister” means the Minister determined under

section 16 of the Government Organization Act as the Minister responsible for this Act; (d) “Panel” means the International Expert Review Panel appointed under

section 8. 1

Board 2(1) The Science and Research Authority Board is established as a corporation consisting of not more than 20 members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may designate one of the members of the Board to act as chair and another to act as vice-chair.

(3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe the terms of office of any members of the Board and the terms of office of the chair and vice-chair.

(4) The members of the Board who are not employees of the Government may be paid remuneration and may receive reasonable living and travelling expenses while away from their ordinary places of residence in the course of their duties as members of the Board at the rates prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(5) Section 16 of the

Interpretation Act applies to the Board. Powers 3 In addition to the powers it has under

section 16 of the

Interpretation Act, the Board may (

a) solicit and receive donations, and (

b) with the approval of the Minister, charge fees for any service, material or program provided by the Board. Duties 4 The Board, at the direction of the Minister, is to (

a) stimulate research and development and related scientific activities in Alberta; 2

(

b) develop a science and research policy and priorities that are compatible with the economic and social policies and priorities of the Government; (

c) conduct an annual review and evaluation of all Government science and research policies, priorities and programs and their compatibility with the economic and social policies and priorities of the Government and recommend to Executive Council the amount of public money that a program should receive; (

d) develop and monitor a financial management plan for the science and research investments of the Government that maximizes returns to economic and social development, minimizes duplication and promotes co-operation; (

e) promote communication on matters related to science and research among the science and research community, business community and general public; (

f) encourage the science and research community and infrastructure in Alberta to attain international excellence to enable Alberta to be internationally competitive; (

g) evaluate applications for grants under this Act; (

h) carry out any other activities related to science and research that the Minister or the Board considers appropriate. By-laws 5(1) The Board may, with the approval of the Minister, make by-laws respecting the conduct of the business and affairs of the Board.

(2) The Regulations Act does not apply to by-laws under subsection (1). 3

Fund 6(1) The Science and Research Fund is established, into which must be deposited (

a) all money from time to time voted by the Legislature for the purposes of the Board, (

b) all money received pursuant to

section 3(

a) and (b), (

c) all repayments referred to in

section 9(l)(d), and (

d) all income received by the Board and all money derived from property owned by the Board.

(2) The Provincial Treasurer (

a) is to hold and administer the Fund, and (

b) may, on behalf of the Fund, be a depositor in the Consolidated Cash Investment Trust Fund under the Financial Administration Act.

(3) The income of the Fund accrues to and forms part of the Fund.

(4) The Provincial Treasurer must, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year of the Crown, prepare a report summarizing the transactions and affairs of the Fund during the preceding fiscal year and must lay a copy of it before the Legislative Assembly if it is then sitting, or if it is not then sitting, within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting. Payment from Fund 7(1) The Minister may request that payments be made from the Fund for grants authorized by the regulations.

(2) If there is sufficient money in the Fund, the Provincial Treasurer must, 4

(

a) at the request of the Minister under subsection (1) made on reasonable notice, pay money from the Fund for making grants, (

b) at the request of the Minister made on reasonable notice, pay money from the Fund (

i) for the remuneration and expenses of the members of the Panel, and (ii) for the Panel’s operations, and (

c) at the request of the Board made on reasonable notice, pay money from the Fund that, in the opinion of the members of the Board, is required by the Board for its operations. Panel 8(1) The Minister may appoint an International Expert Review Panel consisting of not fewer than 6 members, each for a term not exceeding 6 years.

(2) The members of the Panel who are not employees of the Government may be paid remuneration and may receive reasonable living and travelling expenses while away from their ordinary places of residence in the course of their duties as members of the Panel at the rates prescribed by the Minister.

(3) The Panel must review the operations of the Board and submit a report on the Board’s operations to the Minister and to the Board at intervals of 6 years from the date this Act comes into force.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the appointments of the members of the Panel lapse on the passing of a resolution of the Board made after the receipt by the Minister of the report of the Panel under subsection (3). 5

Regulations 9(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (

a) authorizing the Minister to make grants (

i) on the recommendation of the Board, if the amount of the grant is less than the amount prescribed in the regulations, and (ii) on the recommendation of Executive Council, if the amount of the grant is equal to or greater than the amount prescribed in the regulations; (

b) respecting the projects related to science or research for which grants may be made and limiting the amount of a grant or of a class of grant; (

c) respecting applications for grants; (

d) respecting the conditions required to be met by an applicant to render it eligible for a grant and respecting the conditions on which a grant is made, including requiring the repayment of the grant to the Fund if the conditions are not met; (

e) respecting any matter related to the payment of a grant, including but not limited to providing for the payment of a grant in a lump sum or by instalments and when the lump sum or the instalments may be paid and requiring the recipient to account for the way in which the grant is spent in whole or in part; (

f) respecting the preparation and submission of reports by the Board.

(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) may be specific or general in their application. 6

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (l)(d), the Minister may impose further conditions not prescribed in the regulations on the making of a particular grant. Fiscal year 10 The fiscal year of the Board is the period from April 1 in one year to March 31 next following. Annual report 11(1) The Board must submit to the Minister an annual report of its activities in a form acceptable to the Minister containing the information required by the Minister.

(2) On receipt of a report under subsection (1) or a report under

section 8(3), the Minister must lay a copy of it before the Legislative Assembly if it is then sitting or, if it is not then sitting, within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting. Repeal 12 The Premier's Council on Science and Technology Act is repealed. Coming into force 13 This Act comes into force on Proclamation. 7 Title: 1995 (23rd, 3rd) Bill 22, Science and Research Authority Act ($)