Bill 350 — Fourth Session, 22Nd Legislature, 42 Elizabeth Ii the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Bill 350 Alberta Economic Council Act (Legislature 22, Session 4)

L22 S4 2529

Alberta — Bills

1993 BILL 350 Fourth Session, 22nd Legislature, 42 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 350 ALBERTA ECONOMIC COUNCIL ACT MR. McEACHERN First Reading Second Reading Committee of the Whole Third Reading Royal Assent Title: 1992 (22nd, 4th) Bill 350, Alberta Economic Council Act

Bill 350 Mr. McEache rn BILL 350 1993 ALBERTA ECONOMIC COUNCIL ACT (Assented to , 1993)

Preamble

WHEREAS the efficient husbanding and management of the resources of Alberta, material and human, is an essential prerequisite to the long-term sustainability of the economy of the Province and the well-being of her people; and

WHEREAS the process of determining the most efficient and effective means of pursuing such husbanding and management can be best undertaken in a spirit of dispassionate and impartial inquiry and reflection based on the accumulated experience and wisdom of the people of Alberta; and

WHEREAS it is therefore prudent to establish a mechanism for the gathering and articulation of the accumulated experience and wisdom, and to provide for the bringing to bear of the results of those deliberations on public policy; THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Definitions1 In this Act, (a) "Chairman" means the Chairman of the Council elected pursuant to

section 4; (b) "Council" means the Alberta Economic Council established pursuant to

section 2; 1

(c) "member" means a member of the Council appointed pursuant to

section 3; (d) "Minister" means the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Alberta Economic Council 2 There is hereby established a council to be known as the "Alberta Economic Council". Membership3(1) The Council shall consist of 30 members.

(2) The Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and, in making appointments under this section, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may solicit recommendations from groups representing different sectors of the population including business persons, farmers, unions, women, natives, environmentalists, and academics and shall give due consideration to their recommendations.

(3) Each member of the Council appointed pursuant to subsection (2) shall serve as a member of the Council for a term of 2 years.

(4) No member of the Council appointed may be re-appointed as a member of the Council more than twice. Chairman 4(1) At the first meeting of the Council, and once every 2 years thereafter, the members shall elect from among themselves 1 member to serve as Chairman of the council.

(2) The member elected as Chairman shall serve as Chairman for a term of 2 years.

(3) No member elected as Chairman pursuant to subsection (1) or subsection (4) shall be eligible to be re-elected as Chairman more then twice.

(4) If the position of Chairman of the council becomes vacant between the normal times set for the Chairman pursuant to subsection (1), the members shall elect from among themselves, at the first opportunity, a member to serve as Chairman of the 2

Council for the time remaining of the vacated term.

(5) If a member elected as Chairman pursuant to subsection (1) or subsection (4) ceases to be a member of the Council during the course of his term as Chairman, then he thereupon ceases to be Chairman of the Council.

(6) If the Chairman is not present at a meeting of the Council, then the members may elect from among themselves an Acting Chairman for that meeting only.

(7) The chairman shall (

a) recommend to the Council the names of persons to be appointed to the Secretariat of the Council; (

b) chair all meetings of the Council at which he is present; (

c) pursuant to

section 10, call meetings of the council; and (

d) perform such other duties as may be ordered by the Lieutenant Governor in council. Secretariat5(1) Upon the recommendation of the Chairman, the Council shall appoint not more than 5 and not less than 3 people to comprise the Secretariat of the Council.

(2) Of the people appointed to the Secretariat pursuant to subsection (1), the Council shall appoint (

a) one as President; (

b) one as Vice-President, Administration; and (

c) one as Vice-President, Research and Policy.

(3) The Council may charge any members of the Secretariat, not appointed to a specific position pursuant to subsection (2), with such duties as the Council may deem fit.

(4) The President appointed pursuant to subsection (2) (a) (

a) shall be responsible for the good management of the affairs of the Council; and 3

(

b) may, at the invitation of the Council, make recommendations for specific projects to be undertaken by the Council, consistent with the duties of the Council set out in this Act.

(5) The Vice-President, Administration appointed pursuant to subsection (2)(b) (

a) shall be responsible for the administration of the work and staff of the council; and (

b) shall report to the President.

(6) The Vice-President, Research and Policy appointed pursuant to subsection (2)(c) (

a) shall be responsible for ensuring that all research, reports or other undertakings entered into at the direction of the Council are properly conducted and concluded; and (

b) shall report to the President.

(7) The Secretariat may, subject to approval by the Council (

a) appoint such employees as are necessary for the proper conduct of the work of the Council; and (

b) prescribe the duties of such employees and, subject to the approval of the Provincial Treasurer, prescribe the conditions of their employment. Duties of Council6(1) It shall be the duty of the Council to advise and recommend to the Minister strategies and policies by which Alberta can achieve high levels of employment.

(2) In particular, it shall be the duty of the Council: (

a) to assess regularly, on a systematic and comprehensive basis, the medium-term and long-term prospects of the economy, and to compare the prospects with the potentialities of growth, strengthening and diversification of the provincial economy; (

b) to recommend what government policies, in the opinion of 4

the Council, will best help to realise the potentialities for growth, strengthening and diversifying of the provincial economy; (

c) to consider means of strengthening and improving Alberta’s extra-provincial financial trade position; (

d) to study means of decreasing foreign participation in the ownership, control and management of economic enterprises in Alberta; (

e) to study how economic growth, technological changes and other factors may affect employment and income in Alberta as a whole, in particular areas of Alberta, and in particular sectors of the provincial economy; (

f) to study and recommend to the Minister specific plans for production and investment in economic enterprises in Alberta that will best contribute to a healthy, sustainable economy for alberta; (

g) to study and make recommendations to the Minister with regard to how provincial economic policies can best foster the balances economic development of all areas of Alberta; and (

h) to investigate and evaluate particular projects of major significance for the expansion of economic activities in Alberta, whether or nor such projects may involve direct governmental participation, and to make recommendations to the Minister concerning those projects that in the opinion of the Council will contribute to strengthening or diversifying the provincial economy.

(3) It shall be the duty of the Council to prepare an annual evaluation of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, which shall include (

a) an assessment of the degree to which the operations of the Fund have contributed to the ability of individual Albertans to better their standard of living; (

b) an assessment of the degree to which the operations of the Fund have contributed to the strengthening and diversification of the Alberta economy; and 5

(

c) recommendations with regard to how the Fund may be better employed.

(4) The Council shall forward the annual evaluation of the Fund prepared pursuant to subsection (2) to (

a) the Minister; (

b) every Member of the Legislative Assembly; and (

c) any other person who, in accordance with the regulations, has requested a copy of the annual evaluation. Further duties of the Council 7 The Council may, (

a) conduct social or economic studies in any area considered by the Council to be of concern; (

b) cause to be published such studies and reports as are prepared by the Council; (

c) co-operate and maintain liaison with other economic councils within Canada and internationally that provide information relevant to the mandate of the Council; (

d) conduct public hearings into any matter or subject as it may deem necessary for the proper discharge of its duties under this

section or under

section 6; (

e) conduct seminars and conferences for the purpose of creating an awareness and public understanding of provincial social and economic issues; (

f) create such committees desirable for the proper discharge of its duties; and (

g) undertake such other duties as are assigned to it by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Technical and special advisors 8 On the recommendation of the Secretariat, the Council may engage, on a temporary basis or for any period of not more than 2 years, the services of persons having technical or specialized knowledge of any matter relating to the work of the Council in 6

the performance of its duties under this Act, and with the approval of the Provincial Treasurer may fix and pay the remuneration of such persons providing that money has been appropriated to that purpose by the Legislature. Salaries and expenses 9(1) The Chairman of the Council and each of the members of the Secretariat shall be paid such salaries and expenses as are fixed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(2) The Chairman and members of the Secretariat shall devote the whole of their working time to the performance of their duties under this Act.

(3) The members of the Council, other than the Chairman and the members of the Secretariat, shall serve without remuneration, but are entitled to be paid reasonable travelling and living expenses while absent from their ordinary place of residence in the course of their duties.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), a member of the Council other than the Chairman may, for a period during which he performs, with the approval of the Council, any duties on behalf of the Council in addition to his ordinary duties as a member of the Council, be paid such remuneration therefor as may be authorized by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(5) The payments provided for in this

section shall be conditional upon money are being appropriated to that purpose by the Legislature. Meetings of the Council 10(1) The Council shall meet not less than 6 times in every calendar year and at least once every 90 days.

(2) The Council may meet in such places and at such times as it seems fit.

(3) Twenty members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of a meeting.

(4) Any questions put during the course of a meeting of the Council shall be decided by a simple majority of the members present and voting. 7

Vacancy 11 One or more vacancies in the membership of the Council does not impair the right of the remainder to act. Powers to contract and sue 12(1) The Council may contract and sue and be sued in its own name.

(2) The members of the Council are not personally liable upon any contract made by the Council. Expenses of Council 13 The salaries and expenses of the Council shall be paid out of money appropriated to that purpose by the Legislature. Regulations14 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (

a) governing the procedure to be followed, and fee to be paid, if any, by any person requesting a copy of the annual evaluation of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund prepared by the Council pursuant to

section 6(3), but no such fee shall exceed $5.00; (

b) establishing salaries and expenses to be paid to (

i) the Chairman of the Council, and (ii) the members of the Secretariat, (

c) providing for the payment to members of the Council of legitimate expenses incurred by the members during the discharge of their normal duties as members; and (

d) establishing the rates of remuneration to be paid to members of the Council pursuant to

section 9(4). (

e) respecting conflict of interest guidelines applicable to additional duties performed by a member of Council under

section 9(4). (

f) respecting a code of conduct and ethics for the members of the Council. Coming into force15 This Act comes into force on Proclamation. 8 Title: 1992 (22nd, 4th) Bill 350, Alberta Economic Council Act

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Bills
Citation	L22 S4 2529
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	L22 S4 2529
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	8c35a6c05feff0c04a549962797f6e5ecc0476f3

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