1986 BILL 212 Fourth Session, 20th Legislature, 35 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 212 COUNCIL ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN ACT MR. MARTIN First Reading Second Reading Committee of the Whole Third Reading Royal Assent

Bill 212 Mr. Martin BILL 212 1986 COUNCIL ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN ACT (Assented to 1986) Council established Powers of Council HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: 1 In this Act, (a) "Council" means the Council on the Status of Women established pursuant to

section 2; (b) "Minister" means the member of Executive Council charged with the administration of this Act; 2(1) There is hereby established a body corporate with the name "Council on the Status of Women".

(2) The objective of the Council is to help to promote the full and equal participation of women in the economic, social and polidcal life of the Province. 3 To enable it to carry out its objective, the Council (

a) shall be a means of communication between the government and individuals or groups who are concerned with the equality, rights or status of women; (

b) may study government policies and legislation which may have a bearing on the equality, rights or status of women and communicate its views thereon to any member of Executive Council;

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c) may receive representations and presentations from voluntary organizations concerned with the economic, social and political equality of women and communicate their views thereon to any member of Executive Council; (

d) if the Minister refers to the Council any matter relating to the equality, rights or status of women, shall study the matter and report to the Minister thereon; (

e) may study any matter relating to the equality, rights or status of women or cause research to be carried out on such subjects and be reported to the Council; (

f) shall liaise with the Women's Secretariat and advise the Women's Secretariat of any matter which it reports to any member of Executive Council; (

g) may assist in the planning and implementation of programs, seminars, training sessions or conferences which relate to the equality, rights or status of women; (

h) may from time to time publish such reports, studies or recommendations as it deems advisable; (

i) shall inform the Minister of any problem which comes to its attention and which in its opinion requires study, a change of policy or the implementation of legislation by the Government. Composition of Council 4(1) The Council may with the prior approval of the Minister appoint special committees for the study of particular issues which shall report on their findings to the Council.

(2) A committee appointed pursuant to subsection (1) may consist of members of the Council or of other persons or any combination thereof. 5(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall, by order, prescribe 30 voluntary associations or groups operating within the Province that are active in the area of the equality, rights and status of women.

(2) Each of the associations or groups prescribed pursuant to subsection (1) may nominate not more than 1 woman for mem­ bership in the Council.

(3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint 15 women from amongst those nominated pursuant to subsection (2) to be the members of the Council.

Fees and allowances Non-voting members of Council Term of office

(4) In selecting those women to be appointed to the Council the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall consider the knowledge, background and expertise of each person nominated and shall bear in mind the desirability of representation of special women's groups, including labour, native, immigrant, economically dis­ advantaged, professional, rural, urban and handicapped women and the representation of the different geographical regions of the Province. 6 Members of the Council and members of any committee of the Council shall receive such fees and shall be reimbursed for such expenses as are prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. 7(1) The following persons shall be ex officio members of the Council but shall not have the right to vote on proposed reso­ lutions: (

a) Deputy Minister of Advanced Education; (

b) Deputy Attorney General; (

c) Deputy Minister of Culture; (

d) Deputy Minister of Educadon; (

e) Deputy Minister of Housing; (

f) Deputy Minister of Labour; (

g) Deputy Minister of Manpower; (

h) Public Service Commissioner; (

i) Deputy Minister of Social Services.

(2) Any person listed in subsection (1) may delegate to a person within his or her department, his or her ex officio membership of the Council and may change the delegation from time to time. 8(1) The members of the Council appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council pursuant to

section 5 shall be appointed for a term of 4 years.

(2) In appointing the members of the Council the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall name 1 of them to be the chairman of the Council.

(3) A member of the Council may be reappointed for 1 or more subsequent terms of office.

Operation of Council Annual report Commencement

(4) At the expiry of the term of office of a member the member shall remain in office until reappointed or replaced.

(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may fill any vacancy in the Council which arises as a resuh of resignation, death or inability to act by a further appointment from amongst those persons nominated pursuant to

section 5. 9 The office of chairman shall be a full time position and the chairman shall devote her full time to the fiilfillment of her duties as chairman. 10(1) Eight members constitutes a quorum of the Council.

(2) The Council shall meet no less than 4 times in each year.

(3) In the absence of the chairman those members present may appoint an acting chairman for the meeting.

(4) The Council may appoint pursuant to the Public Service Act a secretary and such other employees of the Council as the Council deems necessary. 11(1) The Council shall submit, no later than September 30th in each year, a report of its activities for the preceding fiscal year to the Minister.

(2) On receiving the report the Minister shall table it in the Legislative Assembly if it is then sitting and if it is not then sitting, within 30 days of the commencement of the next sitting. 12 This Act comes into force on proclamation which shall not be earlier than the effective date of the first appropriation of money to the purposes of this Act. Title: 1986 (20th, 4th) Bill 212, Council on the Status of Women Act