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Fifth Session, Thirty-Ninth Legislature

This version is based on the printed bill that was distributed in the Legislature after First Reading.   It is not the official version.   If accuracy is critical, you can obtain a copy of the printed bill from Statutory Publications or view the online bilingual version (PDF).

Bill 50

THE THOMPSON NICKEL BELT SUSTAINABILITY ACT


Table of Contents Explanatory Note

(Assented to                                         )

WHEREAS the government and the International Nickel Company of Canada, Limited ("Inco Ltd.") entered into an agreement in 1956, which resulted in the creation of the Townsite of Thompson and The Local Government District of Mystery Lake;

AND WHEREAS under the 1956 agreement the parties agreed that a district would be established for mining, milling, smelting and refining;

AND WHEREAS under the 1956 agreement Inco Ltd. further agreed to make annual payments in lieu of municipal, district, school district and other local government taxes and rates;

AND WHEREAS for 2005 to 2012, Inco Ltd. voluntarily agreed to increase its annual payment as a grant in lieu of taxes of up to $6,250,000;

AND WHEREAS Vale Canada Limited ("Vale") is the successor to Inco Ltd.;

AND WHEREAS Vale has announced its intention to transition its operations to mining and milling, a decision that will cause the loss of value-added work at its operations within the Thompson Nickel Belt;

AND WHEREAS any uncertainty about the continued payment of the grant in lieu of taxes for 2011 and 2012 by Vale is unacceptable to the City of Thompson;

THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Definitions

1

The following definitions apply in this Act.

"board" means the board of directors of the fund. (« conseil »)

"fund" means the Thompson Nickel Belt Economic Development Fund established by subsection 5(1). (« Fonds »)

"LGD" means The Local Government District of Mystery Lake. (« DAL »)

"provincial agreement" means the agreement dated December 3, 1956, pursuant to which the Townsite of Thompson was laid out by plans of first survey of part of township 78 in range 3 west of the Principal Meridian in Manitoba, and entered into between the government and The International Nickel Company of Canada, Limited. (« entente provinciale »)

"resident administrator" means the resident administrator of the LGD. (« administrateur résidant »)

"Vale" means Vale Canada Limited and includes any person who is a successor to Vale Canada Limited in relation to its rights under the provincial agreement or is an assignee of those rights. (« Vale »)

PAYMENT IN LIEU — VALE

Vale to make payment in lieu for 2011 and 2012

2(1)

For each of the years 2011 and 2012, Vale must pay to the LGD, in lieu of taxes, the sum of $6,250,000.

Instalments

2(2)

The sum payable under subsection (1) for each year must be paid in instalments as follows:

(a) a $1,500,000 instalment for each of the following three-month periods, each of which is due on the last day of the period for which it is payable:

(i) January 1 to March 31,

(ii) April 1 to June 30,

(iii) July 1 to September 30,

(iv) October 1 to December 31;

(b) an additional annual instalment of $250,000, which is due on December 31 of that year.

Due date no sooner than 30 days after coming into force

2(3)

Despite subsection (2), if the due date for an instalment under that subsection is earlier than 30 days after the day this section came into force, the due date for that instalment is the 30th day after the day this section came into force.

Payment replaces amount owed under agreement

2(4)

For the years 2011 and 2012, Vale's payment of the amount required to be paid under this section relieves it of its obligations to make the annual payment to the resident administrator required under paragraph 31 of the provincial agreement.

Unpaid amount a debt owing to the LGD

3(1)

Any amount required to be paid to the LGD under section 2 that remains unpaid after the date it is due is a debt due and owing to the LGD by Vale.

Certificate of debt

3(2)

If there is a debt owing to the LGD under subsection (1), the resident administrator may

(a) issue a certificate showing the amount of the debt; and

(b) file the certificate in the Court of Queen's Bench.

Once filed, the certificate may be enforced against Vale as a judgment of the court in favour of the LGD.

Disposition of money received

4

For the years 2011 and 2012, the resident administrator must ensure that

(a) in respect of the instalments received by the LGD under clause 2(2)(a),

(i) 71.2% of any money received is paid to the City of Thompson,

(ii) 28.3% of any money received is paid to The School District of Mystery Lake, and

(iii) 0.5% of any money received is retained by the LGD; and

(b) in respect of the payments received under clause 2(2)(b), any money received is paid to the City of Thompson.

THOMPSON NICKEL BELT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND

Fund established

5(1)

The Thompson Nickel Belt Economic Development Fund is hereby established as a corporation without share capital, consisting of the directors of the board appointed under section 10.

Corporations Act not applicable

5(2)

Except as otherwise provided in the regulations, The Corporations Act does not apply to the fund.

Not Crown agent

5(3)

The fund is not an agent of the Crown.

Objects of the fund

6

The objects of the fund are to promote and stimulate the economic development and stability of the Thompson Nickel Belt area.

Support for operation of fund

7

The operation of the fund is to be supported by

(a) amounts appropriated by the Legislature for the fund, which amounts are to be determined with reference to the taxes paid by Vale under The Mining Tax Act;

(b) contributions received by way of agreement, grant, gift, donation or bequest;

(c) interest or other income earned from the investment of money in the fund; and

(d) any other money received by the fund.

Powers of the fund

8(1)

Subject to this Act, for the purpose of carrying out its objects, the fund has the capacity and powers of a natural person and any additional powers prescribed by regulation.

General powers

8(2)

Subject to any restrictions prescribed by regulation, the fund may

(a) acquire and hold any interest in real or personal property, and sell, mortgage, lease or otherwise deal with or dispose of any interest in real or personal property;

(b) receive, expend, loan and invest money;

(c) borrow money and give security for the repayment of money borrowed; and

(d) exercise any other powers that are necessary to carry out its objects.

Duty of board

9(1)

The board is responsible for managing, or supervising the management of, the business and affairs of the fund in accordance with its objects.

Duties of directors

9(2)

Each director must

(a) act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the fund; and

(b) exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable and prudent person should exercise in comparable circumstances.

Number of directors

10(1)

The board is to consist of at least 5 and not more than 11 directors appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Board to include interested parties

10(2)

In making appointments to the board, the Lieutenant Governor in Council must have regard to the desirability of having a board that includes one or more representatives from

(a) the City of Thompson;

(b) Vale;

(c) organized labour;

(d) organizations that represent aboriginal peoples;

(e) the government and the Government of Canada; and

(f) the public.

Chair and vice-chair

10(3)

The Lieutenant Governor in Council must designate one of the directors as chair and one of the directors as vice-chair.

Function of vice-chair

10(4)

The vice-chair has the authority of the chair when the chair is absent or unable to act or when authorized by the chair.

Term of office

10(5)

The term of office of a director must not exceed three years.

Appointment continues

10(6)

A director continues to hold office until he or she is re-appointed, the appointment is revoked or a successor is appointed.

By-laws

11

The board may make by-laws respecting the conduct and management of the fund's business and affairs, including, without limitation, the calling and conduct of board meetings.

Remuneration of directors

12

The directors are to be paid such remuneration and expenses as the board determines by by-law.

Auditor

13

The board must appoint an independent auditor to audit the records, accounts and financial transactions of the fund for each fiscal year.

Annual report

14(1)

Within six months after the end of each fiscal year, the fund must prepare an annual report on its activities and operations during that fiscal year. The report must include the fund's audited financial statements for the year.

Publication of annual report

14(2)

Without delay after its annual report is prepared, the fund must make the report available to the public.

GENERAL MATTERS

Application

15

This Act is binding on Vale and is also binding on any person who is a successor to Vale in relation to its rights under the provincial agreement or is an assignee of those rights.

Conflict

16

This Act applies despite the provisions of any other enactment or agreement, including the provincial agreement and the supplemental agreement, as defined in section 2 of The Thompson Charter.

Protection from liability

17

No action or proceeding may be brought or continued against the Crown, the LGD, the resident administrator, the City of Thompson, The School District of Mystery Lake, the fund, a director of the board or any other person based on any cause of action, whether arising before or after this Act comes into force, arising out of

(a) the operation of this Act; or

(b) the payment of an amount owing under this Act.

Regulations

18

The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) respecting the extent to which The Corporations Act applies to the fund;

(b) for the purpose of section 8, prescribing additional powers for the fund or restricting the powers of the fund;

(c) respecting conflict of interest guidelines, codes of conduct and any other guidelines and policies for the fund's directors, officers and employees;

(d) respecting the operation of the fund;

(e) respecting any matter the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of this Act.

C.C.S.M. reference

19

This Act may be referred to as chapter T58 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

20

This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

Explanatory Note

This Bill requires Vale Canada Limited to make a payment in lieu of taxes of $6,250,000 in 2011 and in 2012 to the Local Government District of Mystery Lake.

It requires those payments to be apportioned amongst the City of Thompson, The School District of Mystery Lake and the Local Government District.

This Bill also establishes the Thompson Nickel Belt Economic Development Fund. The fund is to promote and stimulate the economic development and stability of the Thompson Nickel Belt area.

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