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Second Session, Thirty-Eighth 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.

Bill 31

THE FLOODWAY AUTHORITY ACT


Table of Contents Explanatory Note

(Assented to                                         )

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

DEFINITIONS

Definitions

1

The following definitions apply in this Act.

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

"floodway" means the Red River Floodway, consisting of land and structures set out in plans of survey listed in the regulations, including, but not limited to, the floodway control structure, floodway channel, floodway outlet structure and west dyke. (« canal de dérivation »)

"minister" means the minister appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to administer this Act. (« ministre »)

FLOODWAY AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED

Floodway Authority established

2(1)

The Floodway Authority is hereby established as a corporation without share capital, consisting of the directors appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under section 6.

Corporations Act not applicable

2(2)

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

Powers of Floodway Authority

3

Subject to this Act, the Floodway Authority has the capacity and powers of a natural person for the purpose of carrying out its mandate.

Crown agent

4

The Floodway Authority is an agent of the Crown.

MANDATE

Mandate of Floodway Authority

5(1)

The Floodway Authority's mandate is to

(a) expand the capacity of the floodway;

(b) ensure that the expansion is carried out in a manner that provides increased benefits to the community;

(c) enhance the benefits the floodway will provide to the community; and

(d) maintain the land and structures that make up the floodway.

Examples

5(2)

In carrying out its mandate, the Floodway Authority is to

(a) obtain all approvals required for the floodway expansion;

(b) retain the services of persons to perform work on the floodway expansion and support training for persons working on the floodway expansion;

(c) co-ordinate and supervise work on the floodway expansion; and

(d) establish arrangements with the Department of Water Stewardship to co-ordinate the floodway expansion with the department's ongoing operation of the floodway.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board

6(1)

The board of directors of the Floodway Authority is to consist of at least five members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Responsibility of the board

6(2)

The board is to direct the business and affairs of the Floodway Authority.

Term of appointment

7(1)

Directors are to be appointed for the term fixed in the order appointing them.

Appointment continues

7(2)

After a director's term expires, the director continues to hold office until he or she is reappointed, a successor is appointed or the appointment is revoked.

Chair and vice-chair

7(3)

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

Duties of vice-chair

7(4)

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

Interim chair

7(5)

In the absence or incapacity of the chair or vice-chair, or if there is a vacancy in either of those offices, the board may designate one of its members as the chair or vice-chair on an interim basis.

By-laws

8

The board may make by-laws respecting the conduct and management of its business and affairs.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Chief executive officer

9

The Lieutenant Governor in Council must appoint a person as Chief Executive Officer of the Floodway Authority.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

Money from any source

10

The Floodway Authority may receive money from any source to carry out its mandate.

Grants from Consolidated Fund

11

The Minister of Finance may, on the requisition of the minister, make grants to the Floodway Authority from the Consolidated Fund with money authorized by an Act of the Legislature to be so paid and applied.

Borrowing

12(1)

The Floodway Authority may borrow money, but only with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council and only

(a) for temporary purposes, by way of loan from the government or by way of overdraft, line of credit, loan or otherwise upon its credit from a bank or other financial institution; or

(b) for other purposes, to the extent permitted under The Financial Administration Act or a Loan Act.

Advance out of Consolidated Fund

12(2)

Money required for a loan from the government may be paid out of the Consolidated Fund in accordance with The Financial Administration Act.

Investments

13(1)

The Floodway Authority must deposit with the Minister of Finance, for investment on its behalf, money that is not immediately required for its purposes.  

Payment to Floodway Authority

13(2)

At the request of the Floodway Authority, the Minister of Finance must pay to the Floodway Authority money invested under this section and interest earned on those investments.

Fiscal year

14

The fiscal year of the Floodway Authority ends on March 31 of each year.

REPORTS

Audit

15

The board must appoint an independent auditor to audit the records, accounts and financial transactions of the Floodway Authority in each fiscal year.  The expenses of the audit are to be paid by the Floodway Authority.

Annual report

16(1)

Within four months after the end of each fiscal year, the Floodway Authority must make a report to the minister on its activities during that fiscal year.

Contents of report

16(2)

The report must include the audited financial statements of the Floodway Authority and any other information that the minister requests.

Tabling of reports in the Assembly

17

The minister must table a copy of the report in the Assembly within 15 days after receiving it if the Assembly is sitting or, if it is not, within 15 days after the next sitting begins.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Expropriation

18

The Floodway Authority may, with the approval of the minister, acquire land required for the floodway expansion by expropriation in accordance with The Expropriation Act.

Protection from liability

19

No action or proceeding may be brought against a director, officer or employee of the Floodway Authority for anything done, or not done, or for any neglect,

(a) in the performance or intended performance of a duty under this Act; or

(b) in the exercise or intended exercise of a power under this Act;

unless the person was acting in bad faith.

Regulations

20

The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) prescribing the plans of survey that describe the land and structures that make up the floodway;

(b) respecting the extent to which The Corporations Act applies to the Floodway Authority;

(c) respecting any matter that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable.

WINDING UP OF MANITOBA FLOODWAY EXPANSION AUTHORITY INC.

Transfer to Floodway Authority

21

On the coming into force of this Act,

(a) the property and liabilities of Manitoba Floodway Expansion Authority Inc. become the property and liabilities of the Floodway Authority;

(b) the Floodway Authority assumes all rights and obligations of Manitoba Floodway Expansion Authority Inc. under any agreement entered into by Manitoba Floodway Expansion Inc.;

(c) the Floodway Authority becomes the proponent in a proposal filed July 28, 2003, under The Environment Act seeking a licence to expand the floodway;

(d) any civil or administrative proceeding involving Manitoba Floodway Expansion Authority Inc. may be continued by or against the Floodway Authority; and

(e) Manitoba Floodway Expansion Authority Inc. ceases to exist and, upon the request of the Floodway Authority, the Director appointed under The Corporations Act must issue a certificate of dissolution.

CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

C.C.S.M. c. W70 amended

22

The following is added after section 2 of The Water Resources Administration Act:

Exception re floodway expansion

2.1

Despite anything contained in this Act, the Floodway Authority established under The Floodway Authority Act has direction and control of all matters relating to the expansion and maintenance of the floodway as that term is defined in that Act.

CITATION AND COMING INTO FORCE

C.C.S.M. reference

23

This Act may be referred to as chapter F133 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

24

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

Explanatory Note

This Bill establishes the Floodway Authority as a Crown corporation.  The Floodway Authority is responsible for expanding the capacity of the Red River Floodway and enhancing the benefits the floodway provides to Manitobans.

The Bill also makes a consequential amendment to The Water Resources Administration Act.