Steinbach MLA and Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Kelvin Goertzen, announced that the province has introduced regulation changes to strengthen regional health authority boards, update the selection processes and adjust board sizes.

“Other provinces and territories are moving toward smaller-sized boards and specific criteria based selection to ensure members are able to carry out their responsibilities effectively,” Goertzen said. “These changes will bring Manitoba in line with other jurisdictions and are consistent with our approach to reduce the size of boards in other sectors.”

As per the Regional Health Authorities Act, the minister of health, seniors and active living appoints directors to each regional health authority board. Board members of regional health authorities must ensure the organization complies with applicable legislation, regulations, provincial policies and ministerial directives.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority will move to 15 board members from 21, while rural and northern region health authorities will move to 12 from 15 board members.

The selection of board members will be based on a range of knowledge and skills, in such areas as governance in public-sector, private-sector or not-for-profit boards, government structures and processes, law, business, finance and accounting, among others. This will allow government to appoint board members with the experience to match regional and board requirements, Goertzen said.

The minister noted each regional health authority has set up local health involvement groups to provide advice to regional boards on issues that affect the delivery of local health services, ensuring stakeholders have the opportunity to provide their perspective to regional boards.

Other regulation changes include updating the eligibility requirements for board members to reduce the potential for conflicts of interest. The minister confirmed the current boards will remain in place until the reduction in board size takes effect.

The province is now accepting nominations for regional health authority board members who would use their personal and professional experience to guide the provision of health care across the province, the minister said.

“The Manitoba government is committed to improving health-care services across our province,” said Goertzen. “We want to ensure the best possible health care while protecting the front-line workers that provide those services right across Manitoba.”

Boards are responsible for the resources and performance of health authorities. The minister noted nominees must have a diverse range of backgrounds, skills, interests, experience and expertise, and share a strong sense of commitment to achieving the provincial vision of healthy Manitobans through an appropriate balance of prevention and care.

Nominees must:

  • be 18 years of age as of the date of the appointment;
  • have a strong commitment to improving the health system, to supporting the region and to improving the health of Manitobans;
  • have strong communications skills;
  • have the time to prepare for and attend board meetings on a regular basis; and
  • comply with regional conflict of interest guidelines.

Any resident of Manitoba may nominate a person or people, including themselves, for the board of a regional health authority. Nomination forms are available at local regional health authority offices, community health offices, in regional health facilities, or online.

Nominations are due by Sept. 16. Nomination forms may be submitted directly to a regional health authority office or to the minister of health, seniors and active living. Appointments are expected to be made by early November.