The Social Services Appeal Board Act

The Social Services Appeal Board Act, C.C.S.M. c. S167 (Assented to July 6, 2001) bilingual version (HTML) Table of Contents Section DEFINITIONS AND PURPOSE 1 Definitions 2 Purpose APPEAL BOARD 3 Social Services Appeal Board 4 Members 5 Remuneration and expenses 6 Chair and vice-chair 7 Staff 8 Responsibilities of the appeal board 8.1 Repealed 9 Procedural rules 10 Posting information about appeals 11 Appeal heard by single member or panel APPEAL TO THE APPEAL BOARD 12 How and when to file an appeal 13 Parties 14 Advocates 15 Notice to the designated officer 15.1 Dismissal of appeal 16 Hearing date 17 Parties may examine evidence 18 Powers and duties of the board 19 Hearing process ORDER OF THE APPEAL BOARD 20 Order of the board 21 Order must be given effect 22 Reconsideration APPEAL TO COURT OF APPEAL 23 Appeal to Court of Appeal 24 Order of Court of Appeal GENERAL PROVISIONS 25 Regulations 26 Annual report 27 Protection from legal action 28 Transitional 29-34 Consequential amendments to other Acts 35 C.C.S.M. reference 36 Coming into force HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows: DEFINITIONS AND PURPOSE Definitions 1 In this Act, "appeal board" means the Social Services Appeal Board referred to in section 3; (« Commission d'appel ») "designated Act" means (a) The Adoption Act , (a.1) The Child and Family Services Act , (b) The Community Child Care Standards Act , (b.1) The Disability Support Act , (c) The Manitoba Assistance Act , (d) The Social Services Administration Act or a regulation under that Act, (e) The Adults Living with an Intellectual Disability Act , (f) any other Act or regulation designated as a designated Act in the regulations; (« loi désignée ») "designated officer" means a person who has authority under a designated Act to make a decision or order for which there is a right of appeal under the designated Act to the appeal board, or the person to whom that authority is delegated; (« fonctionnaire désigné ») "minister" means the minister appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to administer this Act; (« ministre ») "panel" means a panel of the appeal board. (« comité ») S.M. 2004, c. 42, s. 50 ; S.M. 2014, c. 35, s. 28 ; S.M. 2017, c. 26, s. 27 ; S.M. 2021, c. 60, Sch. A, s. 29 ; S.M. 2023, c. 19, s. 110 . Purpose 2 The purpose of this Act is to give Manitobans a fair, impartial and informal appeal process from decisions relating to various social services and programs. APPEAL BOARD Social Services Appeal Board 3 The Social Services Advisory Committee, which was established under The Social Services Administration Act , is continued under this Act as the Social Services Appeal Board. Members 4(1) The appeal board is to consist of 15 members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Who can be a member 4(2) The members of the appeal board must, in the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, (a) be representative of the regional, economic and cultural diversity of Manitoba; (b) be knowledgeable about social services and programs under designated Acts; and (c) not be employees under the control of a minister responsible for a designated Act. Term of member 4(3) Each member is to be appointed for a term of up to two years and, subject to subsection (4), may be re-appointed. Re-appointing a member 4(4) A member who has served for six years in consecutive terms may be re-appointed for a further term, but only if at least one year has passed since the end of his or her last term. Member continues to hold office 4(5) A member continues to hold office until he or she is reappointed, a successor is appointed or the appointment is revoked. S.M. 2015, c. 43, s. 58 . Remuneration and expenses 5 The members of the appeal board are to be paid remuneration and expenses at rates set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Chair and vice-chair 6(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council must designate one of the members of the appeal board as chair and one or more members as vice-chairs. Duties of vice-chair 6(2) A vice-chair has the authority of the chair if the chair is absent or unable to act, or when authorized by the chair. Staff 7 Any employees required to enable the appeal board to carry out its responsibilities may be appointed under Part 3 of The Public Service Act . S.M. 2021, c. 11, s. 65 Responsibilities of the appeal board 8 The appeal board has these responsibilities: (a) to hear and decide appeals under designated Acts; (b) at the minister's request, to advise and make recommendations about matters that relate to social services and programs in Manitoba; (c) on its own initiative, to advise and make recommendations to the minister about social services provided under the designated Acts; (d) to perform any other duties assigned to it by an Act or regulation or by the minister. 8.1 [Repealed] S.M. 2018, c. 31, s. 2 ; S.M. 2021, c. 28, s. 9 . Procedural rules 9 The appeal board may establish its own rules of practice and procedure and must make them available to the public. Posting information about appeals 10 A designated officer must post information about the right to appeal to the appeal board, and about the appeal process, in a visible public location in any office in which decisions are made that can be appealed under a designated Act. PANELS OF THE APPEAL BOARD Appeal heard by single member or panel 11(1) An appeal must be heard by a single member or by a panel of three members. Chair to determine size and composition 11(2) The chair must (a) determine whether an appeal is to be heard by a single member or a panel of three members; and (b) assign members to hear appeals. Chair of panel 11(3) The chair or a vice-chair is to preside over a panel, or the chair may designate another member of the appeal board to preside. Who is not eligible to be a member of a panel 11(4) A member of the appeal board is not eligible to hear an appeal if he or she (a) is a relative of a party; or (b) is not able to be impartial and independent about the outcome of the appeal. Quorum 11(5) A quorum for a panel of three members is the three members . Jurisdiction of panel 11(6) In considering and deciding an appeal, (a) a single member or a panel has all the jurisdiction of the appeal board and may exercise the board's powers and perform its duties; and (b) a decision of a majority of the members of a panel is the decision of the appeal board. S.M. 2022, c. 38, s. 2 . APPEAL TO THE APPEAL BOARD Filing an appeal 12(1) A person who has a right to appeal a decision or order to the appeal board under a designated Act may commence an appeal by filing a notice of appeal with the board. Time limit for filing 12(2) A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after the date of the decision or order, unless the designated Act specifies a different time limit. Extending the time limit 12(3) The appeal board may extend the time limit for commencing an appeal, and may do so either before or after the time limit expires. Reasons 12(4) A notice of appeal must be in writing and must state the reasons for the appeal. Parties 13(1) The parties to an appeal are the person who has a right to appeal to the appeal board and the designated officer under the designated Act. Parties to be present at oral hearing 13(2) If a hearing is held orally, the appellant and the designated officer or a delegate of the designated officer (a) must be present at the hearing; or (b) if the hearing is conducted by telephone or through the use of other electronic means, must be able to communicate with each other and the appeal board simultaneously. S.M. 2022, c. 38, s. 3 . Advocates 14 At the appellant's request, another person may communicate with the appeal board at any time on the appellant's behalf and may be present with the appellant at the hearing. Notice to the designated officer 15(1) On receiving a notice of appeal, the appeal board must promptly give a copy of it to the designated officer. Designated office must forward documents 15(2) On receiving the notice of appeal, the designated officer must promptly give the appeal board (a) all of the documentary evidence on which the designated officer made the decision or order being appealed; (b) any documents that the designated officer is specifically required to provide to the board under the designated Act; and (c) any other documents the designated officer thinks might be relevant to the appeal. Dismissal of appeal 15.1(1) The appeal board may dismiss an appeal or part of an appeal if (a) it is not within the jurisdiction of the appeal board; (b) it was not filed within the applicable time limit; (c) in the opinion of the appeal board, its subject matter is trivial or the appeal is not made in good faith or is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process; (d) in the opinion of the appeal board, there is no reasonable prospect that it will succeed; or (e) its subject matter is being or has been dealt with appropriately according to a procedure provided for under another Act. Opportunity to make submissions 15.1(2) The appeal board must not dismiss an appeal or part of an appeal unless the appellant is given an opportunity to make written submissions or otherwise be heard as to why subsection (1) does not apply to the appeal. Reasons for dismissal 15.1(3) The appeal board must give written reasons to the parties if it dismisses an appeal or part of an appeal. Timing of dismissal 15.1(4) The appeal board may dismiss an appeal or part of an appeal at any time before the start of the hearing. Dismissal not subject to appeal or review 15.1(5) A dismissal under this section is final and binding and not subject to review by a court or appeal, including an appeal under section 23. S.M. 2022, c. 38, s. 4 . Hearing date 16(1) For each appeal, the appeal board must arrange the earliest possible hearing date. The hearing must not be commenced more than 35 days after the board receives the notice of appeal, unless the board at the request of the appellant, grants an extension. Notice 16(2) Unless the parties agree to a shorter period of notice, at least seven days before the hearing the appeal board must give the parties written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing. S.M. 2022, c. 38, s. 5 . Parties may examine evidence 17 The appeal board must give each party a reasonable opportunity to examine and copy any information that has been submitted to the board for the purpose of the hearing. Powers and duties of the board 18 The appeal board must inform itself fully of the facts concerning each appeal. For that purpose, the board (a) may require the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents in addition to the witnesses called by the parties and the documents produced by the parties; and (b) has the powers of a commissioner under Part V of The Manitoba Evidence Act . Hearing process: rules of evidence do not apply 19(1) The appeal board is not bound by the rules of evidence that apply to judicial proceedings. Hearing conducted orally or in writing 19(2) The appeal board may conduct a hearing orally or in writing. An oral hearing may be held in person or by telephone or through the use of other electronic means. Closed hearing if appellant requests 19(3) The hearing is to be closed to the public if the appellant asks for it to be closed; otherwise it is to be open to the public. Adjournment 19(4) The appeal board may adjourn a hearing when it considers it appropriate to do so. S.M. 2022, c. 38, s. 6 . ORDER OF THE APPEAL BOARD Order of the board 20(1) Unless the designated Act states otherwise, after a hearing the appeal board may, by written order, (a) confirm, vary or rescind the order or decision of the designated officer; (b) make any order or decision that the designated officer could have made; or (c) refer the matter back to the designated officer for further consideration by the designated officer in accordance with any direction of the appeal board. Reasons 20(2) The appeal board must give written reasons for its order. Time limit for making order 20(3) The appeal board must make its order within 15 days after the hearing ends. Order given to the parties 20(4) The appeal board must give the parties a copy of the order and inform them of their right to appeal a question of law or jurisdiction to The Court of Appeal. Method of giving the order 20(5) The order must be given to the parties personally or by regular lettermail or by another method acceptable to the appeal board and the parties. Order must be given effect 21 A designated officer must give effect to the order of the appeal board. Reconsideration of the order 22(1) At the request of a party to the appeal or on its own initiative, the appeal board may reconsider all or part of its order and may confirm, vary, suspend or rescind its order. Time limit for making request 22(2) A written request for a reconsideration, stating the reasons for the request, must be filed with the appeal board within 30 days after the date of the board's order. Time limit for deciding request 22(3) The appeal board must, by order, make a decision as to whether an order will be reconsidered, within 30 days after the date the request for a reconsideration is filed. Reasons 22(4) The board must give written reasons if it decides not to reconsider an order. S.M. 2022, c. 38, s. 7 . APPEAL TO COURT OF APPEAL Appeal to Court of Appeal 23(1) Any party to the appeal before the appeal board may appeal the board's order to The Court of Appeal on any question involving the board's jurisdiction or on a point of law, but only after obtaining leave to appeal from a judge of The Court of Appeal. Time limit 23(2) An application for leave to appeal must be made (a) within 30 days after the date of the appeal board's order under section 20; (b) if the applicant seeks reconsideration of an order under section 22, within 30 days after (i) the date the appeal board declines to reconsider the order under subsection 22(3), or (ii) the date the appeal board confirms, varies, suspends or rescinds the order; or (c) within any further time that a judge allows. Parties 23(3) The parties to the appeal before the appeal board, and the appeal board, are entitled to be heard on the application for leave to appeal and on the appeal itself. S.M. 2022, c. 38, s. 8 . Order of Court of Appeal 24 The Court of Appeal may (a) quash, vary or confirm the order of the appeal board; or (b) refer the matter back to the appeal board for further consideration in accordance with any direction of the Court. REGULATIONS Regulations 25 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) designating Acts or regulations for the purpose of the definition "designated Act" in section 1; (b) respecting any other matter the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out the intent of this Act. ANNUAL REPORT Annual report 26 Within six months after the end of the government's fiscal year, the appeal board must provide the minister with a report about the board's activities during that fiscal year. The minister shall lay a copy of the report before the Legislative 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. PROTECTION FROM LEGAL ACTION Protection from legal action 27 No action or proceeding for damages may be brought against the appeal board or any member of the board because of anything done or omitted in good faith (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. TRANSITIONAL Transitional: definitions 28(1) In this section, "former Act" means The Social Services Administration Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. S165; ( « ancienne loi » ) "former designated Act" means a designated Act as it read immediately before the coming into force of this Act. ( « ancienne loi désignée » ) Appeals already commenced 28(2) Where on the day this Act comes into force an appeal under a former designated Act to the Social Services Advisory Committee under the former Act has been commenced but not finally disposed of, the appeal shall be continued and completed in accordance with that former designated Act as if this Act had not come into force. CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS 29 to 34 NOTE: These sections contained consequential amendments to other Acts that are now included in those Acts. C.C.S.M. REFERENCE AND COMING INTO FORCE C.C.S.M. reference 35 This Act may be cited as The Social Services Appeal Board Act and referred to as chapter S167 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba . Coming into force 36(1) This Act, except section 33, comes into force on a day fixed by proclamation. Coming into force: section 33 36(2) Section 33 comes into force on the day The Social Services Administration Amendment Act , S.M. 2000, c. 31 , comes into force. NOTE: S.M. 2001, c. 9 , except section 33, came into force by proclamation on February 18, 2002.