AI-assisted research summary: This Act continues the Matriarch Circle, sets membership and meeting rules, gives the Circle advisory and collaboration powers, and requires ministerial and departmental support.
The Matriarch Circle Act, C.C.S.M. c. M75 (Assented to June 3, 2025) bilingual version (HTML) Table of Contents Section 1 Definitions 2 Matriarch Circle continued 3 Membership 4 Role 5 Minister may refer matter to Matriarch Circle 6 Other duties 7 Powers 8 Remuneration and expenses 9 Meetings 10 Administrative support 11 Repeal 12 C.C.S.M. reference 13 Coming into force HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows: Definitions 1 The following definitions apply in this Act. "member" means an individual appointed to the Matriarch Circle. (« membre ») "minister" means the minister appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to administer this Act. (« ministre ») Matriarch Circle continued 2 The Matriarch Circle, as established by the minister, is hereby continued. Membership 3(1) The Matriarch Circle consists of women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals appointed by the minister. Appointment considerations 3(2) The minister must ensure that the Matriarch Circle includes members with a wide variety of lived experiences and perspectives, including (a) members from a variety of communities that reflect the cultural diversity of Manitoba; (b) members with diverse sexual and gender identities; (c) members from urban centres, rural areas and Northern Manitoba; and (d) members from a range of socio-economic backgrounds and professions. Role 4(1) The role of the Matriarch Circle is to provide the government with information, advice and vision that will empower women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals, improve their quality of life and enable them to fulfill their full potential and reclaim their leadership roles in society. Specific areas of advice 4(2) Without limiting its role, the Matriarch Circle may provide policy advice and recommendations respecting (a) education and economic opportunities for women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals; (b) health services that address the particular needs of women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals; (c) justice and personal safety matters, including measures to address and prevent intimate partner and gender-based violence; (d) measures to enable women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals to reclaim leadership roles in their communities; and (e) any other subject that the Matriarch Circle believes will benefit women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals. Minister may refer matter to Matriarch Circle 5(1) The minister may refer any matter to the Matriarch Circle. The Matriarch Circle is to gather knowledge on that matter and share its findings or recommendations with the minister. Matriarch Circle may act on its own initiative 5(2) The Matriarch Circle may, with the minister's approval, gather knowledge on any matter relating to its role and share its findings or recommendations with the minister. Other duties 6 The minister may ask the Matriarch Circle to perform other specific duties or functions. Powers 7 The Matriarch Circle may (a) receive submissions from members of the public and from various groups and organizations; (b) engage and collaborate with individuals with lived experience or specialized knowledge on a specific issue; and (c) hold public meetings when requested by the minister. Remuneration and expenses 8 Each member is to receive remuneration and reimbursement for expenses at rates set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Meetings 9 The Matriarch Circle must meet at least four times each year and it must meet with the minister at least once each year. Administrative support 10 Staff in the minister's department must provide the Matriarch Circle with technical and administrative support necessary to enable the Matriarch Circle to carry out its work. Repeal 11 The Manitoba Women's Advisory Council Act , S.M. 1987-88, c. 8, is repealed. C.C.S.M. reference 12 This Act may be referred to as chapter M75 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba . Coming into force 13 This Act comes into force on the day it receives royal assent.