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Tribunal Success Stories
June 15, 2007

MOU signed by Chair, PTB and Minister of Transportation

The Honourable Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation, and Dennis Day, Chair of the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB), recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will bring greater clarity and certainty to the relationship between them and their respective roles and responsibilities. The MOU, based on the Administrative Justice Office’s model MOU document, sets out the Chairs’ responsibility to ensure effective management and operation of the PTB and his accountability for the PTB’s use of public funds. The MOU also recognizes the PTB’S decision-making independence and acknowledges the need for the Minister to provide appropriate supports and resources to enable the PTB to carry out its obligations.

The parties have expressly provided in the MOU for a co-operative approach to resolving any issues that might arise in relation to applying Ministry policies to PTB operations. In addition, the MOU sets out a process, should the Minister request that the PTB conduct an investigation under the Passenger Transportation Act. Provisions to ensure continued cooperation between the Board and the Registrar of Passenger Transportation are also included.

Use of a MOU is recommended as a best practice for defining the respective roles and accountabilities of a tribunal chair and responsible minister. For further information on the model MOU, please contact Richard Rogers at the AJO (richard.rogers@gov.bc.ca; 250/387-1712).