Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day at 3:35 p.m., in room 356-S of the Centre Block, Joe Comartin, M.P, presiding.

Representing the Senate:  Hon. David Tkachuk and Jim Munson, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons: Joe Comartin, Gordon Brown, Hon. Ron Cannan, Randy Hoback, Dave Mackenzie and Frank Valeriote, MPs.

Others present:

Chairs and Co-Chairs of Parliamentary Associations:

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator and Chair of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Group of IPU

Irene Mathyssen, M.P., Member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Group of IPU

David McGuinty, Member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Group of IPU

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate: Patrice Martin, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations; Natalie Foster, Former Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations; Gérald Lafrenière, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges; and Marie-Andrée Rainville, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

From the Senate: Sloan Mask, Financial Advisor, Planning and Corporate Reporting, Finance and Procurement Directorate.

From the House of Commons: Naim Bellemare, Senior Financial Advisor, Policy and Financial Planning.

1. IPU:

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator and Chair of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), accompanied by Irene Mathyssen and David McGuinty, and M.P.’s and Members of the Executive Committee, made a presentation on Canada’s role and participation within the IPU and described the organization’s efforts to reduce costs.

2. Approval of Minutes:

On motion of Mr. Hoback, the minutes of the meeting of June 4, 2014 were approved.

3. APF and Canada-China Requests:

The Chair provided an overview of two recent requests and of the decisions made by the Council’s Co-Chairs.  The first request was from the Chair of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) to have a single parliamentarian accompanied by a staff member on an outgoing activity.  The request was granted.  The second request came from the Co-Chairs of the Canada-China Legislative Association and sought approval for a political staffer to accompany the delegation on an outgoing activity.  The request was denied.

Mr. Mackenzie moved that the Co-Chairs’ decisions be ratified.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

4. Activity Budget Status Report:

The Clerk provided an update on the status of the envelope for association activities.

After debate, it was agreed that, at its next meeting, the Council consider requests for additional funds from associations projecting a shortfall.

5. JIC Annual Report:

The Chair drew members’ attention to the fifth report on Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures, related to activities for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

After debate, it was agreed to add a section on the composition of the Council, to forward the report to the internal economy committees of both Houses and then make it publicly available via the International and Interparliamentary Affairs’ section of the Parliamentary Web site.

6. Other business:

Senator Munson requested an update on the formula used to establish the composition of outgoing delegations.  It was agreed to consider the policy at the next meeting of the Council.

Mr. Hoback informed the Council that the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary group would be seeking full parliamentary association status in the near future.

Mr. Hoback informed the Council that ParlAmericas would like to hold its annual conference in Canada in 2016 or 2017 and will eventually come before the Council to request funds to do so.

At 4:15 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Eric Janse

Clerk