Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day at 3:34 p.m., in room 356 S of the Centre Block, the Honourable David Tkachuk, Senator, presiding.

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

Representing the House of Commons:  Joe Comartin, Dave Mackenzie, Sadia Groguhé and Frank Valeriote, MPs.

Others present:

Chairs and Co-Chairs of Parliamentary Associations:
Joe Preston, MP (CPA) and David Tilson, MP (Canada-Europe).

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate: Jeremy LeBlanc, 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: Gilles Larocque, Senior Financial Advisor, Policy and Financial Planning; and Naim Bellemare, Senior Financial Advisor, Policy and Financial Planning.

1. Approval of Minutes:

On motion of Mr. Mackenzie, the minutes of the meeting of October 23, 2013 were approved.

2. Supplementary Funds Requests:

Joe Preston, MP, Chair of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), presented a supplementary budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year and answered questions from JIC members.

David Tilson, MP, Chair of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, presented a supplementary budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year and answered questions from JIC members.

After discussion, on motion of Mr. Valeriote, it was agreed that the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association be allotted an additional $59,729 in order to fund the upcoming activities of the association and that the Co-Chairs be authorized to allot funds to the Canadian Branch of the CPA in order to finance their planned activity to Washington, DC.

3. Political Staff Participating on Parliamentary Associations’ Visits:

The Clerk drew to the Council’s attention two recent cases of political staff accompanying a parliamentarian on an overseas visit of a parliamentary association.  While the parliamentarian in question assumed all costs associated with the participation of her political assistant, IIA felt it important to bring the issue to the attention of the JIC.

After debate, on motion of Mr. Mackenzie, it was agreed that political staff not be permitted to accompany a parliamentary association delegation on international visits unless the Council has granted prior approval following a request from a given association or, in situations when the Council in unable to meet, unless the Co-Chairs have granted approval.

At 4:41 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Eric Janse

Clerk