Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day at 3:30 p.m., in room 356-S of the Centre Block, the Honourable David Tkachuk, Senator, presiding.

Representing the Senate:  Hon. David Tkachuk, Carolyn Stewart Olsen, and Marie-P. Charette-Poulin, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons:  Joe Comartin, Dave Mackenzie, Nycole Turmel for Philip Toone, Massimo Pacetti and Randy Hoback, MPs.

Others present:

Chairs, Co-Chairs and Executive Committee members of Parliamentary Associations:
Hon. Salma Ataullahjan and Denis Dawson, Senators and Chris Charlton, MPs (IPU);
Mike Wallace, MP (Canada-Japan);
Daryl Kramp, MP (Canada-China);
Russ Hiebert, MP (CPA);
Ed Holder, MP (Canada-UK).

In attendance:

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

From the Senate: Naaz Askari, A/Manager, Financial Policy, Planning and Corporate Reporting, Finance and Procurement Directorate.

From the House of Commons: Gilles Larocque, Senior Financial Advisor, Policy and Financial Planning.

1. Approval of Minutes:

On motion of Mr. Mackenzie, the minutes of the meeting of February 13, 2013 were approved.

2. Budgets 2013-2014:

Randy Hoback, MP, Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, presented the work and planned activities of the association, as well as their related budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, and answered questions from JIC members.

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, Chair of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), presented the work and planned activities of the association, as well as their related budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, and, with Hon. Denis Dawson, Senator and Chris Charlton, MP, answered questions from JIC members.

Daryl Kramp, MP, Co-Chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association, presented the work and planned activities of the association, as well as their related budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, and answered questions from JIC members.

Mike Wallace, MP, Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, presented the work and planned activities of the association, as well as their related budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, and answered questions from JIC members.

Russ Hiebert, MP, Chair of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), presented the work and planned activities of the association, as well as their related budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, and answered questions from JIC members.

At 4:45 p.m. Mr. Comartin took the chair.

Ed Holder, MP, Chair of the Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association, presented the work and planned activities of the association, as well as their related budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, and answered questions from JIC members.

At 4:55 p.m., the Council proceeded to sit in-camera.

3. Budgets 2013-14 – Start-up funds:

The Council considered a letter from the Chair of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) for a start-up fund of $30,000 to allow it to purchase lower rate airfares for activities in April.  The Clerk indicated that the APF was the only association to request a start-up fund for the next fiscal year.  After discussion, it was agreed to defer a decision on the request until next week’s meeting of the Council.

4. APF Requests:

Two letters from the Chair of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) were considered by the Council.  Both sought exemptions to the rule that prevents staff from accompanying delegations composed of a single parliamentarian.  After discussion, and in light of the fact that the parliamentarians participating in these activities are rapporteurs and also relatively new members of the APF, the requests were agreed to.  Accordingly, the Library of Parliament analyst assigned to the APF can participate in the APF Cooperation and Development Committee meeting in Québec City from March 18 to 19, 2013 and the Association Secretary may attend the APF’s Political Committee meeting in Rabat, Morocco from April 10 to 12, 2013.

5. Other Business:

The Council discussed next week’s JIC meeting where the remaining associations will make their budget presentations and where decisions will then be taken regarding the amounts to be accorded to each association for fiscal 2013-14.  Specifically, the members discussed what information and documentation they will require from staff for the meeting.

At 5:05 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Eric Janse

Clerk