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, Hon. Carolyn Stewart Olsen, and Hon. Marie‑P. Charette-Poulin, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons:  Denise Savoie, Harold Albrecht, Jamie Nicholls for Philip Toone and Massimo Pacetti, MPs.

Others present:

Chairs and Co-Chairs of Parliamentary Associations:
Hon. Andrée Champagne, Senator, Chair of the Canadian Section of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie;
Hon. Claudette Tardif, Chair of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association; Hon. Michel Rivard, Senator; Chris Alexander, MP;
Yvon Godin, MP; and David Tilson, MP, Chair of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association.

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate: Jeremy LeBlanc, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations; Gérald Lafrenière, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations; Elizabeth Rody, Chief of Protocol and Director of Events; and Marie-Andrée Rainville, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

From the Senate: Julie Pilon, 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. Pacetti, the minutes of the meeting of April 25, 2012 were approved

2. Supplementary Budget Request (Canada-France):

Senator Claudette Tardif, Senator Michel Rivard, Chris Alexander and Yvon Godin presented a request for supplemental funding for the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association in 2012-2013.

3. Conferences: Annual Session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) and 11th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (CPAR):

Hon. Andrée Champagne, Senator, Chair of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, presented a request for Canada to host the 40th Annual Session of the APF in Ottawa in July 2014 and answered questions from JIC members.

David Tilson, MP, Chair of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, presented a request for Canada to host the 11th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region in either Yellowknife or Ottawa, in October 2014, and answered questions from JIC members.

At 4:36 p.m., the Council proceeded to sit in camera.

4. Supplementary Budget Request (Canada-France):

After discussion, on motion of Mr. Albrecht, it was agreed, that the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association be allotted an additional $20,142 in 2012-2013 in order to fund its upcoming activities.

5. Conferences: Annual Session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) and 11th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (CPAR):

After discussion, on motion of Mr. Albrecht, it was agreed, that the JIC recommend to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and to the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy:

That approval be granted to host the 40th Annual Session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie in Ottawa in July 2014;

That interim funding of $60,000 be approved for 2013–2014 and of $315,000 for 2014–2015, for a total of $375,000, and that said funding be split in the usual manner (30% from the Senate, 70% from the House of Commons)  between the Senate ($112,500) and the House of Commons ($262,500); and

That any unspent approved budget from fiscal year 2013-2014 can be paid in fiscal year 2014-2015 and, if needed, any additional funding will be requested, provided that the total approved budget is not exceeded.

After discussion, on motion of Mr. Albrecht, it was agreed, that the JIC recommend to the Senate Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and to the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy:

That approval be granted to host the 11th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region in either Yellowknife or Ottawa in October 2014;

That funding of $50,000 for financial year 2013-2014 and $174,750 for financial year 2014-2015 for a total of $224,750, which would be shared using the usual formula (30% Senate, 70% House of Commons) between the Senate ($67,425) and the House of Commons ($157,325); and

That any unspent approved budget from fiscal year 2013-2014 can be paid in fiscal year 2014-2015 and, if needed, any additional funding will be requested, provided that the total approved budget is not exceeded.

On motion of Mr. Albrecht, it was agreed, that the Co-Chairs write to the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the Chair of the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy recommending that both internal economies examine the detailed proposed budgets for both conferences to determine if the total amounts recommended could be reduced by up to 15%.

6. Service Standards for Incoming Delegations:

The Council resumed consideration of proposed service standards for incoming delegations.  After debate, it was agreed to reconsider this issue at the next meeting.

At 5:13 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Eric Janse

Clerk