Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day at 4:14 p.m., in room 356-S of the Centre Block, the Honourable David Tkachuk, Senator, presiding.

Representing the Senate:  Hon. David Tkachuk and Carolyn Stewart Olsen, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons:  Harold Albrecht, Marcel Proulx, Mario Laframboise, Chris Charlton and Leon Benoit MPs.

In attendance:

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

From the Senate: Nicole Proulx, Director of Finance and Procurement, Finance and Procurement Directorate; and 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. Proulx, the minutes of the meeting of December 8, 2010 were approved.

2. Restructuring of Associations:

Members of the Council discussed the issue of the structure of parliamentary associations.

After discussion, it was agreed, that this issue would be given further consideration at a future meeting of the Council and that staff be directed to prepare a summary of the discussion.

3. Association Budgets:

The JIC was provided with an overview of the current financial status of all associations based on the information provided by each association as part of the January 2010 budget forecasts of association activities for the current fiscal year.

After discussion, it was agreed, that associations should continue to operate according to their current budget allocations.

4. Other Business:

At the invitation of the Chair, the Clerk shared with the Council the contents of a letter from the office of the Chair of a recognized group requesting a modification to the IIA Web site for Parliamentary Associations and Interparliamentary Groups.  After discussion the Council requested that the Clerk pursue the matter and return to the JIC with additional information.

At 5:02 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Eric Janse

Clerk