Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met in camera this day at 11:01 a.m., by videoconference, Mr. Bruce Stanton, MP, presiding.

Representing the Senate: Hon. Percy Downe, Hon. Ratna Omidvar and Hon. Donald Plett.

Representing the House of Commons: Hon. Wayne Easter, Marilène Gill, Lindsay Mathyssen, Hon. David McGuinty, Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Alex Ruff, and Bruce Stanton, MPs.

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:
Mariane Beaudin, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations;
Jubilee Jackson, Acting Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations, Conferences and Logistics;
Caroline Belley, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

From the Library of Parliament:
Christine Ivory, Senior Director, Economics, Resources and International Affairs;
Nicole Sweeney, Senior Manager, International Affairs.

1. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of June 2, 2021 were adopted.

2. Subcommittee on the Review of Parliamentary Associations

The Council considered the mandate, the membership and work plan for the subcommittee.

It was agreed – That a subcommittee be appointed to review the structure, governance and financial administration of parliamentary associations and to consult with chairs of associations, with whips and liaisons in both Houses and others it deems advisable;

That the subcommittee be composed of one senator from the ISG, one senator from the CPC, one senator from the CSG and one member from each recognized party in the House of Commons to be named by their respective whip or liaison no later than September 10, 2021;

That, as part of its review, the subcommittee be instructed to consider the following issues:

(a) representation on executive committees, delegations and the Council, including gender equity and the participation of parliamentarians from all recognized parties and groups in both Houses;

(b) the advisability of ensuring greater consistency between the constitutions of parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups;

(c) the appropriateness of the current mandates and structures of parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups, including their alignment with various geographic regions and Canada’s international partnerships and priorities;

(d) ways of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the activities of parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups, including lessons learned from the increased use of virtual meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic;

(e) reporting requirements, financial management and accountability mechanisms for associations;

(f) the support provided by the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate and the Library of Parliament; and

That the subcommittee submit an interim report to the Council on the issue of representation no later than November 19, 2021, and that its final report be submitted to the Council no later than March 5, 2022, provided that these deadlines be adjusted should Parliament be dissolved in the interim.

3. Moratorium on associations’ activities

Considering the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current travel restrictions:

It was agreed -- That the moratorium on all International and Interparliamentary Affairs-supported international travel and incoming delegations, set for September 30, 2021, be extended until December 31, 2021.

At 12:00 p.m. the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Jeremy LeBlanc

Clerk