Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met in camera this day at 2:30 p.m., in a hybrid format, the Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain, Senator, and Chris d’Entremont, M.P., presiding.

Representing the Senate:Hon. Dennis Dawson, Hon. Donald Plett and Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain.

Representing the House of Commons: Michael Cooper, Chris d’Entremont, Francis Drouin, Marilène Gill, Lindsay Mathyssen, Hon. David McGuinty, Lianne Rood, Ruby Sahota, Marc Serré, MPs.

In attendance:

Members of Parliamentary Associations:
Julie Dzerowicz, Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association.

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:
Marie-Ève Belzile, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol;
Julie Geoffrion, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations, Conferences and Logistics;
Andrew Lauzon, Acting Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations;
Caroline Belley, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

From the Senate:
Stéphanie Giroux, Financial Advisor, Finance and Procurement Directorate.

From the Library of Parliament:
Laura Barnett, Senior Manager, Human Rights, Immigration and Citizenship;
Nicole Sweeney, Senior Manager, International Affairs.

1. Approval of Minutes:

It was agreed, – That the minutes of the meeting of May 20, 2022, be adopted.

2. International Conference – Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association:

Julie Dzerowicz, Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, presented a request to host the 70th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Montreal in November 2024.

It was agreed, – That the JIC approve in principle that the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association organize the 70th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Montreal, in November 2024;

That the JIC recommend that the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration of the Senate and the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons approve temporary funding, excluding EBP, of:

• $214,568 for 2023-2024
• $1,785,318 for 2024-2025, and;

That the total cost be shared using the usual formula (30% Senate, 70% House of Commons) between the Senate ($599,966) and the House of Commons ($1,399,920).

3. Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (CAPF):

The Council considered correspondence received from Francis Drouin, Chair of the CAPF, regarding a request for exceptions to the rule regarding the number of staff who may accompany delegations.

It was agreed, – That the Association Secretary be authorized to accompany a parliamentarian participating in the meeting of Working Group on the Revision of the Statutes of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, to be held in Paris, France, on November 3 and 4, 2022; and that the Association Secretary also be authorized to accompany the Chair of the Canadian Branch to the 18th Summit of La Francophonie, to be held from November 18 to 20, 2022, in Djerba, Tunisia.

4. Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA):

The Council considered correspondence received from Hon. Hedy Fry, Director of the OSCE PA, regarding a request for additional funds.

It was agreed, – That the Co-Chairs write to Hon. Hedy Fry to advise her that there are no additional funds currently available but that the request will be considered during the annual budget reallocation process.

5. Decisions made by the JIC Co-Chairs:

The Co-Chairs informed the Council that they had considered a request from the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group regarding the number of staff who may accompany delegations and agreed to authorize two staff to accompany a delegation of four parliamentarians to the National Governor’s Annual Summer meeting, held in Portland, Maine, from July 13–15, 2022.

6. Annual Report 2021-2022:

The Council considered the Annual Report on Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures for 2021-22.

It was agreed, – That the report be adopted and that it be shared with the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration of the Senate and the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons for their consideration.

7. Subcommittee on the Review of Parliamentary Associations:

It was agreed, – That the deadline for the Subcommittee to present its final report be extended to February 3, 2023.

At 3:04 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs

Jeremy LeBlanc

Clerk