Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met in camera this day at 2:00 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 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:

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.

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

From the House of Commons:
Samuel Maheu, Financial Management Advisor, Financial Planning.

From the Library of Parliament:
Frédéric Forge, Acting Senior Director, Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division;
Nicole Sweeney, Senior Manager, International Affairs.

1. Approval of Minutes:

It was agreed, – That the minutes of the meeting of October 7, 2022, be adopted.

2. Association financial forecasts and requests for supplementary funding:

The Clerk provided an update on the financial situation and the Council considered requests for supplementary funding for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

It was agreed, – That the following requests for supplementary funding be approved:

• Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly – $60,000

• Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie – $49,500

• Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association – $30,000

• Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union – $15,000

It was agreed, – That the Chairs of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group and the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association be invited to submit additional details regarding their requests.

3. Annual general meetings in 2023:

The Council discussed the ongoing challenges of accessing resources and the impact on AGMs.

It was agreed, – That all associations and interparliamentary groups be relieved from their constitutional obligation to hold an AGM in 2023; that the mandates of current executive committees be extended by one year; that, in the absence of an AGM, budgetary and financial documents typically presented at the meeting be sent to association members by email; and that executive committees be empowered to fill any vacancies which may occur.

4. Decisions made by the Council Co-Chairs:

The Co-Chairs informed the Council that they denied a request from the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association for an exemption to the rule regarding the number of staff who may travel with delegations in order to allow two staff members to accompany a delegation of four parliamentarians during a bilateral mission to Senegal from November 5 to 10, 2022.

At 3:12 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Jeremy LeBlanc

Clerk