Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met in camera this day at 2:31 p.m., in a hybrid format, the Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain, Senator, and Chris d’Entremont, M.P., presiding.

Representing the Senate:  Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond, Hon. Percy E. Downe, Hon. Donald Plett and Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain.

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

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:
Laura Barnett, Senior Manager, Human Rights, Immigration and Citizenship;
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 November 25, 2022, be adopted.

2. Budget allocation process for associations for the 2023-2024 fiscal year:

The Council discussed the budgetary process for 2023-2024.

It was agreed, – That the Co-Chairs write to association Chairs and Co-Chairs to indicate that the Council will study budget requests in March and that the requests must be submitted no later than March 1; and,

That, in advance of its consideration of budget requests for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, there be an allotment of $75,000 to each association, with the exception of Canada-France and Canada-United Kingdom who will each receive $50,000, in order to meet expenses related to activities coming up early in the new fiscal year.

3. Reports of the Subcommittee on the Review of Parliamentary Associations:

The Council commenced consideration of the Subcommittee’s reports.

It was agreed, – That the Joint Interparliamentary Council recommend to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs that the Standing Orders of the House of Commons be amended to extend the 20 sitting day reporting deadline for association reports to 50 sitting days.

It was agreed, – That the Joint Interparliamentary Council recommend to both houses of Parliament that they harmonize their travel policies to allow parliamentarians to use their travel points, at their discretion, for domestic travel related to association activities.

It was agreed, – That the Joint Interparliamentary Council direct the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate to conduct an analysis of the impact of increasing travel costs on the ability of Parliament to conduct parliamentary diplomacy activities and based on the findings of this analysis that the Joint Interparliamentary Council consider requesting an increase to the overall envelope for association activities.

4. Decisions made by the Council since November 25, 2022:

On December 6, 2023, the Council made the following decisions by electronic vote:

It was agreed, – That, in addition to the annual allocation received, the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association be provided a supplementary amount of $30,000 for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

It was agreed, – That, in addition to the annual allocation received, the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group be provided a supplementary amount of $30,000 for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

The Council also defeated the following motion:

That, in addition to the annual allocation received, the Canada Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association be provided a supplementary amount of $65,000 for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

At 4:07 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs

Jeremy LeBlanc

Clerk