Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met in camera this day at 9:01 a.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 and Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain.

Representing the House of Commons:Chris d’Entremont, Francis Drouin, Hon. Mona Fortier, Marilène Gill, Rachel Blaney for Lindsay Mathyssen, Hon. David McGuinty, Lianne Rood, Marc Serré.

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:
Cynara Corbin, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations;
Julie Geoffrion, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations, Conferences and Logistics;
Marie-Ève Belzile, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol;

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;
Laura Barnett, Senior Manager, Human Rights, Immigration and Citizenship;
Nicole Sweeney, Senior Manager, International Affairs.

1. Approval of the Minutes

It was agreed, – That the minutes of the meeting of December 4, 2023, be adopted.

2. Associations’ financial forecasts for the current fiscal year (2023-24)

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:

• Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association (CAEU) - $7,000
• Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) - $7,000
• Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (SECO) - $5,700

It was agreed, – That $75,300 be reallocated from the global envelope to pay for international contributions.

3. Budget allocation process for associations for the 2024-2025 fiscal year

The Council discussed the budgetary process for 2024-2025.

It was agreed, – That the Co-Chairs write to association Chairs and Co-Chairs to indicate that the Council will study budget requests in April and that requests be submitted no later than March 13; and,

That, in advance of the Council’s consideration of budget requests for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, each association be allotted $75,000, with the exception of Canada-France and Canada-United Kingdom which will each receive $50,000, in order to meet expenses related to activities coming up early in the new fiscal year.

4. Decisions made by the Co-chairs

The Co-Chairs informed the Council that they had considered and denied a request from the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA). for supplementary funds in order to send additional delegates to OSCE PA winter meeting in Vienna, Austria, in February 2024 as the total global envelope had already been allocated.

5. Varia

It was agreed, – That the staff prepare a briefing note on the costs of international contributions paid by parliamentary associations for consideration at the next Council meeting.

It was agreed, – That the Co-Chairs on behalf of the Council, send a letter to the Chief Opposition Whip in the House of Commons to share concerns about the participation levels of members of the official opposition on parliamentary association delegations.

At 9:26 a.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Jeremy LeBlanc

Clerk