Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day, in camera, at 3:33 p.m., in room 356-S of the Centre Block, Mr. Bruce Stanton, M.P., presiding.

Representing the Senate: Hon. Michael L. MacDonald and Hon. Donald Plett, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons: Rachel Blaney, John Brassard, Hon. Wayne Easter, Terry Sheehan for the Hon. Pablo Rodriguez, Scott Simms, Bruce Stanton and Filomena Tassi, MPs.

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate: Gérald Lafrenière, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol; Danielle Labonté, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations; Gilles Larocque, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

From the Senate: Guylaine Quevillon, Financial Advisor, Finance and Procurement Directorate.

From the House of Commons: Stefany Rockburn, Senior Financial Advisor, Policy and Financial Planning.

From the Library of Parliament: Christine Ivory, Chief, International Affairs, International Affairs Section; Marcus Pistor, Senior Director, Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division.

1. Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of December 6, 2017:

By unanimous consent, the minutes of the meeting of December 6, 2017 were adopted.

2. Financial Update for Current Fiscal Year (2017-2018):

The Clerk provided an update of the financial status for fiscal year 2017-2018.

The Council studied a request from the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association for additional funds of $10,000 to allow the Association to take part in an activity in Ukraine next month. After debate, it was agreed that the Association be allotted the additional amount requested for the current fiscal year and that the necessary funding be taken from the reserve.

3. Process for the 2018-2019 Associations’ Budget Allocation:

The Council discussed the process for budget allocation for the next fiscal year. After debate, it was agreed that the Co-Chairs write to Associations Chairs and Co-Chairs indicating that the Council will study written budget requests on March 28th and that the requests should be submitted no later than March 16th and be made available to the Council on the Digital Binders site.

It was also agreed that, in advance of further consideration with regards to associations’ budgets for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, there be an allotment of $75,000 to each association, with the exception of Canada-France and Canada-UK that would 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 on Behalf of the JIC:

The Co-Chair informed the Council that the JIC Co-Chairs had considered three requests from associations and their corresponding decisions. They denied the request made in late November from the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association for a second staff to accompany a delegation of four parliamentarians in Paris and also denied the request made in late December from the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association for a second staff to accompany a delegation of two parliamentarians in Sudan. They approved a request in late December from the Canadian Group of the IPU for additional funding for this fiscal year of $20,000.

5. Other Business:

At 4:20 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Colette Labrecque-Riel

Clerk