Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day in camera at 3:40 p.m., in room 356-S of the Centre Block, The Honourable Leo Housakos, Senator, presiding.

Representing the Senate: Leo Housakos, Donald Plett and Jim Munson, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons: Bruce Stanton, Andrew Leslie, Hon. Wayne Easter, Scott Simms, Dave Mackenzie, Irene Mathyssen and Ginette Petitpas Taylor, MPs.

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate: Patrice Martin, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations; Gérald Lafrenière, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol; Gilles Larocque, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration; and Line Gravel, Association secretary to the IPU.

From the Senate: Khatera Akbari, Acting Manager, Financial Policy, Planning and Corporate Reporting.

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

1. Approval of Minutes:

On motion of Jim Munson, the minutes of the meeting of March 25, 2015 were adopted

2. Welcoming remarks (Co-chairs):

The co-chairs congratulated members of the Council on their recent nomination and welcomed them to their first meeting of the 42nd Parliament. Both co-chairs stressed the importance of the Council’s work and expressed their conviction that they would be able to work in a consensual manner.

3. Internal rules:

The Clerk of the Council, Ms. Colette Labrecque-Riel, drew to the attention of the Council to the briefing material circulated to members before the meeting and went over some of the procedures that govern the work of the Council. She and both co-chairs answered questions from members.

4. Requests from CPA and IPU:

The Co-chairs informed members of the Council that, pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Financial Management and Policy Guide for Parliamentary Associations, they had authorized a request for additional funds from the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), in the amount of $10 000 to allow the association to take part in activities outlined in its budget for the present fiscal year.

The Council considered a request for additional funding from the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

After discussion, on motion of Jim Munson, it was agreed that the IPU be allotted an additional $57,825 to allow the association to take part in activities outlined in its budget for the present fiscal year.

5. Associations Budgets (2016-2017):

Members of the Council discussed the budgetary process and agreed on a tentative calendar of meetings for the next two months, as follows: February 24, March 9th and March 23rd.

6. Tabling of 2014-15 Annual Report on Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures:

The Chair drew members’ attention to the sixth report on Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures, related to activities for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

It was acknowledged that the report, similar in form to previous reports, be sent to the internal economy committees of both Houses and be made public via the International and Interparliamentary Affairs’ section of the Parliamentary Web site.

7. Other Business:

The Council agreed to put the following items on the agenda for the next meeting:

At 4:43 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Colette Labrecque-Riel

Clerk