Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day at 12:03 p.m., in camera, in room 356‑S of the Centre Block, the Honourable David Tkachuk, Senator, presiding.

Representing the Senate:  Hon. David Tkachuk, Carolyn Stewart Olsen, and James S. Cowan for Marie-P. Charette-Poulin, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons:  Joe Comartin, Dave Mackenzie, Hon. Rob Merrifield, Philip Toone, Massimo Pacetti, Randy Hoback and Gordon Brown, MPs.

Others present:

Chairs and Co-Chairs of Parliamentary Associations:
Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator (IPU).

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate: Jeremy LeBlanc, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations; Gérald Lafrenière, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges; and Marie-Andrée Rainville, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

From the Senate: Sloan Mask, Financial Advisor, Planning and Corporate Reporting, Finance and Procurement Directorate.

From the House of Commons: Gilles Larocque, Senior Financial Advisor, Policy and Financial Planning.

1. Approval of Minutes:

On motion of Mr. Mackenzie, the minutes of the meeting of April 17, 2013 were approved.

2. IPU Budget:

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) gave a presentation on the international contributions paid by the Association and answered questions from JIC members.

On motion of Mr. Merrifield, it was agreed that the Canadian Group of the IPU be allocated $64,000 in 2013-2014 to finance its activities until December 31, 2013.

On motion of Mr. Hoback, it was agreed that the Co-Chairs write to the Chairs of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy to recommend that the Parliament of Canada withdraw from the IPU as of December 31, 2013.

3. Budgets 2013-2014:

On motion of Mr. Merrifield, it was agreed that the operational budgets for each association in 2013-2014 be as follows:

And that ParlAmericas, OSCE, APF, CPA and NATO be granted the necessary funds to cover the costs of their international contributions in 2013-2014.

At 12:54 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Eric Janse

Clerk