Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day at 3:36 p.m., in room 356‑S of the Centre Block, Ms. Denise Savoie, M.P., presiding.

Representing the Senate:  Hon. David Tkachuk and Hon. Marie‑P. Charette-Poulin, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons:  Denise Savoie, Harold Albrecht, Gordon Brown, Randy Hoback, Hon. Rob Merrifield, Massimo Pacetti and Philip Toone, M.P.s.

Others present: Hon. Donald H. Oliver, Q.C, Senator, Chair of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU); Hon. Dennis Dawson, Senator and Chris Charlton, M.P.

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: Julie Pilon, Manager, Financial Policy, 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 Senator Tkachuk, the minutes of the meeting of May 16, 2012 were approved.

2. Supplementary Budget Request (IPU):

Senator Oliver presented a request for supplemental funding for the Canadian Group of the Inter‑Parliamentary Union in 2012-2013 and, with Senator Dawson and Ms. Charlton, answered questions from JIC members.

At 4:05 p.m., the Council proceeded to sit in camera.

After discussion, on motion of Mr. Pacetti, it was agreed, that the Canadian Group of the Inter‑Parliamentary Union be allotted an additional $35,000 in 2012-2013 in order to fund its upcoming activities.

At 4:33 p.m., the Council resumed sitting in public.

3. Service Standards for Incoming Delegations:

The Council resumed consideration of proposed service standards for incoming delegations.

After discussion, it was agreed, that the Council approve the proposed service standards for incoming visits of parliamentary associations, save major international conferences;

That the standards come into effect on September 1, 2012; and

That deviations from these standards be permitted with the approval of the Council or, in the event the Council is not able to meet, with the approval of the Co‑Chairs subject to ratification by the Council at the next meeting.

4. Airline Tickets:

Further to one of the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Restructuring Parliamentary Associations adopted on March 14, 2012, the Clerk provided an analysis of the possible use of flight passes by parliamentary associations in order to reduce the cost of airline tickets.

After discussion, the Council concluded that the limited number of available flight pass packages for international travel, coupled with the number of restrictions applicable to their use, did not make them a practical option for most association travel.

5. Other Business:

The Clerk outlined a request that had been received from several associations seeking exemptions to the rule limiting the number of staff travelling with small delegations in a limited number of cases following staff rotations where it would be useful for transition purposes for the outgoing secretary to accompany the incoming secretary.  On motion of Randy Hoback, it was agreed that the Council permit an exemption in cases where the association deems it necessary for two secretaries to travel for transition purposes, but that any additional costs be borne by the association’s budget.

At 4:46 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Eric Janse

Clerk