Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met in camera this day at 8:32 a.m., in a hybrid format, Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain, Senator, and Chris d’Entremont, M.P., presiding.

Representing the Senate:  Hon. Dennis Dawson, Hon. Percy E. Downe and Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain.

Representing the House of Commons: Michael Cooper, Chris d’Entremont, Francis Drouin, Marilène Gill, Lindsay Mathyssen, Ruby Sahota, Lianne Rood, Marc Serré and Terry Sheehan for Hon. David McGuinty, MPs.

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:
Marie-Ève Belzile, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol;
Jubilee Jackson, Acting Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations, Conferences and Logistics;
Andrew Lauzon, Acting Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations;
Caroline Belley, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

From the Senate:
Stéphanie Giroux, Financial Advisor, Finance and Procurement Directorate.

From the Library of Parliament:
Laura Barnett, Senior Manager, Human Rights, Immigration and Citizenship;
Nicole Sweeney, Senior Manager, International Affairs

1. Approval of Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of March 9, 2022, were adopted.

2. Composition of the Joint Interparliamentary Council:

Members were informed that the Senate Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons agreed to a new definition for the composition of the Council in order to allow for representation from all recognized parties and parliamentary groups in the Senate while maintaining the 30-70 ratio between the Senate and the House.

3. Subcommittee on the Review of Parliamentary Associations:

It was agreed – That a representative of the Canadian Senators Group be appointed to the Subcommittee.

It was agreed – That requests for the creation of new parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups be referred to the Subcommittee for consideration as part of its review of the current mandates and structures of parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups, including their alignment with various geographic regions and Canada’s international partnerships and priorities.

4. International Conference – Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF)

Francis Drouin, Chair of the Canadian Branch of the APF, presented a request to host the 49th Annual Session of the APF in Montreal in July 2024.

It was agreed – That the Council approve in principle that the Parliament of Canada organize the 49th Annual Session of the APF in Montreal in July 2024;

That the Council recommend that the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration of the Senate and the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons approve temporary funding, excluding EBP, of:

• $19 448 for 2022-2023
• $214,357 for 2023-2024
• $1,460,165 for 2024-2025

That the temporary funding for the fiscal year 2022-2023 be absorbed from the anticipated budget surpluses of Associations; and

That the total cost be shared using the usual formula (30% Senate, 70% House of Commons) between the Senate ($508,191) and the House of Commons ($1,185,779).

5. Decisions made since March 9, 2022:

On April 29, 2022, the Council adopted the following motions by electronic vote:

It was agreed – That, in addition to the $75,000 previously allotted, the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association be provided a supplementary advance of $70,000 in order to meet expenses related to activities coming up early in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

It was agreed – That, in addition to the $75,000 previously allotted, the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association be provided a supplementary advance of $57,000 in order to meet expenses related to activities coming up early in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

6. Association budget requests 2022-2023:

The Council studied the written requests from associations for budgets for fiscal year 2022-2023. It was agreed – That the final budget allocation for fiscal year 2022-2023 be as follows:

At 9:23 a.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs

Jeremy

LeBlanc Clerk