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Joint Interparliamentary Council | Conseil interparlementaire mixte |
Minutes
Meeting No. 202 | April 15, 2024 |
The Joint Interparliamentary Council met in camera this day at 9:02 a.m., in a hybrid format, the Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain, Senator, and Chris d’Entremont, M.P., presiding
Representing the Senate: Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond, Hon. Percy E. Downe and Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain.
Representing the House of Commons: Chris d’Entremont, Francis Drouin, Hon. Mona Fortier, Marilène Gill, Heather McPherson, Hon. David McGuinty, Lianne Rood, Marc Serré, Marie-France Lalonde for Hon. David McGuinty
In attendance:
From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:
Cynara Corbin, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations;
Julie Geoffrion, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations, Conferences and Logistics;
Caroline Belley, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.
From the Senate
Stéphanie Giroux, Financial Advisor, Finance and Procurement Directorate.
From the House of Commons:
Samuel Maheu, Financial Management Advisor, Financial Planning.
From the Library of Parliament:
Frédéric Forge, Acting Senior Director, Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division;
Laura Barnett, Senior Manager, Human Rights, Immigration and Citizenship;
Nicole Sweeney, Senior Manager, International Affairs.
1. Approval of Minutes
It was agreed, – That the minutes of the meeting of February 5, 2024, be adopted.
2. Update on the global envelope utilisation for 2023-2024 fiscal year
The Clerk provided an update on the financial situation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year including the utilisation rate of the global envelope.
3. Association budget allocations for the 2024-2025 fiscal year
The Council studied the association budget requests for fiscal year 2024-2025.
It was agreed, – That the initial budget allocations for fiscal year 2024-2025 be as follows:
| Associations | Allocated Amounts ($) |
| Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association (CAAF) | 178,000 |
| Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) | 146,000 |
| Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (CAJP) | 176,000 |
| Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association (CAEU) | 318,000 |
| Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Association (CAFR) | 137,000 |
| Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association (RUUK) | 95,000 |
| Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (SECO) | 241,000 |
| Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM) | 178,000 |
| Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (CEUS) | 298,000 |
| Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (CAPF) | 126,000 |
| Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA) | 223,000 |
| Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CCOM) | 163,000 |
| Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) | 233,000 |
| Total | 2,512,000 |
4. International contributions paid by parliamentary associations
The Council discussed the matter of rising cost of international contributions paid by parliamentary associations.
It was agreed, – That the Co-chairs write to the Chairs and Co-Chairs of multilateral associations encouraging them their associations to put pressure on the international governing bodies of the association to engage in discussions on reforms to the scale of contributions to ensure fairness of payment for all member countries.
5. Decisions made by the Co-chairs
The Co-Chairs informed the Council that they had considered and denied a request from the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) for supplementary funds in order to send a delegate on a OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Migration field visit to Lampedusa, Italy, as the Co-Chairs were not prepared to allocate supplementary funds to new activities.
6. Other business
It was agreed, – That staff prepare a briefing note on the historical cost of association membership for consideration at the next meeting.
The Council discussed the matter of attendance while travelling with parliamentary association delegations.
It was agreed, -That the accompanying staff travelling with parliamentary association delegations take attendance for all program elements, including official hospitality activities, and that a copy of the attendance report be sent to the party whips, group facilitators and liaisons.
At 9:58 a.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.
Jeremy LeBlanc
Clerk