MINUTES

The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day at 3:44 p.m., in room 356-S of the Centre Block, Senator Fabian Manning, presiding.

Representing the Senate: Fabian Manning, Donald Plett and Percy E. Downe, Senators.

Representing the House of Commons: Joël Lightbound for Scott Simms, Dave Mackenzie, Irene Mathyssen and Ginette Petitpas Taylor, MPs.

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:

Danielle Labonté, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations; Gérald Lafrenière, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol; and Gilles Larocque, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

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; and André Simard, Acting Manager, Financial Planning, Policy and Financial Planning.

From the Library of Parliament:

Marcus Pistor, Senior Director, Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division.

1. Approval of Minutes

On motion of Mr. Mackenzie, M.P., the minutes of the meeting of June 15, 2016 were adopted.

2. Submissions for International Conferences

- Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Mr. Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, presented a request for Canada to host the Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Ottawa in November 2017 and answered questions from JIC members.

After debate, on motion of Senator Downe, it was agreed, that the Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians be held in Ottawa, Ontario in November 2017, and that temporary funding of $469,130 for fiscal year 2017-2018, which would be shared using the usual formula (30% Senate, 70% House of Commons) between the Senate ($140,739) and the House of Commons ($328,391), be sought from the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy.

- Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Ms. Irene Mathyssen, M.P., Member of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, presented a request for Canada to host the 56th Regional CPA Conference in Ottawa in July 2018 and answered questions from JIC members.

After debate, on motion of Ms. Petitpas Taylor, M.P., it was agreed, that the 56th Regional CPA Conference be held in Ottawa, Ontario in July 2018, and that temporary funding of $28,163 for financial year 2017-2018, which would be shared using the usual formula (30% Senate, 70% House of Commons) between the Senate ($8,449) and the House of Commons ($19,714), and of $283,340 for fiscal year 2018-2019, which would be shared using the usual formula (30% Senate, 70% House of Commons) between the Senate ($85,001) and the House of Commons ($198,339), be sought from the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy.

- Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association

The Clerk reminded members that Mr. Jean Rioux, M.P., Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, presented a request for Canada to host the 64th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Halifax in November 2018 and answered questions from JIC members at the meeting held on June 15, 2016. At this meeting, the JIC agreed to support in principle the request. Since then, a budget has been prepared.

After debate, on motion of Mr. Mackenzie, M.P., it was agreed, that the 64th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia in November 2018, and that temporary funding of $103,163 for fiscal year 2017-2018, which would be shared using the usual formula (30% Senate, 70% House of Commons) between the Senate ($30,949) and the House of Commons ($72,214), and of $1,377,069 for fiscal year 2018-2019, which would be shared using the usual formula (30% Senate, 70% House of Commons) between the Senate ($413,119) and the House of Commons ($963,950), be sought from the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy.

3. Submission for Permanent Funding Increase for Parliamentary Associations

After debate, on motion of Ms. Mathyssen, M.P., it was agreed that a formal submission for a permanent increase of 1 million dollars for Parliamentary Associations be prepared and presented, at the earliest opportunity, to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy, with the Honourable Senators Manning and Plett opposing.

4. Report – Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures 2015-2016

After debate, on motion of Mr. Mackenzie, M.P., it was agreed, that the report entitled “Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016” be adopted; that the Clerk be authorized to make any editorial, grammatical and translation changes, if required; and that the report be presented to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy at the earliest opportunity.

5. Other Business

The Co-Chair informed members of the Council that, pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Financial Management and Policy Guide for Parliamentary Associations, the Co-Chairs had authorized a request for additional funds from the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association, in the amount of $20,000, to allow the association to take part in activities outlined in its budget for the present fiscal year.

Mr. Lightbound, M.P. raised the question of the meeting schedule. It was agreed that the schedule remain the same.

At 4:45 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Colette Labrecque-Riel
Clerk