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Joint Interparliamentary Council | Conseil interparlementaire mixte |
Minutes
Meeting No. 195 | March 31, 2023 |
The Joint Interparliamentary Council met in camera this day at 2:05 p.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 and Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain.
Representing the House of Commons: Chris d’Entremont, Francis Drouin, Marilène Gill, Peter Julian for Lindsay Mathyssen, Hon. David McGuinty, Lianne Rood, Ruby Sahota, Terry Sheehan for Marc Serré.
In attendance:
From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:
Marie-Ève Belzile, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol;
Julie Geoffrion, 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 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 17, 2023, be adopted.
2. Support for parliamentarians who take on international roles with multilateral associations:
Francis Drouin, Chair of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, made a presentation and answered questions.
It was agreed, – That staff prepare a draft policy for the Council’s consideration at the next meeting.
3. Association budgets for the 2023-2024 fiscal year:
The Council studied the association budget requests for fiscal year 2023-2024.
It was agreed, – That the initial budget allocations for fiscal year 2023-2024 be as follows:
| Associations | Allocated
Amounts ($) |
| Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association (CAAF) | 219,000 |
| Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) | 146,000 |
| Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (CAJP) | 150,000 |
| Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association (CAEU) | 287,000 |
| Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Association (CAFR) | 91,000 |
| Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association (RUUK) | 64,000 |
| Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (SECO) | 188,000 |
| Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM) | 165,000 |
| Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (CEUS) | 280,000 |
| Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (CAPF) | 189,000 |
| Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA) | 287,000 |
| Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CCOM) | 165,000 |
| Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) | 178,000 |
| Total | 2,409,000 |
4. Reports of the Subcommittee on the Review of Parliamentary Associations:
The Council resumed consideration of the Subcommittee’s reports.
It was agreed, – That the JIC encourage whips, liaisons and facilitators to ensure active consideration of equitable participation of women and members of other underrepresented groups, including considering association-specific gender representation rules, and to consult with association staff and executive committees when selecting delegates so that delegations reflect the necessary experience, expertise and commitment to the objectives of the association mission or activity, while also recognizing the importance of mentoring and building experience and expertise on associations.
It was agreed, – That association members be encouraged to use the same travel service provider when travelling as part of an association delegation.
It was agreed, – That International and Interparliamentary Affairs consult with the information and technology departments of both the House of Commons and Senate to harmonize loaner device policies.
5. SECO exemption request:
The Council considered correspondence received from Hon. Hedy Fry, Director of the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, regarding a request for an exception to the rule regarding the number of staff who may accompany delegations.
It was agreed, – That a staff member be authorized to accompany a parliamentarian to the Bureau Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly being held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from April 23 to 24, 2023.
6. Decisions made by the Co-Chairs:
The Co-Chairs informed the Council that they had considered a request from the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie for an exception to the rule regarding the number of staff who may accompany delegations and agreed to authorize a staff member to accompany a parliamentarian to the meeting of the Political Committee of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie being held in Paris, France, from April 17 to 20, 2023.
At 3:45 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.
Jeremy LeBlanc
Clerk