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.