The Joint Interparliamentary Council met this day at
3:35 p.m., in room 356-S of the Centre Block, Mr. Bruce Stanton,
M.P., presiding.
Representing the Senate: Leo Housakos, Donald Plett and Jim
Munson, Senators.
Representing the House of Commons: Bruce Stanton, Hon. Wayne Easter,
Scott Simms, Dave Mackenzie, Irene Mathyssen and Ginette Petitpas Taylor,
MPs.
Others present
Chairs and Co-Chairs of
Parliamentary Associations:
Paul
J. Massicotte, Senator and Terry Sheehan, M.P., co-chairs of the Canada-Japan
Inter-Parliamentary Group
In attendance: From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs
Directorate:
Patrice Martin, 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.
From
the Library of Parliament:
Marcus Pistor, Senior Director, Economics, Res. &
Int. Affairs, Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division
1.Approval
of Minutes
On motion of Dave Mackenzie, the minutes of the meeting
of February 3, 2016 were adopted.
2.Associations
Budgets (2016-2017) – Presentations by Association Chairs/Co-Chair
Paul
J. Massicotte, Senator and Terry Sheehan, M.P., co-chairs of the Canada-Japan
Inter-Parliamentary Group, presented the
work and planned activities of the association, as well as their related budget
request for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, and answered questions.
On
motion of Dave Mackenzie, it was agreed --That, in advance of
further consideration with regards to associations’ budgets, there be an
allotment of $50,000 to each association in order to meet expenses related to
activities coming up early in the new fiscal year, such as, but not limited to,
airline tickets or hotel bookings, which often benefit from advanced purchase
in order to reduce costs related to association activities.
3.Creation
of new parliamentary associations
Members
of the Council discussed the issue of the creation of new parliamentary
associations. It was agreed that the Council deal with the issue in the context
of its discussion on the Review of Parliament’s involvement with associations
and recognized Interparliamentary groups.
4.Hosting of
international parliamentary conferences in Ottawa in 2017
It
was agreed that the Council deal with requests for conferences in Ottawa during
the year of the 150th anniversary of the country on a case by case
basis.
5.Review of
Parliament’s involvement with associations and recognized Interparliamentary
groups
By unanimous consent, it was agreed
that the Council undertake a Review of Parliament’s involvement with
associations and recognized Interparliamentary groups and that the Clerk of the
Council prepare a resolution for consideration at its next meeting.
At
4:40 P.M, p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.