The Joint
Interparliamentary Council met this day at 3:26 p.m., in camera, in
room 356‑S of the Centre Block, the Honourable David Tkachuk,
Senator,presiding.
Representing
the Senate:
Hon. David Tkachuk and Carolyn Stewart Olsen,
Senators.
Representing
the House of Commons: Dave Mackenzie, Philip Toone, Massimo Pacetti and
Randy Hoback, MPs.
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:
Nicole Proulx, Director of Finance, 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 Mr. Mackenzie, the minutes of the meeting of March 6, 2013 were
approved.
2.Budgets 2013-2014
The Clerk
provided an overview of a number of options for the potential distribution of
available funds. Council Members discussed the proportion of the envelope
devoted to international contributions. Since the overall envelope has been
reduced by 20% and since the level of international contributions has not
decreased significantly, almost all of the reductions have been borne by
activity budgets, including activity budgets of associations who pay no fees.
After
discussion, it was agreed that, prior to arriving at a final allocation for the
2013-2014 fiscal year, the Council examine the issue of international
contributions at its next meeting and that the Chairs of associations who pay
significant contributions be invited to appear at that meeting in order to
discuss how these funds are used by international secretariats and what efforts
have been made to reduce fees.
Council
members were cognizant of those associations which had demonstrated restraint
in their requests, in keeping with fiscal realities of the day and the reductions
in the overall envelope. Accordingly, it was agreed that an initial allocation
for the
2013-2014 fiscal year be distributed as follows to associations who pay no
international fees:
Association
Allocated Funding
Canada-United-States
$ 153,342
Canada-Europe
122,752
Canada-France
34,468
Canada-United
Kingdom
21,137
Canada-Japan
81,190
Canada-China
101,214
Canada-Africa
116,527
Total
$ 630,630
It was
agreed that the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas be granted an initial
allocation of $70,554 for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
It was
agreed that the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
be granted an initial allocation of $66,000 for the 2013-2014 fiscal year in
order to finance activities occurring in the spring of 2013.
At 4:31
p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.