Minutes

The Joint Interparliamentary Council metin camera this day at 6:37 p.m., in a hybrid format, the Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain, Senator, and Tom Kmiec, M.P., presiding.

Representing the Senate: Hon. Percy E. Downe, Hon. Andrew Cardozo for Hon. Danièle Henkel, Hon. Michael L. MacDonald, and Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain.

Representing the House of Commons: Richard Bragdon, Hon. Élisabeth Brière, Michael Cooper, Marilène Gill, Tom Kmiec, Marie-France Lalonde, Hon. Rob Moore, Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Terry Sheehan.

Also present: Hon. Krista Ross, Senator

In attendance:

From the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate:
Julie Geoffrion, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations;
Evelyn Lukyniuk, Deputy Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Associations, Conferences and Logistics;
Kevin Pittman, Acting Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol;
Caroline Belley, Manager, Resource Planning and Administration.

From the House of Commons:
Kristine Jolivette, Financial Management Advisor, Financial Planning.

From the Library of Parliament:
Frédéric Forge, Acting Senior Director, Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division;
Laura Munn-Rivard, Senior Manager, Parliamentary Diplomacy;
Nicole Sweeney, Senior Manager, International Affairs.

1. Approval of Minutes

It was agreed, – That the minutes of the meeting of March 13, 2025, be adopted.

2. Annual Report 2024-2025

The Council considered the Annual Report on Parliamentary Associations’ Activities and Expenditures for 2024-2025.

It was agreed, – That the report be adopted and that it be shared with the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration of the Senate and the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons for their consideration.

3. Statistical review of gender representation on delegations and executive committees

The Council considered the Gender Audit Highlights for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year and the Gender Audit Highlights for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year.

It was agreed, – That the reports be adopted and shared with all associations, whips, facilitators and liaisons and that a report for the 2025-2026 be prepared and presented to the Council at the appropriate time

4. Reallocation of funds for the current fiscal year

The Council considered requests for additional funds submitted by the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

It was agreed, – That, given the current financial situation, the Chairs of these associations be invited to appear before the Council at the earliest opportunity to present revised funding requests.

5. Funding of multilateral parliamentary associations

It was agreed, – That the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate prepare an information note for the Council outlining options regarding the funding allocation mechanism for parliamentary associations.

6. Use of the Travel Points System for travel to the United States

It was agreed, – That the International and Interparliamentary Affairs Directorate prepare an information note for the Council including recommendations on expanding the use of the current Travel Point System

7. Annual General Meetings 2026

It was agreed, – That parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups be relieved from their constitutional obligation to hold an annual general meeting in 2026, except for the following associations:

• the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, to elect an Executive Committee since it is elected for a two-year term and the most recent elections took place in 2024;

• the Canada-China Legislative Association, the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group and the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, to elect a Co-Chair from the Senate, since the term of office for the Co-Chairs is two years and the Senate Co-Chairs were elected in 2024.

At 8:09 p.m., the Council adjourned to the call of the Co-Chairs.

Jeremy LeBlanc
Clerk