LIAI Committee Meeting

The Liaison Committee met in camera at 1:03 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Dean Allison, presiding.

The Deputy Principal Clerk gave a presentation on the financial status of the global envelope for committee activities.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs be granted an additional $31,844 to its travel budget approved by the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets at its meeting of December 11, 2007 to travel to Shearwater, NS; Goose Bay, NL; Comox, BC and Cold Lake AB, for site visits in relation to its study of Veterans Independence Programme and Health Care Review, from February 10 to 15, 2008.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans be granted a travel budget of $174,216 to travel to St. John’s (NL); Bay Roberts (NL); Twillingate (NL); St. Peter’s Bay (PEI); Yarmouth (NS); Bathurst (NB) and Gaspé (QC), for public hearings and site visits in relation to its study of small craft harbours, from February 24 to 29, 2008.

It was agreed, — That, notwithstanding the motion adopted on December 7, 2006, upon request from a Committee Chair, the Liaison Committee or the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets be authorized to approve the reimbursement of witness expenses in exceptional cases where a claim has been submitted beyond the 60-day deadline, provided that the delay in submitting the request is not excessive.

It was agreed, — That the request for reimbursement presented by Garry Breitkreuz regarding a witness who submitted his expense claim to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security after the 60-day deadline be concurred in.

It was agreed, — That the Chair of the Liaison Committee be authorized to review and approve project budgets which respect the criteria established by the Board of Internal Economy on December 6, 2004 and that the Chair be authorized to delegate this authority to the Clerk of the Liaison Committee or the Clerk of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets.

It was agreed, — That the Chair of the Liaison Committee be authorized to delegate the authority to provide additional funds to committee budgets to the Clerk of the Liaison Committee or the Clerk of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets.

It was agreed, — That, in the absence of an order of the House authorizing the travel, the funds approved by the Liaison Committee for a travel budget be returned to the global envelope on the last projected day of travel.

At 1:44 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.