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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Monday, November 21, 2011

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 11:30 a.m., in Room 112-N, Centre Block.

In the Chair: The Honourable Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House of Commons

Present: The Honourables Peter Van Loan, Gordon O'Connor and Rob Merrifield; Mr. Joe Comartin; Ms. Chris Charlton and Judy Foote

Secretary to the Board: Audrey O'Brien, Clerk of the House of Commons

Also Present: Rob Walsh, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Richard Denis, Deputy Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Mark Watters, Chief Financial Officer; Valle Gomez-Sims, Director, Financial Planning, Resource Management and Corporate Policies; Kevin Vickers, Sergeant-at-Arms; Louis Bard, Chief Information Officer; and Suzanne Verville, Secretariat

Tabling of Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of October 31, 2011 were approved for tabling .

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of November 14, 2011 were adopted.

Administration

By-laws

The Board considered and approved the revised By-laws on the Rules of practice and Procedure of the Board of Internal Economy , on Governance and Administration and on Committees .

Parliamentary Functions

Further to the Board meetings of October 24 and 31 , 2011, the Board resumed its discussion of the meaning of parliamentary functions , requested further changes regarding a specific issue and agreed to consider the matter at a future meeting.

Legal Matters

Use of Parliamentary Resources – National Prayer Breakfast and Other Events on the Hill

Further to the Board meeting of October 31, 2011, the Board considered the support provided to the National Prayer Breakfast annual public event by the parliamentarian who chairs the Prayer Breakfast and agreed that such support could continue.

Further to the Board meeting of October 31, 2011, the Board discussed the use of parliamentary resources to support the annual All-Party Party.  The Board agreed to allow the All-Party Party to take place, as planned, November 29, 2011 but undertook to reconsider the issue at a future meeting.

Members' Allowances and Services

Members' Web sites

Further to the meeting of October 31, 2011, the Board approved the policies on the use of Members' Web sites and domain names, effective immediately. The Board also agreed that Members take the necessary action to ensure that their Web sites comply with the policies no later than March 1, 2012.

Designated Traveller

The Board discussed the definition of designated traveller , and agreed to maintain the status quo.

Travel Points System Flexibility

The Board considered the Travel Points Policy governing Members which currently provides four special points for travel to Washington, D.C. under specific circumstances. After discussion, the Board agreed to extend the use of the existing four points for travel to New York City for the specific purpose of attending meetings at the United Nations. The Board further stipulated that the use of these four points be subject to enhanced requirements for disclosure of these expenses in the Individual Member's Expenditures report.

Flight Passes

The Board agreed to allow Members to use Air Canada flight passes under specific conditions.

The meeting was adjourned.

Audrey O'Brien
Secretary to the Board