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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Monday, June 13, 2011

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Monday, June 13, 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. Thomas Mulcair; and 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; Valle Gomez Sims, Acting Chief Financial Officer; Louis Bard, Chief Information Officer; and Suzanne Verville, Secretariat

New Members of the Board

Pursuant to section 50(5) of the Parliament of Canada Act , the Hon. Andrew Scheer (June 8, 2011), the Hon. Rob Merrifield (June 7, 2011), Mr. Thomas Mulcair (June 7, 2011), Ms. Chris Charlton (June 7, 2011) and Ms. Judy Foote (June 8, 2011) were recently sworn in as members of the Board .

The Hon. Peter Van Loan (January 29, 2007) and the Hon. Gordon O'Connor (November 25, 2008), previously sworn in, continue their appointments to the Board.

Pursuant to section 50(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act , the Hon. Peter Van Loan and the Hon. Gordon O'Connor were appointed as representatives of the Queen's Privy Council.

Tabling of Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of February 28, 2011 were approved for tabling .

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of the meetings of March 3 and 7, 2011 were adopted.

Administration

Ratification - Collective Bargaining

The Board took note of the collective bargaining mandate to negotiate with the bargaining units, approved by the previous Board.

Ratification – Impact of Dissolution – Additional Salaries of Certain House Officers

The Board took note of the impact of the dissolution on additional salaries of certain House Officers and the steps, approved by the previous Board.

Ratification – Role of the Speaker during a Dissolution Period

The Board took note of the representative activities for the former Speaker during the dissolution period, approved by the previous Board.

Appointment of Board Spokespersons

Pursuant to Standing Order 37(2) , the Hon. Gordon O'Connor and Mr. Thomas Mulcair were appointed to act as the spokespersons for the Board.

Special Requirements for a Member

After discussion, the Board agreed to certain recommendations to assist a Member in carrying out his parliamentary functions .

Transition Support for a New Speaker

The Board agreed to allow a transition period for a new Speaker of the House of Commons in any Parliament, beginning with the 41st, to ensure continuity of service to Members and the House and to amend existing policies as follows:

  • to permit a period of up to 30 days following the election of a new Speaker for staff of the former Speaker to continue to be paid to serve under the direction of the new Speaker so he/she may have the full support of a functioning office immediately on being elected to the Chair;
  • to allow the start of the 60-day separation entitlement for all employees of the former Speaker to begin no later than the end of the 30-day transition period; and
  • to have the pay and separation entitlements of the employees of the former Speaker during these periods be charged against the former Speaker's budget.

Others

The Board was briefed on the issues left pending at the dissolution of the 40th Parliament.

The meeting was adjourned.

Audrey O'Brien
Secretary to the Board