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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Monday, January 27, 2014

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Monday, January 27, 2014 at 11:15 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, John Duncan and Rob Merrifield; Mr. Philip Toone; Mrs. Nycole Turmel; Ms. Judy Foote

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

Also Present: Stéphan Aubé, Chief Information Officer; Richard Denis, Deputy Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Pierre Parent, Chief Human Resources Officer; Kevin Vickers, Sergeant-at-Arms; Mark Watters, Chief Financial Officer; Robin Kells, Secretariat

New Member of the Board

Pursuant to sections 50(5) and 50(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act , Mr. Philip Toone (January 10, 2014) was sworn in as member of the Board .

Minutes of Previous Meetings

Amendments were made to the minutes of the meetings of December 2 and 9, 2013 . The amended minutes were adopted and approved for tabling.

Business Arising from Previous Meetings

The Board discussed various pieces of correspondence received since its last meeting on December 2, 2013.

Liaison committee

The Board took note of a letter from the Chair of the Liaison Committee regarding the increased frequency of its reporting on committee activities and expenditures.

Changes to Employment and Salary Policies

Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement

The Board discussed possible amendments to the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement (“the Agreement”). The Board requested that the House Administration return with revisions to the Agreement to be considered at a future meeting, and agreed to temporarily waive the 30-day limit on retroactive pay until such time as the Board clarifies its position on the Agreement.

Members’ Allowances and Services

Large-Volume Mailings

The Board took note of information related to the policies regarding large-volume mailings and requested more information from the House Administration to be considered at its next meeting.

Petty Cash

The Board approved an increase to the maximum allowable amount for petty cash advances, from $1,000 to $2,000. This does not represent an increase to the Member’s Office Budget .

Report on Paid Speaking Engagements by Members

The Board discussed a report from the House Administration regarding paid speaking engagements by Members further to a motion adopted by the House on June 11, 2013, directing the Board to investigate the potential use of the Members’ Travel Points System to attend paid speaking engagements. The Board agreed to instruct Members that they may not use the resources provided by the House when they receive payment, gifts over $500 or donations to charitable causes in exchange for speaking engagements.

Administration

Strategic and Operating Review

The Board reviewed upcoming budget reductions for 2014–2015 as part of the Strategic and Operating Review .

Economic Increase for the Senior Management Group

In alignment with the economic increase granted by the Treasury Board to its senior managers, the Board approved an economic increase of 1% for the House of Commons’ Senior Management Group, effective April 1, 2013.

The meeting was adjourned.

Audrey O’Brien
Secretary to the Board