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Meeting Minutes

Thursday, November 7, 2024

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy (Board) of the House of Commons was held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 11:07 a.m., in room 225 A, West Block.

In the Chair: The Honourable Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons

Present: The Honourables Karina Gould, Ruby Sahota, and Andrew Scheer; Mr. Mark Gerretsen, Ms. Claude DeBellefeuille and Mr. Peter Julian

Secretary to the Board: Eric Janse, Clerk of the House of Commons

Also Present: Michel Bédard, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Carolyne Evangelidis, Chief Human Resources Officer; Paul St George, Chief Financial Officer, Mélissa Côté, Deputy Director, Resource Management; Stéphan Aubé, Chief Executive Administrator; Jeffrey LeBlanc, Deputy Clerk, Procedure; Natacha Flanagan, Secretariat

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of October 10, 2024, were approved for tabling.


BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The Board took note of correspondence distributed since its last meeting.

Carolyne Evangelidis, Chief Human Resources Officer, answered a question related to the comparative analysis of insurance coverage service levels before and after the transition to Canada Life, and noted that the House Administration would present an update to the Board at its next meeting.

The Board also requested that the House Administration invite the Translation Bureau to appear at an upcoming meeting to provide an update on interpretation services provided in support of parliamentary activities, including the two pilot projects: the remote simultaneous interpretation project, and the onboarding of new interpreters who have not obtained full accreditation.


TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR WITNESSES APPEARING AT THE BAR OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Michel Bédard, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, presented a proposal to seek direction from the Board respecting the reimbursement of travel expenses for witnesses appearing at the Bar of the House of Commons, and answered questions.

It was agreed that the travel expenses of any person appearing at the Bar of the House of Commons be reimbursed based on the rules, policies and guidelines applicable to the reimbursement of committee witnesses’ expenses, with such modifications as circumstances require.


QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2024-2025

Paul St George, Chief Financial Officer, supported by Mélissa Côté, Deputy Director, Resource Management, presented the Quarterly Financial Report for the Second Quarter of 2024-2025, and answered questions.

The Board also received the Quarterly Financial Report for the First Quarter of 2024-2025.


USE OF HOUSE OF COMMONS RESOURCES FOR A VIDEO

Michel Bédard, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, and Paul St George, Chief Financial Officer, sought direction from the Board in the case of the use of the Leader of the Official Opposition’s parliamentary office space for an advertisement video of the political party, and answered questions.

The Board agreed to set an amount for payment as an appropriate remedy for the non-compliance with the Members By-law for the use of House of Commons resources, and accepted the reimbursement in the amount of $500 offered for the non-compliance.

The Board asked the House Administration to present recommendations on appropriate remedies for future instances of non-compliance with the Members’ By-law at an upcoming meeting.


ADMINISTRATION

It was also requested that, at a future meeting, the House Administration provide an update to the Board on the Expense Management Solution project and to discuss how Members’ feedback would be incorporated.


The meeting was adjourned at 11:58 p.m.

Eric Janse
Secretary to the Board of Internal Economy