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Letter from the Clerk
The first half of this Report to Canadians focuses on the work of Members of Parliament, specifically on their roles in the Chamber, in committees, in caucus, in constituencies and in representing Canadians abroad. The contributions of Members to Canadians, to our country and to democracy are numerous and substantial. After serving for over 30 years at the House of Commons, I continue to be impressed by their dedication and respect for the institution of Parliament.
As the Clerk of the House of Commons, I lead the House
Administration in fulfilling its mandate to provide
Members with the services, infrastructure and advice they
need to carry out their work. At the beginning of each
Parliament, we table the Strategic Outlook which
outlines the long-term objectives for the House of
Commons as an institution and identifies the major
initiatives that the House Administration will undertake
to achieve these objectives. The pages that follow
complete our annual reporting cycle to the public by
reporting on the accomplishments that we have made over
the past year.
I feel privileged to lead what is a very unique
organization. As the senior permanent official of the
House of Commons, I report to the Speaker, who chairs the
Board of Internal Economy, of which I am the secretary.
Along with the Clerks- at-the-Table, one of my primary
responsibilities is to advise the Speaker and all Members
on the interpretation of parliamentary rules, precedents
and practices. When the House is sitting, my role is to
be in the Chamber the majority of the time that the
Speaker is present. As a result, I am well acquainted
with the daily business of the House.
In my role as senior administrator of the House
Administration, I participate in developing strategy and
in reviewing the House Administration's performance,
while making decisions and putting forward
recommendations to the Board of Internal Economy. My
management team and I deal with a variety of matters on a
daily basis, ranging from ensuring security and
maintaining infrastructure to promoting strong
stewardship and engaging our workforce. One of the
elements that makes the House Administration so unique is
the variety of our workforce. Their days are spent
providing Members with essential services and
sought-after counsel and advice. Evidence of the pride
they take in their work is the high number of employees
we recognize each year with long service awards-for 20,
25, 30, 35 and even 40 years of service.
This past year the House Administration continued to
participate in the work necessary to renovate the
buildings of the Parliamentary Precinct and preserve
these important heritage assets and national symbols of
Canada. We also prioritized the continuing improvement of
Parliament's information technology and information
management systems. In addition, we published the new
edition of the book House of Commons Procedure and
Practice through which the House Administration
contributed, from a procedural and administrative
perspective, to parliamentary democracy in Canada. These
are just a few of the accomplishments that are described
over the following pages.
I am proud to present this report on the House Administration's accomplishments over the past year. This is a welcome opportunity to provide Canadians with detailed information on our work.
Audrey O'Brien
Clerk of the House of Commons
