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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Monday, April 7, 2014

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Monday, April 7, 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, Rob Merrifield and Dominic LeBlanc; Mr. Philip Toone

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

Also Present: Richard Denis, Deputy Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Pierre Parent, Chief Human Resources Officer; Mark Watters, Chief Financial Officer; Robin Kells, Secretariat

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The Board confirmed the course of action it adopted at its meeting of April 3, 2014 and directed the House Administration to report back to the Board at its meeting of April 28, 2014.

Offices

The Board agreed to conduct an investigation into the use of House of Commons resources in offices that are neither in the Parliamentary Precinct nor a Member’s constituency office.

With Mr. Toone dissenting, the Board adopted a provisional amendment to the Members By-law which has the effect, as of April 14, 2014, of preventing employees or contractors whose salaries or fees are paid using House of Commons budgets from working on premises owned, leased or under the control of a political party. It was agreed that employee dismissal would only occur if employees performing parliamentary work are not moved from political party premises.

The Board also directed the offices of primary interest to provide the Clerk with specific details about the use of House of Commons resources in these offices so that compliance with the Board’s policies may be ascertained. The Board directed the House Administration to report back at its meeting of April 28, 2014.

Disclosure

Further to its meeting of March 24, 2014, and in light of the motion passed in the House on March 5, 2014, calling “on the Board of Internal Economy to instruct the non-partisan professional administrative staff of the House of Commons to begin posting, on April 1, 2014, all travel expenses incurred under the Travel Point System as well as hospitality expenses of Members to the Parliament of Canada website in a manner similar to guidelines used by the government for proactive disclosure of ministerial expenses…”, the Board agreed to a series of enhancements to its disclosure regime . The Board considered the costs of implementing these enhancements and directed the House Administration to return next fiscal year with a report on the resources involved in maintaining the new regime.

Pay System Changes

Further to its meeting of April 3, 2014, the Board discussed the impacts on House of Commons employees of the Receiver General’s pay system changes for the transition to payment in arrears , which will take effect on April 24, 2014.

The meeting was adjourned.

Audrey O’Brien
Secretary to the Board