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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 11:15 a.m., in Room 340-S, Centre Block.

In the Chair: The Honourable Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House of Commons

Present: The Honourables Peter Van Loan, John Duncan and Dominic LeBlanc; Mrs. Stella Ambler; Mrs. Nycole Turmel; Mr. Philip Toone

Acting Secretary to the Board: Marc Bosc, Acting Clerk of the House of Commons

Also Present: Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Patrick McDonell, Director General, Protective Service and Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms; Mark Watters, Chief Financial Officer; Benoit Giroux, Director General, Members’ Services; Robin Kells, Secretariat

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of February 17, 2015 be amended for approval at its next meeting.

Business Arising from Previous Meeting

The Board reviewed correspondence distributed since its last meeting.

Members’ Allowances and Services

Employees of House Officers and National Caucus Research Offices at Dissolution

The Board reviewed the analysis provided and asked that the House Administration provide the Board with further analysis on jurisdiction.

Kilometre Expenses

The Board was informed of the findings of the House Administration’s analysis of kilometres claimed by a Member. The Board directed the House Administration to conduct further analyses and to proceed with an audit if required.

Administration

Ratification of Collective Agreement

The Board ratified the collective agreement reached with the House of Commons Technical Group bargaining unit.

Finance and Investment

Facility Assets Acquired Through the Long Term Vision and Plan

The Board approved additional funding to operate, support and maintain building component assets and to cover life cycle costs related to the Long Term Vision and Plan . The funding is approved on a five-year basis starting in 2015-2016.

Major Projects of the Long Term Vision and Plan for New Facilities in the Parliamentary Precinct

The Board approved permanent additional resources related to new resource capacity requirements for services at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building and the 180 Wellington building in the context of the Long Term Vision and Plan .

Third-Quarter Financial Status Report for Fiscal Year 2014-2015

The Board took note of the 2014-2015 financial position of the House of Commons as at December 31, 2014.

Members’ Sessional Allowance and Additional Salaries

The Board took note of the adjustment of Members’ sessional allowance and additional salaries as of April 1, 2015, an increase of 2.3% according to the formula prescribed by the Parliament of Canada Act .

Supplementary Estimates (A) for Fiscal Year 2015-2016

The Board approved the Supplementary Estimates (A) for 2015-2016 in the amount of $9,492,000.

Requests for Exception

Reimbursement of Hydro Costs

The Board allowed an exception for the reimbursement of hydro costs incurred in previous fiscal years as a charge against the current year’s Member’s Office Budget. The exception was granted because the Member was only made aware of these additional hydro costs in November 2014, well after the deadline to submit previous-year expenses had passed.

Unpaid Rent

On an exceptional basis, the Board approved a Member’s request for reimbursement for a portion of constituency office rent expenses incurred in the previous fiscal year as a charge against the current year’s budget.

Travel Claim Expenses

The Board agreed that a Member submit a claim for reimbursement of travel expenses and that the request be brought back to the Board for a decision.

The meeting was adjourned.

Marc Bosc
Acting Secretary to the Board