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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Tuesday, May 26, 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; Mr. Philip Toone; Mr. Peter Julian

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

Also Present: Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Pierre Parent, Chief Human Resources Officer; Benoit Giroux, Director General, Parliamentary Precinct Operations; Mark Watters, Chief Financial Officer; Robin Kells, Secretariat

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of May 12, 2015 were adopted and approved for tabling.

Leave at Dissolution

The Board discussed the matter of types of leave that might be taken by Members’ employees during a period of dissolution. After discussion, the Board asked the House Administration to provide additional information.

Large Volume Mailings and Satellite Offices

The Chief Financial Officer provided an update to the Board in the matter of collection of funds owing to the Receiver General: On large volume mailings, collection was on hold pending the outcome of negotiations. With respect to satellite offices, further to the Board’s instruction to invite NDP Members identified as owing funds to contact the House Administration should they need to discuss the calculation of the amount owing, five Members provided additional information. Four of these Members were able to sufficiently substantiate that the employees were working to support Members in the performance of their parliamentary functions in Ottawa. As a result, a conclusion was reached that no money is owed by these four Members.

Use of House Resources

The Board reviewed the interpretation given by Elections Canada on the use of Members of Parliament resources in a partisan manner or in the context of an election .

Season’s Greetings Card Program

After discussion, the Board approved that the Season’s Greetings Card Program be modified exceptionally in order to accommodate production timelines in the event of an election on October 19, 2015.

Shuttle Buses

The Board was informed of the upcoming changes to the shuttle bus system.

Drop-In Childcare Services

After discussion, no decision was reached. The Board will continue its discussion at its next meeting.

Request for Exception

The Board granted an exception to a Member with respect to use of the Travel Points System until the House recesses in June.

The meeting was adjourned.

Marc Bosc
Acting Secretary to the Board