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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Thursday, March 10, 2016

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 11:15 a.m., in Room 340-S, Centre Block

In the Chair: The Honourable Geoff Regan, Speaker of the House of Commons

Present: The Honourables Judy Foote, Dominic LeBlanc and Andrew Leslie; Messrs. Andrew Scheer, Gordon Brown and Peter Julian

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

Also Present: Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer; Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Stéphan Aubé, Chief Information Officer; Robin Kells, Secretariat

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of February 18, 2016 were adopted and approved for tabling.

Business Arising

The Board noted and discussed correspondence distributed since its last meeting.

The Board agreed that magnetic signs will now be treated as signage rather than advertising.

The Board continued its discussions regarding resources allocated to 10 Members of the Bloc Québécois. The Board decided that Bloc Québécois Members will each be able to transfer a maximum of one special travel point for travel by employees whose salaries are paid from the caucus coordination budget, subject to certain conditions. The Board also noted that a solution to the Bloc’s request for additional space has been found. The Board also agreed that, in addition to being used to pay for employee salaries, hospitality costs and expenses associated with contracts and the purchase of smartphones, the caucus coordination budget may also be used to purchase office furniture and equipment, computers and tablets.

Administration

Pay Transformation Initiative

The Board noted the possible impacts that will occur as the House of Commons transitions to the new Government of Canada pay administration system.

Increase to Pages’ Remuneration

The Board agreed to a 4.5% increase in the annual page compensation for fiscal year 2016–2017. Also for fiscal years 2017 to 2022, the Board agreed to an annual increase by an amount equal to the average residence fees and tuition fees for programs in which Pages are eligible to enrol at the University of Ottawa and at Carleton University, and to review this provision at the end of the five years (2022).

2014–2015 Audited Financial Statements

The Board took note of the results of the audit of the 2014–2015 Audited Financial Statements.

Third-Quarter Financial Status Report for Fiscal year 2015–2016

The Board discussed and took note of the Third-Quarter Financial Status Report for fiscal year 2015-2016 as at December 31, 2015.

Members’ Allowances and Services

Smartphones for Members

The Board approved a change to the telecommunications policy, effective April 1, 2016, to allow each Member, in addition to the cost of their own smartphone, to purchase up to one smartphone per regular employee as a charge against the Member’s Office Budget. The Board also agreed that smartphones must be purchased through Telecommunications Services and may only be used by themselves or their regular employees.

iPads for House Officers and Research Offices

The Board approved that, as of April 1, 2016, House Officers and the Members responsible for Research Offices may charge the cost of iPads against their respective office budgets under the following conditions:

  • These devices may be assigned to or used by only the House Officers’ and Research Offices’ regular employees. Tablets cannot be assigned to casual employees, contractors, volunteers, departmental or ministerial employees, or family members.
  • All tablets and service plans must be purchased through Telecommunications Services.
  • iPad users are personally responsible for expenses associated with the purchase of applications and digital content, since these assets are not transferable and the account owner retains complete ownership.

Members’ Sessional Allowance and Additional Salaries

The Board took note of the adjustment of Members’ sessional allowance and additional salaries as of April 1, 2016, an increase of 1.8% according to the formula prescribed by the Parliament of Canada Act.

Request for Exception

Unclaimed Expenses for the Secondary Residence

The Board denied a Member’s request for the reimbursement of unclaimed expenses incurred between September 2011 and March 2015 for the secondary residence that the Member owns.

The meeting was adjourned.

Marc Bosc
Acting Secretary to the Board