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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Tuesday, May 12, 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 and Mr. Peter Julian

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

Also Present: André Gagnon, Acting Deputy Clerk; 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

New Member of the Board

Pursuant to sections 50(5) and (2) of the Parliament of Canada Act , Peter Julian, (April 27, 2015) was sworn in as member of the Board.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of the meetings of February 17, 2015 and of March 31, 2015 were adopted and approved for tabling.

Business Arising from Previous Meetings

The Board reviewed correspondence distributed since its last meeting.

Telecommunication Wireless Service

After discussion, the Board approved changes to the Members’ Wireless Devices entitlements and policies with respect to Members’ smartphones, tablets and types of plans, and the budgets against which these may be charged. Changes to smartphone/tablet lifecycling and replacement were also approved. The Board agreed that only wireless devices (including tablets) purchased through House of Commons Telecommunication Services will be allowed. Inventoried devices not meeting these criteria will be returned. The Board also approved the addition of iPhones and iPads for use within the House of Commons, in accordance with Information Services’ technical and service guidelines.

Effective immediately and as an interim measure until next election, Members will be able to purchase iPhones and iPads as replacements for devices currently in their inventory in case of a broken or lost device or for a device that is eligible for an upgrade.

Additional Broadcasting and Videoconferencing in Committee Meetings

The Board was presented with options for the possibility of providing increased broadcasting and videoconferencing services in House of Commons Committees. After discussion, the Board asked the House Administration to return with further financial analysis.

Electronic Petition System

The Board approved a one-time funding of $250,000 for 2015–2016 to develop and implement an integrated system to receive and process electronic petitions and related government responses, and publish them on the parliamentary Web site.

The Board also approved an annual ongoing funding totalling $197,964 to maintain and support the system.

Ratification of the Collective Agreement for the House of Commons Protective Service’s Bargaining Unit

The Board ratified the agreement in principle reached with the Protective Service’s bargaining unit. The Board also approved the necessary temporary funding for 2015–2016 and for 2016–2017.

The meeting was adjourned.

Marc Bosc
Acting Secretary to the Board