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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Thursday, May 2, 2019

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Thursday, May 2, 2019, at 11:35 a.m., in Room 225-A, West Block.

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

Present: The Honourables Bardish Chagger, Mark Holland and Candice Bergen; Messrs. Mark Strahl and Peter Julian

Secretary to the Board: Charles Robert, Clerk of the House of Commons

Also Present: Michel Patrice, Deputy Clerk, Administration; Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Pierre Parent, Chief Human Resources Officer; Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer; Soufiane Ben Moussa, Chief Technology Officer; Guillaume La Perrière Marcoux, Secretariat

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of April 11, 2019, were adopted and approved for tabling.


Business Arising from Previous Meetings

The Board noted correspondence distributed since its last meeting.

Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, provided an update on the issue of maternity and parental leave for Members of Parliament and answered questions.

The Board agreed that the House Administration bring forward options to consider in relation to maternity and parental leave for Members of Parliament at the next meeting of the Board.


UPDATING RULES RESPECTING POLITICAL PARTY EXECUTIVES

Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, presented amendments to the Members By-law and the Members’ Allowances and Services Manual in relation to the rules respecting the hiring and contracting with “political party executives”.


The Board approved the following amendments, effective immediately:


1. Amend the definition to include only individuals occupying the position of “officer, auditor or chief agent” of a registered political party;

2. Correct outdated references to provisions of the Canada Elections Act; and

3. Remove the requirement for the Party Leader of each recognized party to provide the names of all political party executives to the House Administration on an annual basis and within 30 days of any changes.

The Board also approved the consequential amendments to the Members By-Law as well as amendments to the Members’ Allowances and Services Manual to reflect the policy changes outlined above.


HOUSE OF COMMONS ADMINISTRATION’S STRATEGIC PLAN 2019–2022

The Board approved the House of Commons Administration’s Strategic Plan 2019–2022 and agreed that the Speaker proceed with its tabling in the House of Commons.


USE OF HOUSE RESOURCES WITH RESPECT TO A FORMER MEMBER’S SECONDARY RESIDENCE

Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer, presented the findings of the House Administration’s review of the use of House of Commons resources by a former Member in relation to his secondary residence and related expenses from 2012 to 2016 and was satisfied that it met the requirements that were in effect at that time.


USE OF HOUSE RESOURCES WITH RESPECT TO A MEMBER’S DESIGNATED WEB SITE

Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer, and Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, presented the findings of the House Administration’s review of the use of House of Commons resources by a Member, with respect to the Member’s designated web site and, with Soufiane Ben Moussa, Chief Technology Officer, answered questions.

The Board agreed that the House Administration provide periodic reminders to Members regarding the Members By-law and policy requirements not to use House of Commons resources for soliciting membership to a political party or for activities that are related to a meeting of an electoral district association.

At 12:33 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 12:40 p.m., the meeting resumed in camera.


LABOUR RELATIONS

The Board agreed that a communiqué be sent to Members by the House Administration regarding employee leave for election-related activities.


LEGAL MATTERS

Pursuant to the measures adopted at its meeting of October 4, 2018 in relation to the Final Investigation Report and the Report of the Appeal Panel concerning allegations made against Mr. Darshan Kang, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, under the House of Commons Policy on Preventing and Addressing Harassment, the Board approved that the Member be requested to issue a public apology no later than Tuesday, May 7, 2019; otherwise, the matter will be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.


The meeting was adjourned.

Charles Robert
Secretary to the Board of Internal Economy