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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Thursday, May 18, 2017

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Thursday, May 18, 2017, 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 Bardish Chagger, Dominic LeBlanc, Pablo Rodriguez and Candice Bergen; Messrs. Gordon Brown and Murray Rankin

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

Also Present: Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer; André Gagnon, Acting Deputy Clerk; Stéphan Aubé, Chief Information Officer; Pierre Parent, Chief Human Resources Officer; Benoit Giroux, Director General, Parliamentary Precinct Operations; Judson Simpson, Executive Chef, Parliamentary Precinct Operations; Julie Allard, Director, Client Service Delivery, Parliamentary Precinct Operations; Patrick McDonell, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer; Guillaume La Perrière Marcoux, Secretariat

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of April 6, 2017, were adopted and approved for tabling.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The Board noted correspondence distributed since its last meeting.

RATIFICATION – PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES OF A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

The Board ratified the reimbursement of legal fees incurred by a Member of Parliament.

AMENDMENTS TO THE PARLIAMENT OF CANADA ACT TO OPEN THE MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF INTERNAL ECONOMY

The Board discussed the provisions of Bill C-44, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2017 and other measures, that seek to amend the Parliament of Canada Act in order to make Board meetings public by default. The Board agreed that if the proposed amendments were to become law, the public meetings of the Board should follow the current practices of standing committees, including practices related to the distribution of committee documents, the publication of notices and transcripts, as well as rules for broadcasting and recording. The Board directed the House Administration to take the necessary steps to prepare for the possibility of the amendments becoming law and for the holding of a potential open Board meeting in the near future.

ADMINISTRATION

Strategy for Social Media and the Modernization of the House of Commons’ Web Presence

The Board discussed the House of Commons’ strategy for social media and the modernization of its Web intranet presence and approved (a) one-time funding for fiscal years 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020; and (b) permanent funding for fiscal year 2017-2018 and subsequent years to develop a modernized approach to the delivery of parliamentary information in support of the work of Members of Parliament, their staff and the Administration, as well as to maintain and support the overall solutions and systems.

Ratification of a Collective Agreement

The Board ratified the agreement in principle reached with the House of Commons’ Technical Group Bargaining Unit. The Board approved temporary funding for fiscal year 2017-2018 and permanent funding for fiscal year 2018-2019 and subsequent years.

Annual Report on the House of Commons Policy on Addressing and Preventing Harassment for 2016-2017

The Board discussed and reviewed the Annual Report on the House of Commons Policy on Preventing and Addressing Harassment for 2016-2017, noting that it will be published in June, along with other year-end reports.

Food Services Modernization and Optimization of Services

The Board was briefed on and discussed the impacts of the opening of the West Block on Food Services and the related needs to modernize and optimize its services. The Board approved temporary funding for fiscal year 2017-2018 and permanent funding for fiscal year 2018-2019 and subsequent years for the optimization and modernization of Food Services.

Service Improvements – Postal, Messenger and Dispatch Services

The Board was briefed on the Movement of Goods Project within the House Administration and the resulting upcoming change initiatives to improve current postal, messenger and dispatch services. The Board also discussed the need to maintain certain current services for Members during this transformational project.

Security Screening for Employees of Members, House Officers and Research Offices

The Board discussed and approved the introduction of new security accreditation measures to ensure that prospective employees, contractors, interns and volunteers of Members, House Officers and Research Offices undergo mandatory site access security screening as of Monday, October 2, 2017.

MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES AND SERVICES

Secondary Residence Rate

The Board approved an increase to the secondary residence rate from $30.92 to $50 per day, which is consistent with the daily private, non-commercial accommodation rate set in the National Joint Council’s Travel Directive that Members may claim when they choose to stay in private, non-commercial accommodations.

The meeting was adjourned.

Marc Bosc
Acting Secretary to the Board