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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Thursday, April 22, 2021

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 11:05 a.m., in Room 035-B, West Block.

In the Chair: The Honourable Anthony Rota, Speaker of the House of Commons

Present: The Honourables Mark Holland, Dominic LeBlanc, Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Pablo Rodríguez; Mr. Gérard Deltell, Mr. Blake Richards, Ms. Claude DeBellefeuille and Mr. Peter Julian

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

Also Present: Michel Patrice, Deputy Clerk, Administration; Eric Janse, Clerk Assistant, Committees and Legislative Services Directorate; Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer; Michelle Laframboise, Chief Human Resources Officer; Robyn Daigle, Director, Members’ HR Services; Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Guillaume LaPerrière-Marcoux, Secretariat

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of March 25, 2021, were approved for tabling.


BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

The Board took note of documents distributed since its March 25 meeting regarding committee meeting extensions and the virtual committees’ technical dashboard. The Board agreed that the reports be shared with the Liaison Committee and the chairs of committees.

The Board asked questions about the report on committee meeting extensions. Eric Janse, Clerk Assistant, Committees and Legislative Services Directorate, provided answers. Supplementary information on this subject will be provided to the Board.


REIMBURSEMENT OF ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES FOR SELF-ISOLATION

Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer, sought the direction of the Board of Internal Economy in relation to a request made to the Speaker by a Member for the reimbursement of Members’ accommodation expenses for voluntary self-isolation in or near the constituency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board decided to maintain its current policies related to accommodations, meals and incidental expenses.


CARBON CREDIT

Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer, presented an information note to seek the Board of Internal Economy’s direction on the reimbursement of voluntary carbon offsets purchased by Members in relation to their parliamentary travel and constituency office operations.

The Board directed the Administration to conduct further analysis and to return with additional information, which will be presented to the Board for further discussion.


At 11:24 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:29 a.m., the sitting resumed in camera.


STAFFING SYSTEM AND EMPLOYMENT ENHANCEMENTS

The Board considered and endorsed the proposed staffing system and employment policy enhancements.


REQUEST FOR EXCEPTION

The Board considered and approved an exception related to the Members By-law.


LEGAL MATTERS

The Board discussed a legal matter.


EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

The Board discussed an employment matter.


The meeting was adjourned.

Charles Robert
Secretary to the Board of Internal Economy