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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at 11:00 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, Speaker of the House of Commons

Also Present:Michel Patrice, Deputy Clerk, Administration; Michelle Laframboise, Chief Human Resources Officer; Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Patrick McDonell, Sergeant-at-Arms; Guillaume La Perrière-Marcoux, Secretariat

PROOF OF VACCINATION AND EXTENSION OF PREVENTATIVE MEASURES WITHIN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS PRECINCT

With Mr. Deltell and Mr. Richards abstaining, the Board decided the following:

- That, effective Monday, November 22, 2021, individuals must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed within the House of Commons precinct. This requirement will apply to any person who wishes to enter the House of Commons precinct, including Members and their staff, political research office employees, Administration employees, members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, parliamentary business visitors, contractors and consultants;

- That, to be considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19, individuals must, at least 14 days prior to entering the precinct, have received the recommended number of doses of one or a combination of vaccines approved by Health Canada—individuals who have a medical contraindication to full vaccination against COVID-19 will be required to show proof of a recent negative result from a COVID-19 rapid antigen test; and

- That children under 12 years of age will not be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated or proof of a negative result from a recent COVID-19 rapid antigen test.


Furthermore, the Board decided that the following preventative measures previously approved be extended until January 31, 2022:


• The House of Commons precinct is closed to members of the public, and public tours are suspended;

• Committee travel is suspended;

• Parliamentary activities in the precinct that are not essential to the functioning of Parliament are suspended;

• The use of masks in the House of Commons precinct is mandatory.


Therefore, the following measures remain in place until that time:

• It is mandatory for any person, including Members and their staff, political research office employees, Administration employees, members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and parliamentary business visitors, to wear a mask / face covering in the House of Commons precinct, except at workstations/desks where two-metre physical distancing is possible.


Masks must be worn in the following precinct areas:

• The Chamber and committee rooms, except when the Member is at their place during parliamentary proceedings

• Members’ offices and Administration offices, excluding workstations/desks where two-metre physical distancing is possible

• Building entrances

• Elevator lobbies

• Hallways, including common hallways within House Administration work areas

• Washrooms

• Locker rooms

• Cafeterias and canteens

• Indoor parking lots

• Elevators and escalators

• Stairways

• Meeting rooms and multipurpose rooms

• Collaboration spaces

• Lunchrooms and kitchenettes


The requirement to wear a mask / face covering does not apply to:

• The Chamber and committee rooms when Members are at their place during parliamentary proceedings. However, it is strongly recommended that Members wear a mask / face covering when they are at their place during parliamentary proceedings.

• Members and other individuals participating in a press conference, including scrums, where two metre physical distancing measures have been implemented.

• Workstations/desks in Members’ offices and Administration offices where two-metre physical distancing is possible.


The following persons are exempted from wearing a mask / face covering:

• A person who has a medical condition that precludes the safe wearing of a mask / face covering or who is unable to put on or remove the mask / face covering without the assistance of another person.

• A person who needs to temporarily remove the mask / face covering to consume food or drink.


These decisions were made to meet ongoing recommendations from public health authorities to help limit the spread of COVID-19 within the work environment.


GUESTS AT SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES

The Board determined that while the House of Commons precinct is closed to the public, Members may invite up to 20 guests to their swearing-in ceremony as of October 21, 2021. All attendees aged 12 years or older, including Members, Members’ spouses, dependants, employees and other guests, must present proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a medical contraindication to full vaccination, in which case proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test result is required.


The meeting was adjourned.

Charles Robert
Secretary to the Board of Internal Economy