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Board of Internal Economy meeting

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Meeting Minutes

Thursday, April 6, 2017

A meeting of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons was held on Thursday, April 6, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., in Room 112-N, Centre Block.

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

Present: The Honourables Bardish Chagger and Pablo Rodriguez; Messrs. Gordon Brown and Murray Rankin

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

Also Present: Rob Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Services and Procurement Canada; Ezio DiMillo, Director General, Parliamentary Precinct Branch, Public Services and Procurement Canada; Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; Daniel Paquette, Chief Financial Officer; Stéphan Aubé, Chief Information Officer; Susan Kulba, Senior Director, A&LTVP Program Management Directorate; André Gagnon, Acting Deputy Clerk; Guillaume La Perrière Marcoux, Secretariat

PARLIAMENTARY PRECINCT LONG TERM VISION AND PLAN

The Board received a briefing and took note of the progress made on the Long Term Vision and Plan as well as of its upcoming milestones and direction.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of February 23, 2017, were adopted and approved for tabling.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The Board noted correspondence distributed since its last meeting.

REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON REQUESTS FOR EXCEPTION

The Board considered and concurred with a report from the Subcommittee on Members’ Requests for Exception. Accordingly, the following recommendations were adopted:

  • That the Board approve a request for exception and allow a Member to charge certain hospitality expenses to the Miscellaneous Expenditures Account of the Member's Office Budget;
  • That the Board deny a request for reimbursement of hospitality expenses;
  • That the Board deny the reimbursement of travel expenses of a Member's dependant;
  • That the Board deny the reimbursement of advertising expenses incurred in 2015-2016 as a charge to the 2016-2017 Member's Office Budget;
  • That the Board approve the payment of legal fees of three Members of Parliament involved in a legal action, calculated at the rates approved by the Board for legal counsel, subject to the accounts being reviewed by the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; and
  • That the Board approve the payment of legal fees incurred and settlement paid by a former Member involved in a legal action, calculated at the rates approved by the Board for legal counsel, subject to the accounts being reviewed by the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.

ADMINISTRATION

Deployment of a New Mobile Platform

The Board was informed of the launch of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 computing device and its features, and that it has been added to the Information Services’ Service Catalogue.

Third-Quarter Financial Status Report for Fiscal Year 2016–2017

The Board discussed and took note of the Third-Quarter Financial Status Report for fiscal year 2016–2017 as at December 31, 2016.

MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES AND SERVICES

Review of the By-laws and Policies and the House Officers’ Budget Structure

The Board was informed of the ongoing review of the By-laws and policies for Members, House Officers and the national caucuses of recognized parties. The Board also discussed proposed changes to the House Officers’ budget structure and requested that further consultation be conducted and additional information provided.

Members’ Sessional Allowance and Additional Salaries

The Board took note of the adjustment to Members’ sessional allowance and additional salaries as of April 1, 2017, an increase of 1.4% in accordance with the formula prescribed by the Parliament of Canada Act.

Maximum Rate of Remuneration for Members’ Employees

The Board decided that the annual maximum salary per Member’s employee would be increased by 1.4%, based on the average wage settlement rate across industries, bringing the annual maximum salary to $85,700.

The meeting was adjourned.

Marc Bosc
Acting Secretary to the Board