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May 13, 2015                             House of Assembly Management Commission                             No. 49


 

The Management Commission met at approximately 6:00 p.m. in the House of Assembly Chamber.

 

MR. SPEAKER (Verge): Okay, if we are ready to begin, we will begin with some introductions.  We can start with Mr. Parsons.

 

MR. A. PARSONS: Andrew Parsons, MHA, Burgeo – La Poile.

 

MS MICHAEL: Lorraine Michael, MHA, Signal Hill – Quidi Vidi.

 

MR. HUTCHINGS: Keith Hutchings, MHA, Ferryland.

 

MR. POLLARD: Kevin Pollard, MHA, Baie Verte – Springdale.

 

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Glenn Littlejohn, MHA, Port de Grave.

 

MS KEEFE: Marie Keefe, Clerk's Office.

 

CLERK: Sandra Barnes, Clerk.

 

MR. SPEAKER: Wade Verge, MHA for Lewisporte district and Chair of the Commission.

 

The Commission met briefly in camera and there were two decisions that were made that we need to report publicly.  Number one, the Commission approved the pre-commitment of funds up to $185,400 for the 2016-2017 budget appropriations for the 54th Canadian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.  These funds were pre-committed with the understanding that any guest program would be dealt with on a cost-recovery basis. 

 

The Commission also approved the pre-commitment of funds up $49,700 for the 2016-2017 budget appropriations for the 2016 Hansard Association of Canada annual conference.  Again, these funds were pre-committed with the understanding that any guest program attached to the conference would be on a cost-recovery basis.

 

We will now turn to Tab 2 in your binder.  In Tab 2 you will see the minutes of the February 24, 2015 meeting which require approval of the Commission.  I would entertain a motion to do that.

 

Moved by Mr. Parsons, seconded by Mr. Hutchings that the Commission approves the minutes of the February 24, 2015 meeting.

 

All those in favour, 'aye.'

 

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

 

MR. SPEAKER: Contra-minded?

 

Carried.

 

On motion, minutes adopted as circulated.

 

MR. SPEAKER: If we move to Tab 3 –

 

AN HON. MEMBER: Minutes of March 5 (inaudible).

 

MR. SPEAKER: Okay, my mistake, sorry.  We have another set of minutes for the March 5, 2015 meeting.

 

I would entertain a motion that these minutes for the March 5, 2015 meeting be approved.

 

Moved by Ms Michael; seconded by Mr. Hutchings.

 

All those in favour, 'aye.'

 

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

 

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, 'nay.'

 

Carried.

 

On motion, minutes adopted as circulated.

 

MR. SPEAKER: Tab 3: In Tab 3 you will see some reports on authorizations made by the Speaker and the Clerk.  If you recall in the last Commission meeting, the Commission approved the idea of the Speaker approving any appeals made by members that fell within the guidelines, except they did not meet the sixty-day rule.

 

So we have carried out such appeals by basically emailing to members of the Commission to get their approval, and these are reported on.  The Member for St. John's South, the Member for Terra Nova, the Member for Virginia Waters, the Member for Conception Bay East – Bell Island, and the Member of Lake Melville – they were all approved because the only requirement was that they fell outside the sixty-day deadline.

 

You will also see that the Clerk has approved furniture and equipment since we last met for the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor – Buchans and the Member for Conception Bay South.

 

Any questions?

 

Tab 4: In accordance with section 5 of the Transfer of Funds Policy, one budget transfer was approved by a quorum of four members of the House of Assembly Management Commission in March of 2015.  The budget transfer number HOABT2015-0040 was required to transfer funds to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer under Grants and Subsidies to provide funds to process by-election subsidy payments related to the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

 

This approval has to be ratified by the Commission at today's meeting, so I would entertain a motion by a member which says the Commission ratifies the approval of the said funds. 

 

Moved by Mr. Hutchings; seconded by Mr. Pollard.

 

All those in favour, 'aye.'

 

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

 

MR. SPEAKER: Contra-minded?

 

Carried.

 

Also in Tab 4 – and this is for reporting purposes only in dealing with a budget transfer report for the fiscal year 2014-2015.  The Transfer of Funds Policy, April 2008 requires only certain budget transfers to be approved by the House of Assembly Management Commission.  However, to ensure transparency, it was proposed that all transfer of funds should be reported to the Management Commission for information purposes. 

 

BN 2015-017 provides details of all budget transfers for the fiscal year 2014-2015.  That is in your binder for reporting purposes.

 

That concludes the business.

 

I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

 

Moved by Ms Michael; seconded by Mr. Parsons. 

 

Thank you very much.

 

On motion, meeting adjourned.