HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY MANAGEMENT COMMISSION

MINUTES

A meeting of the House of Assembly Management Commission was held by video conference on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.

Present were: Hon. Kevin Murphy, Chair, Hon. Geoff MacLellan, Hon. Chuck Porter, Mr Keith Bain, Ms Rafah DiCostanzo, Mr Allan MacMaster, Ms Karla MacFarlane, Ms Claudia Chender and Mr James Charlton, Chief Clerk.

Also present were Ms Deborah Lusby, Director of Administration, Office of the Speaker and Mr Gordon D. Hebb, QC, Chief Legislative Counsel.

Ms. Chender asked that a motion be considered at the end of the meeting. The Chair asked for and received the consent of the members of the Commission to consider Ms. Chender’s motion after the items already on the agenda.

1)        Minutes of January 28, 2021 meeting

It was moved by Mr MacLellan and seconded by Ms DiCostanzo that the minutes of the January 28, 2021 meeting be approved as circulated.

CARRIED

2)             Proposed amendments to the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations

a)            Amendments to Sections 18, 19, 19A, and 19B and revision of the standard form of lease

The proposed amendments were circulated in advance of the meeting. The Chief Clerk explained the effect of the amendments and answered questions posed by Mr Porter and Ms DiCostanzo.

It was moved by Mr Porter and seconded by Ms DiCostanzo that the amendments to Sections 18, 19, 19A, and 19B of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations and the revised form of lease be approved.

CARRIED

b)            Amendments to Section 43A

The proposed amendments were circulated in advance of the meeting. The Chief Legislative Counsel explained the effect of the amendments.

It was moved by Mr MacLellan and seconded by Mr MacMaster that the amendments to Section 43A of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be approved.

CARRIED

c)            Amendments to Sections 19B and 43

The proposed amendments were circulated in advance of the meeting. The Chief Clerk explained the effect of the amendments and the Director of Administration answered a question posed by Mr Porter.

It was moved by Mr Porter and seconded by Mr MacLellan that the amendments to Sections 19B and 43 of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be approved.

CARRIED

3)             Motion by Ms Claudia Chender

The proposed motion was circulated by the Chief Clerk at Ms Chender’s request. Ms Chender proposed a motion that the House of Assembly Management Commission review MLA office budget allocations to ensure equitable access to resources required for MLAs to serve their constituents, and that the result and accompanying recommendation to improve expense equity be reported to the commission at its next meeting.

Debate on the proposed motion ensued with Ms Chender, Ms MacFarlane, Mr MacLellan, the Chair, Mr Porter, Ms DiCostanzo and Mr MacMaster participating. Ms. Chender then withdrew her proposed motion and substituted a revised motion in its place.

It was moved by Ms Chender and seconded by Mr MacLellan that the House of Assembly Management Commission direct staff to consider the best way to conduct a review of MLA office budget allocations and report back at the next meeting of the Commission.

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 2:12 p.m.

These minutes were approved by the Management Commission on January 11, 2022.

Certified

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Chair

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Chief Clerk