HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY MANAGEMENT COMMISSION

 

MINUTES

 

 

A meeting of the House of Assembly Management Commission was held virtually via Zoom on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 3pm. A pre-meeting discussion delayed the start of the meeting.

 

Present were Hon. Keith Bain, Chair, Angela Simmonds, Hon. Allan MacMaster, Hon. Kim Masland, Hon. Keith Irving, Hon. Derek Mombourquette, Danielle Barkhouse, Susan Leblanc and Chief Clerk James Charlton (Non-voting).

 

Also present were Matthew Timmons, Director of Operations and Administration, Office of the Speaker, Gordon Hebb, KC, Chief Legislative Counsel and David Hastings, Assistant Clerk.

 

 

 

The meeting was called to Order by the Chair, Mr. Bain at 3:16pm.

 

1)   Minutes of the July 5, 2022 Meeting

 

It was moved by Mr. Irving and seconded by Ms. Barkhouse that the minutes of the July 5, 2022 meeting be approved as circulated.

 

CARRIED

 

2)   New Business:

 

A)   Regulation Change – Payment schedule for House Leaders, caucus chairs and whips

 

 

Amendments to sections 31 and 32 of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations were circulated prior to the meeting.

 

The proposed amendments would split the two payments into equal 26 installments so that the person in the position is paid for the actual work done. The changes would come into effect on October 1, 2022.

 

It was moved by Ms. LeBlanc and seconded by Ms. Simmonds that that the proposed amendment to Sections 31 and 32 of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be approved to have effect on October 1, 2022.

 

CARRIED

 

 

 

B)   Expenses relating to Her Late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee ceremonies

 

The Chair noted that expenditure limits on Platinum Jubilee services was raised by Mr. Irving at the last meeting and called upon Mr. Charlton to speak to his item.

 

Mr. Charlton explained that this was originally raised as a potential increase to the maximum amount MLA’s can spend on open houses. However, the celebrations that Members were asked to hold relating to Her Late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee fall outside of the true meaning of ‘open houses’.

 

A solution which complies with the House of Assembly Management Commission Act and Regulations was provided by the Chief Clerk to issue a time-limited directive that would authorize each member to claim expenses to stage one or more events on or before February 5, 2023, in relation to her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. The date of February 5th is significant because that marks the end of the Jubilee Medal program.

 

The Chair asked the Commission whether it wanted to put a dollar limit on the celebrations and hearing no comments proposed that the House of Assembly Management Commission directs under Clause 21(1)(m) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations, that each member may claim expenses to stage one or more events on or before February 5, 2023, in relation to her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee to honour constituents receiving the Platinum Jubilee Medal.

 

This was moved by Mr. Irving and seconded by Mr. MacMaster

 

CARRIED

 

Hearing no other business to discuss the Chair adjourned the meeting at 3:26pm.

 

These minutes were approved by the Management Commission on November __, 2022.

Certified

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Speaker

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Chief Clerk