HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES
The twenty-second meeting of the House of Assembly Management Commission was held in the Legislative Committees office, on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.
Present were: Chair, Hon. Kevin Murphy, Mr Gordon Wilson, Hon. Michel Samson, Hon. Labi Kousoulis, Mr Iain Rankin, Hon. Chris d'Entremont, Mr Larry Harrison, Hon. David Wilson and Mr Neil Ferguson, Chief Clerk.
Also present were Deborah Lusby, Director of Administration, Office of the Speaker and Gordon Hebb, Q.C., Chief Legislative Counsel.
1) Minutes of the January 21, 2016 meeting
It was moved by Hon. Chris d'Entremont and seconded by Mr Iain Rankin that the minutes of the January 21, 2016 meeting be approved as circulated.
CARRIED
2) Amendments to the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations
The package of six proposed amendments deferred from the January 21, 2016 meeting were brought forward for consideration along with an additional five proposed amendments to correct section reference errors identified by the Office of the Legislative Counsel.
The Chief Clerk explained the proposed amendments to the members of the Commission.
It was moved by Hon. Michel Samson and seconded by Mr Gordon Wilson as follows:
1 Be it resolved that subsection 28(2) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be repealed and the following subsection substituted
(2) On May 1, 2015, and every subsequent May 1st thereafter, each non-outside member who has claimed reimbursement in accordance with subsection (1) shall
(a) where the House of Assembly is sitting, provide to the Speaker, who shall table in the House; or
(b) where the House is not sitting, file with the Clerk of the House,
a report setting out the dates and the reason in each case for the overnight hotel stays for the fiscal year ending on March 31st in the year the report is tabled.
2 Be it resolved that clause 26A(1)(a) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by striking out "a maximum of $153.00 per night" and substituting "the government rate for the establishment where the member stayed".
3 Be it resolved that clause 27(4)(a) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by adding "at a rate not exceeding the government rate for the establishment where the member stayed" immediately after "hotel accommodations".
4 Be it resolved that subsection 28(1) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by adding ", at a rate not exceeding the government rate for the establishment where the member stayed," immediately after "in Halifax".
5 Be it resolved that clause 44(1)(b) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by striking out "charges incurred," in the fourth line and substituting "at a rate not exceeding the government rate for the establishment where the member stayed,".
6 Be it resolved that subsection 21(1) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by adding immediately after clause (j) the following clause:
(ja) no more than four constituency open houses annually with the annual cost of the total number of open houses, other than the advertising costs for the event, not exceeding ten per cent of the monthly amount allowed under subsection 43(3);
7 Be it resolved that subsection 3(4) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by striking out "42(4)" and substituting "43A(3)".
8 Be it resolved that subsection 27(2) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by striking out "clause 26" and substituting "Section 26A".
9 Be it resolved that subsection 43(5) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by striking out "or (4)".
10 Be it resolved that Section 49 of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by striking out "26" both times it appears and substituting "26A".
11 Be it resolved that subsection 55(2) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations be amended by
(a) striking out "26A" in clause (a) and substituting "26"; and
(b) repealing clause (b).
CARRIED
3) CPI adjustment pursuant to House of Assembly Management Commission Regulation 52
Ms Lusby informed members of the Commission that House of Assembly Management Commission Regulation 52 provides, subject to the approval of the Commission, for an annual increase of certain amounts set out in the Regulations in keeping with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Canada-wide CPI on April 1, 2016 was 1.7 and the Nova Scotia CPI was 1.2.
It was moved by Hon. Michel Samson and seconded by Hon. Chris d'Entremont that there be no CPI increases to member expense allotment for the fiscal year 2016-17.
CARRIED
4) 2015-16 4th Quarter Financials and 2016-17 1st Quarter Financials
These documents were circulated in advance of the meeting and there were no questions from members of the Commission arising from the documents.
5) In Camera session
An in camera session was held from 1:15 p.m. to 1:19 p.m. Pursuant to subsection 9(2) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Regulations, any decisions made during an in camera meeting are to be recorded and form part of the public record. The following motion was adopted by the Commission during the in camera session:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
(a) effective immediately and each time hereafter when a salary increase is approved for EC civil servant employees, all permanent House of Assembly employees who are on the EC salary scale are, subject to clause (b) of this resolution, entitled to the same salary increases on the same effective dates as those approved for EC employees in the civil service;
(b) the payment of the salary increases pursuant to clause (a) of this resolution is subject to confirmation that there are sufficient available funds in the House of Assembly budget to pay the salary increases;
(c) for greater certainty the salary increase referred to in clause includes the salary increase granted to EC employees in the civil service made retroactive to April 1, 2015; and
(d) the Director of Administration will advise the Public Service Commission of any changes or variations made by the House of Assembly Management Commission to the administrative, financial and human-resources policies pursuant to subsection 11(2) of the House of Assembly Management Commission Act.
These minutes were approved by the Management Commission on November 29, 2016.
Certified
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Speaker
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Chief Clerk
