Administration

• Author: Rob Walsh
• Pages: 93-99

Page 93

cHaPter nIne

Administration

Administration staf are non-political public servants to be distinguished from the political staf of members and House oicers. hey are the stagehands whose job is to see that the operational supports for proceedings in the Chamber, in committees, or to individual members are delivered. While they are public servants much like the many thousands who work in the federal public service, they are not employees of the Government. hey have no partisan political interests or, if they do, they do not allow them to afect their work. hey are hired for their professional skills without reference to any political association, past or present.
he recognized political parties in the House (those having twelve or more members) are given research budgets (according to their size), the House leaders and whips have budgets for their functions, and members each have an oice budget. he House administration, headed by the clerk, has an operating budget to support its functions. Roughly 60 percent of the House’s annual budget goes to the salaries and budgets of members, House oicers, committees, and parliamentary associations, and the remaining 40 percent supports the operations of the House administration. Approximately one-third of this 40 percent is for administration staf salaries and beneits.

Page 94

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

he constitutional independence of the House requires that it be self-regulating. hus, under the Parliament of Canada Act,¹ the inancial and administrative business of the House as a public institution, operating separate and apart from the Government, is vested in the House’s Board of Internal Economy.

Board of Internal Economy

Under the Act, the Board of Internal Economy has the “capacity of a natural person” with “exclusive authority” over the use of House resources. Board membership is composed of an equal number of members from the Government (two of whom must be ministers) and the opposition sides of the House, with the Speaker sitting as chair.
he board meets behind closed doors and is frequently criticized in the media for its secrecy. It is hoped that meeting behind closed doors will enable the business of the board to be conducted without the inluence of partisan politics. he Act requires board members to take an oath or airmation of “idelity and secrecy” with respect to board business. he oath is limited to matters of security, employment and staf relations, tenders, and investigations in relation to a member.

Each year, the board prepares “an estimate of the sums that will be required to be provided by Parliament for the payment of the charges and expenses of the House of Commons and of the Members thereof during the iscal year”² (approximately $563 million for 2022–23), and this estimate is transmitted by the Speaker to the president of the Treasury Board who shall lay it before the House with the estimates of the Government. he notable feature here is that, in keeping with the House’s independence from the Government, the House’s estimates are not, strictly speaking, subject to approval by the Government, that is, the Treasury Board, as is the case for the estimates of each department or agency of the Government.
he board is empowered under the...