Evidence of meeting #4 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Chief Financial Officer, House of Commons
Normally, any insurance taken out by MPs covers bodily harm to their visitors or employees, as well as any damage to the building. Everything is not covered by the owner.
However, as a general rule, the capital assets inside, such as chairs, desks and other equipment, are not covered. It is covered for some MPs, but not for others.
Chief Financial Officer, House of Commons
Yes, exactly.
It is really for situations where there is bodily harm—for example, if someone injures himself and then sues; for those cases, we encourage MPs to secure insurance.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I have one last question—I have raised it here at previous meetings. It has to do with people who work on the Hill—for example, at the restaurant on the sixth floor.
I see a real problem there: we aren't in a position to find work for them. In a way, with prorogation having occurred a few times and elections--
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Well, my friend, you get paid when there's prorogation, but the working people here don't get paid when you have prorogation. That's what my question is.
My question is to the witnesses, not to you.
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
I can tell you that during the period the House was prorogued—something that was unexpected—we took advantage of the extra time to organize briefing sessions with restaurant personnel—because there are a number of changes being made to the way food and meals are to be produced in the new building that has been built, and that is part of the long-term plan.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
If I am not mistaken, Ms. O'Brien, other employees can be given work elsewhere; but people working at the restaurant on the sixth floor do not have the same opportunity.
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
I will pursue the issue. I will look into this. I know this is something that you feel strongly about. Sometimes people think that special arrangements are being made for others, even though they do not have the same advantages. What they imagine to be true is not necessarily the case.
However, I will look into these special cases with you, because we would not like to see any unfairness or arrangements being made for some staff and not for others.
Conservative
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to call Mr. Bard back to the table, if possible, so we can get some clarification.
In the meantime, for Randy, I think Mrs. Kennedy cleared it up, in the sense that we as members have no insurable interest in the furniture and equipment that belongs to the House of Commons, so there's no sense in wasting money on insurance premiums. However, as individuals we need liability coverage. That's what we have to buy. Madam Kennedy was right in her second intervention. My background is insurance, so if I can help....
Good afternoon, Mr. Bard. How are you?
My colleague asked a question earlier about the breakdown for ten-percenters, and I think one aspect was overlooked when we were talking about percentages.
Are you in a position to tell us how many individual ten-percenters were sent out to the respective ridings of Members of Parliament, compared to those sent outside their respective ridings?
Chief Information Officer, House of Commons
Yes.
We know that in the last quarter, approximately 43% were sent outside of their riding.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
So it is 43% overall. Can that 43% be shared equally across the percentages you mentioned earlier?
In other words, for the Liberal Party, the usage was 13%. Can we therefore say that 43% of that 13% went outside? Does it vary according to costs? I imagine it must have varied.
Chief Information Officer, House of Commons
It can vary somewhat, but the figure is nevertheless very close.
Chief Information Officer, House of Commons
It is fairly proportional. There are variations, but—
Conservative
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
I really wasn't planning to ask a question on this particularly, but Mr. Proulx mentioned the insurance question.
I don't know if you want to come back to the table, Ms. Kennedy.
Is there a place where we could easily find direction in terms of what is and what is not covered for a constituency office? I'm sure there is. I haven't gone on the website.
Chief Financial Officer, House of Commons
Yes, actually, there is the members' allocation and services manual. I could provide the exact reference, but basically, looking under constituency offices, it indicates that a member may charge to the member's office budget the liability insurance. We don't indicate, however, that the House itself is self-insured for its assets.
Conservative
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
So furniture and things placed in my office by the House of Commons are covered.
