Board of Internal Economy
Introduction
The Board of Internal Economy (the Board) is committed to increasing public understanding about its role and the expenditures of the House of Commons and its Members. To help meet this objective, this section provides detailed information about the Board of Internal Economy. The Board is also working hard to make expenditure and financial reports clearer and easier to access.
About the Board of Internal Economy
Role of the Board of Internal Economy
The Board of Internal Economy is the governing body of the House of Commons.
In this capacity, the Board makes decisions and provides direction on financial and administrative matters of the House of Commons, specifically concerning its premises, its services, its staff and Members of the House of Commons.
The Board is responsible for establishing By-laws, policies and guidelines relating to expenditures and resources provided to Members in order to carry out their parliamentary functions. The Board also has the exclusive authority to determine whether expenditures are proper and in accordance with the By-laws, policies and guidelines that have been established. This authority is given to the Board by the Parliament of Canada Act.
Membership of the Board
The Board consists of the Speaker, who acts as Chair, two members of the Privy Council (appointed to the Board by the Government), the Leader of the Opposition or his or her representative, and additional Members appointed in numbers so that the total results in an overall equality of government and opposition representatives (apart from the Speaker). The Clerk of the House of Commons, who reports to the Speaker, serves as Secretary to the Board of Internal Economy.
Decisions of the Board of Internal Economy are made on a non-partisan basis. All recognized parties (i.e. those holding at least 12 seats in the House) are given representation on the Board.
The Board of Internal Economy designates two spokespersons from its membership: a member of the Government and a member of the Official Opposition. They respond to questions related to Board business during Question Period and to enquiries from the media.
View the current membership of the Board of Internal Economy.
More Information
For more information about the Board:
- consult the Frequently Asked Questions
- visit the Board of Internal Economy Fact Sheet on Compendium Online, or
- direct your enquiries to the Parliament of Canada Information Service