Section 21: Core responsibility descriptions

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Internal Services

Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the Federal Government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refer to the activities and resources of ten distinct services that support program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. These services are: Acquisition Management Services, Communications Services, Financial Management Services, Human Resources Management Services, Information Management Services, Information Technology Services, Legal Services, Materiel Management Services, Management and Oversight Services, Real Property Management Services.

House of Commons

Members and House Officers

Members assume the roles of legislators and elected representatives of their constituency. In their constituencies, Members participate in events and activities and hold discussions with constituents about their concerns. In the Chamber, Members participate in debates and study and vote on legislation. Members sit on standing committees and special or joint committees since the House of Commons delegates the in-depth consideration of bills and the thorough scrutiny of the governments programs and policies to its committees. Members also participate in parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups, and are members of delegations for parliamentary exchanges. Finally, in caucus, Members develop strategy, discuss policy and examine important issues with fellow party Members, and direct the work of their party research office. House Officers are Members elected or appointed to positions within the national caucus of a recognized party who carry additional parliamentary functions.

House Administration

Employees of the House Administration are responsible for providing services to Members elected during a parliament. In addition, they serve the House as an institution on a permanent basis by ensuring continuity from one parliament to another, access to parliamentary records, and a stable infrastructure to support Members in the democratic process. They provide advice and support in a wide variety of areas such as: procedural, legislative and legal services; information technology and management; building management; security; food services; finance; human resources; and workplace health and safety. The employees of the House Administration strive to support the institution and the Members in their roles as legislators and representatives of their constituencies, in the Chamber, in committee and in caucus.

Library of Parliament

Information Support for Parliament

This Program Activity provides parliamentarians with information, documentation, research and analysis services to help them fulfil their roles as legislators and representatives and to support them in their efforts to make Parliament and information about Parliament accessible to the public.

Internal Services

See introductory text.

Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Administration and Interpretation of the Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons

Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office provides confidential advice to public office holders and Members of the House of Commons about how to comply with the Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of Parliament. The Office receives and reviews confidential reports and makes publicly declarable information available to the public. The Commissioner may conduct an examination to determine whether a current or former public office holder has contravened the Act and may conduct an inquiry to determine whether a Member has contravened the Code. The Commissioner is also mandated to provide confidential advice to the Prime Minister about conflict of interest and ethics issues. This program activity benefits Canadians by minimizing the possibility of conflicts arising between the private interests and public duties of public office holders and Members, providing for the resolution of those conflicts in the public interest should they arise, and demonstrating to the public that public office holders and Members are held to standards that place the public interest ahead of their private interests.

Internal Services

See introductory text.

Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer

Economic and fiscal analysis

The Parliamentary Budget Officer provides independent, relevant, timely and non-partisan analysis to enable Parliament to fulfill its constitutional obligation to hold the government to account. The Parliamentary Budget Officer provides independent analysis to Parliament on the state of the nation's finances, the government's estimates and the Canadian economy; and upon request from a committee or parliamentarian, estimates the financial cost of any proposal for matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction. In addition, the Parliamentary Budget Officer is responsible for preparing cost estimates of political parties' platform commitments during the election period. Information on the operations of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer can be found in the annual reports which are available on the organization's website. The Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons are the appropriate Ministers for this organization.

Office of the Senate Ethics Officer

Administration and Interpretation of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators

The mandate of the Senate Ethics Officer is to administer and interpret the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators that sets out standards of conduct for Members of the Senate. The primary functions of the Senate Ethics Officer are: to provide confidential opinions and advice on any matter respecting Senators' obligations under the Code; to review confidential annual disclosure statements (listing sources of income, assets, liabilities, government contracts, financial and other interests), advise Senators on possible conflicts and compliance measures, and prepare public disclosure summaries; to conduct inquiries and investigations, if necessary, regarding compliance with the Code.

Core responsibility descriptions—concluded

Parliamentary Protective Service

Physical Security

The Parliamentary Protective Service is responsible for the physical security throughout the parliamentary precinct and Parliament Hill. This includes the physical security of the parliamentary precinct, Parliamentarians, Parliamentary Staff, and guests of Parliament, as well as all visitors to Parliament Hill and/or the precinct, and any assets located within or events that take place therein.

Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

Parliamentary Review of National Security and Intelligence Activities

The core responsibility of the Secretariat is to ensure Parliamentary review of national security and intelligence activities in Canada thereby contributing to enhanced transparency and accountability of the national security framework.

Internal Services

See introductory text.

Senate

Senators, House Officers, and their Offices

Provides Senators with the statutory services set out in the Parliament of Canada Act and the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act. Operating costs of Senators' offices are provided in accordance with established policies and guidelines. Costs included under these two categories are: Senators' sessional indemnities and allowances as well as contributions to the Senators' pension plan and retiring allowances; travel and telecommunication expenses; salaries for additional duties of the Officers of the Senate; staff costs of operating the offices of Officers of the Senate; Senators' research and office expenses, including staff costs and the cost of goods and services incurred for the operations of Senators' offices; and Caucus research funds.

Administrative Support

Provide the ongoing support services required for the effective, efficient and economical delivery of operating programs outlined under the other two programs of the Senate. Administrative support provides accommodation and other facilities and tools, information, goods and services, and expert advice on all aspects of operations. Costs included in this program are: financial services and materiel management; human resources; corporate security services; information services; information technology management; accommodation planning, maintenance and upkeep of premises; postal, messenger and printing services; repairs, trades and transportation services; corporate improvement including internal audit and strategic management.

Chamber, Committees and Associations

Provide the support and services Senators require for their work in the Senate Chamber; standing, special and joint committees; and parliamentary associations. This includes procedural, legislative, and information products such as Speaker's rulings, legislative drafting, official publications and broadcasting; and administrative services such as budgets and logistics for meetings. Costs included under this program are: salaries of the Clerk's and Legislative Sectors; journals, reporting of debates and publications; committees, parliamentary associations and exchanges; broadcasting; communications; and Senate Pages.

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