Staffing and Budget

Sufficient Budgetary and Staff Support

PACs need sufficient budgetary and staff support to function effectively.

• Receive sufficient funding and resources to hire a full-time equivalent researcher and a dedicated clerk.
• Have continuity of staff resources to provide institutional memory.
• Determine required competencies for staff for hiring and training purposes.

Clerks

Clerks are the principal administrative and procedural officers of committees, and important resources for the long-term effectiveness of PACs. Clerks can make a strong contribution when they:

• Understand the role of the PAC, the legislature and relevant procedural rules.
• Provide non-partisan support to all committee members.
• Demonstrate superior organizational, supervisory and collaborative skills.
• Disseminate information from witnesses to members.
• Understand the subject matter before the committee.
• Understand the procedural and legislative context in which the PAC functions.
• Maintain contact with witnesses and the legislative auditor.

Research Support

Research staff can play an essential role in briefing PACs, drafting reports and 
conducting follow-up work. PAC effectiveness can be optimized if:

• PACs have access to skilled researchers and consultants with strong writing and analytical skills.
• Researchers provide briefings in advance of hearings and draft PAC reports for review and approval.
• Researchers monitor the implementation of PAC recommendations.

Practice Highlights

• Only the Nova Scotia and the House of Commons PACs have a clerk assigned to the committee on a full-time basis.
• In Alberta, there is a Clerk, Parliamentary Counsel, Manager of Research Services and three-person research team that the PAC shares with other committees.
• In Quebec, the PAC has a clerk and two research officers from the Legislative Library.
• The Ontario PAC has access to a clerk and a research officer from the Legislative Library.
• Manitoba’s PAC has access to one clerk and one research officer.
• The House of Commons PAC has a clerk, a committee assistant and two researchers from the Library of Parliament.

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