CPA Activities The Canadian Scene

Forty-Ninth Canadian Regional parliamentary reforms”. an opportunity to visit various Conference Fatima Houda-Pepin sites on the Island. On the final (Québec) addressed the topic evening everyone was invited to he 49th Regional Conference of “How to give more value to a lobster dinner at the Stanhope was held in Charlottetown, T the role of elected members and Beach Resort followed by a dance PEI from July 13-19, 2011. parliamentary institutions in the with the Rogers Jones Band. More than eighty federal, face of growing cynicism among Delegates thanked Speaker provincial, territorial and citizens”. Casey and her team for the very international delegates attended successful business programme the conference which was host The third session focussed and for the traditional Island by Speaker on the Commonwealth Kathleen Casey hospitality which is second to of Prince Edward Island. Parliamentary Association none in Canada. Other Speakers in attendance and consisted of presentations included George Hickes by Blair Armitage, Executive Secretary of the Canadian (Manitoba), Roger Fitzgerald Commonwealth Women Regional and Raynell (Newfoundland and Labrador), Parliamentarians, Canadian Andreychuk, Canadian Bill Barisoff (British Columbia), Region Dale Graham (New Brunswick), Representative on the CPA Ken Kowalski (Alberta), Don Working Party. The annual conference of Toth (Saskatchewan), Steve Peters In other sessions the Canadian Region of the (), Gordie Gosse (Nova David Faurschou (Manitoba) Commonwealth Women Scotia), Paul Delorey (Northwest spoke about the 1-in-300-year Parliamentarians was held Territories) and Hunter Tootoo flood experience of Manitoba in Charlottetown on July 14, (). in 2011; Linda Reid (British 2011. In the absence of the Special guests included Columbia) gave a presentation CWP Chair Myrna Dreidger David Jones, Deputy (Guernsey), on Committee reform and of Manitoba the meeting of Greg Aplin MP (New South the estimates process; Randy the Steering Committee was Wales), Speaker M.R. Polley Weekes (Saskatchewan) spoke chaired by Speaker Kathleen (Tasmania), Senator Danny about The Role of the Whip in Casey of Prince Edward Island. Maharaj (Trinidad and Tobago), the Westminster Parliament and The Committee looked at the John Hyde, MLA (Western John Betts (New Brunswick) activities report for 2010-2011 and Australia), Shakila Abdalla MP looked at Government Reform: adopted a work plan and budget (Kenya) and Waruna Bandara Increasing the Role of Caucus for 2011-2012. It also elected a , Deputy Vice Chair, Charlotte L’Ecuyer Dhammika Dasanayake The final business session Secretary General of Parliament MNA of Québec. consisted of a presentation by in Sri Lanka. former House of Commons Following the Steering The first business session Speaker, Peter Milliken. He Committee meeting three featured a presentation by reflected upon presiding over business sessions were held. Preston Manning, President and minority parliaments and on Jennifer Watts, Councillor for CEO of the Manning Centre for his tenure as the longest serving District 14, Halifax Regional Building Democracy. His topic federal Speaker in Canadian Municipality spoke about the was “A Model Parliament for history. upcoming Engaging Women, Canada: a national institution for Transforming Cities Conference Aside from the business training future parliamentarians that will take place in Vancouver sessions several optional tours and a laboratory for testing in 2013. were organized to give delegates

CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2011 69 of Regina, where he received a Bachelor of Arts. He worked for the Leader of the Opposition while he was still a student in Ottawa and shortly after graduation, joined the constituency office of MP Larry Spencer. Mr. Scheer was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Regina- Qu’Appelle. He was re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. During the 39th Parliament he served as the Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole. During the 40th Parliament he was named Deputy Speaker. In Nunavut the new Speaker is Hunter Tootoo. He has Canadian Region of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians represented the constituency of Centre since 1999. Mr. Tootoo was born in There was also a panel defeating seven other candidates. and has lived in a number of discussion featuring four of He replaces Peter Milliken different communities across Prince Edward Island’s Famous who did not run in the May 2, Canada. Prior to being elected to Five women who held office at 2011 federal election. Born in territorial office, Mr. Tootoo held the same time during the 1990s. Ottawa in 1979, he becomes the a variety of positions, including Former Lieutenant Governor youngest Speaker of the House in Chair of the Padli and Kisarvik Marion Reid, former Opposition Canadian history. Co-ops in and Rankin Leader Pat Mella, former Speaker Mr. Scheer studied history Inlet, member of the Northwest of the House Nancy Guptill and politics at the University Territories Co-op Business and former Deputy Speaker of Ottawa and the University Development Board, member of Elizabeth Hubley spoke about the Board of Directors of Sport their unique experience and the experience of women in politics generally. Unfortunately the fifth member of the group, former Premier Catherine Callbeck, was unable to attend. The final session was devoted to considering how politicians can effectively use social media to reach out to their constituents. The lead speaker was Cynthia Dunsford MLA of Prince Edward Island. New Speakers The new Speaker of the House of Commons is . He was elected on the sixth ballot Hon. Andrew Scheer Hon. Hunter Tootoo

70 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2011 North, member of the Board of Staff Changes New Clerk and Deputy Clerk in Directors of Arctic Co-operatives British Columbia On June 1 Elizabeth Kingston Limited and as a member of the became Secretary of the federal On September 1, 2011 Municipal Council of Rankin Branch of the Commonwealth Craig James became Clerk of Inlet. Parliamentary Association. She the British Columbia Legislative He has served as Chair of has been with the House of Assembly. He replaces the Standing Committee on Commons for 26 years in various George MacMinn who will Government Operations and capacities including Clerk of the remain in a consulting capacity Accountability, the Standing Finance Committee, the Public for two years. The new Deputy Committee on Health and Accounts Committee and the Clerk is Kate Lloyd Ryan who Education, the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs replaces Robert Vaive in that Committee on Rules, Procedures and Northern Development. position. and Privileges, the Striking She has also served as Committee and the Management Executive Secretary of several and Services Board. In 2008 parliamentary groups and he was appointed Minister associations including Canada- of Education and Minister , Canada-Japan, responsible for the Nunavut and Canada-China. She replaces Housing Corporation. He Stephanie Bond who moved to has also been the Minister the Journals Branch of the House responsible for Nunavut Arctic of Commons. College, Minister responsible for Homelessness and Minister The new Executive Secretary responsible for Workers’ Safety of the CWP is Jolène Savoie who and Compensation Commission. replaces Julie Pelletier in this position. He was elected Speaker on May 31, 2011 replacing who had resigned to run in the May 2, 2011 federal election. Craig James

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