CPA Activities: The Canadian Scene

Canadian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

he 45th CPA Regional Confer- Bill Barisoff, (British Columbia), Association. The first business ses- Tence was held in from Eugene McGinley (New Bruns- sion, chaired by Speaker Delorey, July 23-29, 2007. Approximately 80 wick) Harvey Hodder (Newfound- featured a presentation by Erin delegates from every Canadian leg- land and Labrador), Paul Delorey Selby MLA of on Dealing islature except Ontario were in at- (Northwest Territories), Cecil with the Media. As a former jour- tendance. Among the special guests Clarke (Nova Scotia) Kathleen nalist and a newly elected MLA she were Dr. William Shija, Secretary Casey (Prince Edward Island) was able to give delegates an in General of the Commonwealth Par- Myron Kowalsky (Saskatchewan) depth view of how news rooms liamentary Association, Edna and Ted Staffen (Yukon). The Con- work and some valuable tips to fa- Moyle, Speaker of the Cayman Is- ference was hosted by the Speaker cilitate dealing with the media. lands, and two members of the Brit- of the Manitoba Legislative Assem- The second session, chaired by ish House of Commons, Michael bly, George Hickes. Don Toth MLA (Saskatchewan), Connarty and Greg Knight.A Following the official opening consisted of a presentation by number of provincial and territorial Secretary General Shija gave a pre- Hunter Tootoo MLA of Nunavut Speakers were also in attendance in- sentation on the work of the Com- who described the Reporting Rela- cluding Ken Kowalski (Alberta), monwealth Parliamentary tionship between the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut and its inde- pendent officers. He also pointed out a number of unique features of the consensus style government that is used in Canada's newest ter- ritory. The third session, chaired by MLA (Manitoba) featured Professor David Docherty of Sir Wilfrid Laurier University. He presented some findings from an ongoing research project on Members of Parliament Who Cross the Floor. The fourth session chaired by Mary Anne Jablonski MLA (Al- berta) featured a presentation by Grahman Steele MLA of Nova Sco- tia. He spoke about an important but frequently misunderstood topic – the sub judice convention in a pa- per entitled Reconciling Free Speaker George Hickes at the opening of the 45th Canadian Regional Conference of Speech and Fair Trials: What to do the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association when a matter is Before the Courts.

42 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW / AUTUMN 2007 The fifth session chaired by Speaker Hodder, featured a presen- tation by Geoffrey Kelley MNA. He outlined a recent initiative by the Quebec National Assembly, Cre- ation of a Special Research Chair on Parliamentary Government and Democracy. The sixth session, chaired by Speaker Hickes, was presented by Jenny Kwan MLA of British Co- lumbia. She spoke on Seeing Be- yond the Political Horizon: Standards of Care in the Inner City. The seventh session, chaired by Bonnie Korzeniowski (Manitoba) featured a presentation on Women and Politics by Jennifer Howard MLA of Manitoba. The final session on Youth Voter and Political Apathy was chaired by Charlotte L’Écuyer (r) Chair and Stephanie Bond (Secretary) of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians – Canadian Region during the Conference in Winnipeg Speaker Staffen. It consisted of a presentation by Dr. Kim Peers on the and a panel of university students. Delegates were unanimous in Cayman Islands. The Conference The conference included a num- their congratulations to Speaker was chaired by Charlotte L'Écuyer, ber of social events designed to give Hickes and the legislative staff led Chair of the CWP. delegates an opportunity to sample by Patricia Chaychuk, for hosting There were three presentations. Manitoba society and hospitality. such a successful conference. Next The first was by Susan Thompson, These included a reception hosted year the Regional Conference will former Mayor on Winnipeg who by the Lieutenant Governor, John be held in Nova Scotia. spoke on Beyond the Glass Ceiling – Harvard; a dinner and Red River an Independent’s Perspective. The cruise on a paddlewheel boat, din- session was chaired by Sandy Lee ner at the Manitoba Museum with MLA of the Northwest Territories. entertainment provided by the Ab- The next session was on First Na- original Walking Woof Hoop tions Women in Leadership: Chal- Dancer, the French Canadian folk Meeting of Commonwealth lenges and Opportunities. The Women Parliamentarians singing group La Bardasse and the presenters were Chief Betsy Ken- Rozmai Ukrainian Dance Com- nedy from the Assembly of Mani- pany. Among optional excursions ollowing a precedent established toba Chiefs First Nations Women’s offered to delegates were a Prairie Flast year in Ottawa the Common- Committee and Keely Ten Fingers, Grassland and Bison Herd tour, a wealth Women Parliamentarians a Policy Analyst specialising in visit to the Mennonite Heritage Vil- held a one day Conference immedi- Women’s Issues. The session was lage, a round of golf at The Mead- ately preceding the opening of the chaired by Myrna Dreidger, MLA ows or a morning of fishing on the Canadian Regional Conference. of Manitoba. Red River. About two dozen female legislators The topic for the third session was from Alberta, British Columbia, The Conference concluded with a Adjusting to Parliamentary Life Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova traditional Manitoba Social and and featured a presentation by Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Que- Dinner including entertainment Myrna Phillips, former Speaker of bec, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the and a silent auction. Proceeds from the . This ses- federal Parliament attended as did the auction will go to support re- sion was chaired by Carolyn Boli- Edna Moyle,Speakerofthe search into fighting breast cancer. var-Getson MHA of Nova Scotia.

AUTUMN 2007/CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW 43 At the closing session a number of Active in her community, Ms. suggestions were considered for in- Casey is the Past-chair of the United clusion in the 2008 conference Way of P.E.I. Campaign. In 2004, scheduled for Nova Scotia. she was appointed by Paul Martin to the Prime Minister's External Ad- visory Committee on Cities and Communities. Ms. Casey has also served on the Board of Directors of New Speaker in Prince Edward the Confederation Centre of the Island Arts, as well as the Four Neighbor- hoods Community Health Centre. he New Speaker of the Prince She is also a volunteer with the TEdward Island Legislative As- Charlottetown Minor Hockey As- sembly is Kathleen Casey. She was sociation and Holy Redeemer Par- elected on July 6, 2007. Hon. Kathleen Casey, MLA ish. Ms.CaseywasborninNew When not serving in an elected or Waterford, Nova Scotia, where she volunteer role, Ms Casey laces on received her early education, grad- West Royalty to be their Recreation her skates and takes to the ice as a uating from Breton Education Cen- Director, and in 1995 became the Su- member of the Charlottetown ter in 1980. In 1984, she graduated perintendent of Parks for the City of Hockey Mommas. This is a group of from St. Francis Xavier University Charlottetown. In 1997, Ms. Casey moms who raise money for initia- with a Bachelor of Science in Physi- was elected to Charlottetown City tives to fight breast cancer on Prince cal Education. She became an Is- Council and then re elected in 2000, Edward Island. lander by choice in 1986 when she where she served until 2003. was hired by the Community of

44 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW / AUTUMN 2007