CPA Activities: The Canadian Scene

50th CPA Conference brought greetings from that second session on “Reinforcing organization and Sir Alan Parliamentary Democracy in he 50th Conference of the Haselhurst spoke on behalf of the the Caribbean: A Project for the TCanadian Region of the Executive Committee of CPA. Canadian Region of CPA?” Commonwealth Parliamentary The first business session The third session featured a Association was opened by consisted of a presentation on presentation by Nomaindiya , President of the Jacques Chagnon “Interparliamentary Relations Mfeketo, Deputy Speaker of Québec National Assembly and and the Promotion of Human the National Assembly of the Chairman of the Québec Branch of Rights.” The speaker was the First Republic of South Africa on the CPA on July 17, 2012. Vice-President of the National “Bicameralism in South Africa.” The Vice-Chair of the Assembly Fatima Houda-Pepin. During the course of this Commonwealth Women session the delegates adopted a Parliamentarians, Speaker Joe Preston MP for Elgin- motion congratulating Nelson of Uganda, Middlesex-London spoke at the Rebecca Kadaga Mandela on his 94th birthday

74 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2012 on July 18. He was lauded for Trinidad and Tobago, Tasmania, University of . his contribution to democracy, Tanzania and Swaziland. The He was first elected in the 1993 human rights and the peaceful CPA was represented by William general election for the Liberal resolution of conflicts. F. Shija, Secretary General and Party and re-elected in 1997. “The Participation of Luseane Chesham. In July 1998, he left the Liberal Aboriginal Peoples in Political Delegates and guests were caucus and sat as an Independent and Parliamentary Life” was treated to some traditional member before joining the examined in the fourth session Québec hospitality which Progressive Conservative caucus with a presentation by Pearl included a visit to La Citadelle later that year. Re-elected in Calahasen MLA for Slave Lake, de Québec, a luncheon at the 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2012 he has Alberta and two officials from Manoir Montmorency, a tour served as Minister of Community Elections Canada, Alain Pelletier of Place Royale and Quartier Development, Minister of and Miriam Lapp. Petit Champlain as well as a St. Education, Capital Planning, The fifth session dealt Lawrence River cruise on M/V Minister of Aboriginal Relations, with “Women’s Participation Louis Jolliet. They were given an Associate Minister of Health in Politics: Challenges and opportunity to see The Image and Wellness and Deputy and Perspectives”. The presenters Mill, the largest multimedia Government House Leader. were Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe, projection in the world Before becoming an MLA, Speaker of the House of portraying the history of Québec Mr. Zwozdesky worked as Assembly of the British Virgin City. It was created by Robert a teacher, administrator, Islands, Mme Houda-Pepin and Lepage in 2008 for the city’s 400th professional musician and Lindiwe Maseko, Speaker of the anniversary celebrations. business owner. He was also Gauteng provincial legislature in New Speaker in Alberta the Executive Director of the South Africa. Alberta Cultural Heritage On May 23, 2012 Gene The sixth session considered Foundation and of the Alberta Zwozdeksy was elected the question “Are Private Ukrainian Canadian Centennial Speaker of the Alberta Members’ Bills a a Useful Tool Commission, as well as Music Legislative Assembly replacing in Today’s Legislature?” The Director for the Shumka Dancers who did not presenter was David Forbes and Cheremosh Dancers. seek re-election in the recent MLA of Saskatchewan. He was elected Speaker in a provincial election. Yves-François Blanchet MNA secret ballot defeating one other (Québec) and Linda Reid MLA candidate, Laurie Blakeman (BC) spoke at the seventh session ( Centre). on”The Impact of Conventional Changes at the Table and Social Media on Parliamentary Government and In recent months there have been the Role of Parliamentarians”. a number of changes among the Table Officers of provincial The final business session legislatures. featured a presentation by Speaker Hunter Tootoo on In Newfoundland and “Consensus Government in Labrador the new Clerk is Sandra Nunavut”. Barnes. She is a former Deputy Clerk of Executive Council who A total of 125 delegates and most recently served as Deputy observers attended the conference Hon. Gene Zwozdeksy Minister of the Department from every federal, provincial of Municipal Affairs. She has and territorial legislature as well Mr. Zwozdesky was born worked in the public service with as guests from Uganda, South with Treasury Board Secretariat, Africa, British Virgin Islands, in Saskatchewan but came to Alberta at an early age. A and as Assistant Secretary to United Kingdom, Scotland, Cabinet for Program Renewal Western Australia, Gauteng, longtime resident of Edmonton he obtain bachelor’s degrees and for Economic Policy. Prior Andhra Pradesh, Jersey, to joining the public service, Malaysia, Zambia, Victoria, in arts and education from the

CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2012 75 Ms. Barnes was employed by on August 31 but who will Clerk Assistant in 1977 and Newfoundland and Labrador continue with the Legislature in appointed Queen’s Counsel in Computer Services. She is a a consulting capacity. Shayne 2003. Robert, having previously graduate of Memorial University Davies, who has served at the worked at the House of with a degree in computer Legislative Assembly since Commons and the Saskatchewan science. 2000, will assume the position Legislature, joined the Legislative In New Brunswick Donald J. of Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Assembly of British Columbia Forestell was appointed Clerk Committees. in 1994 as a Clerk Assistant. of the Legislative Assembly In British Columbia Ian Izard, Both Ian and Robert served in effective September 1, 2012. Law Clerk and Clerk Assistant, various executive positions with Mr. Forestell has 19 years and Robert Vaive, Clerk the Association of Clerks-at-the- experience at the Table, serving Assistant, both announced their Table. Ian was President of the as senior Clerk Assistant and retirements from the Legislative Association in 1991-92 while Clerk of Committees. He replaces Assembly in January 2012. Ian Robert served as President in Lori Catalli Sonier who retired was appointed Law Clerk and 1997-98.

76 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2012