Report Visit of the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, and Liechtenstein

January 16 to 27, 2010

The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, and a delegation of senators visited Latvia and Liechtenstein from January 16 to 27, 2010.

The delegation has the honour to table its

Report

The official delegation led by Speaker Noël A. Kinsella comprised the following members:

The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, and Mrs. Ann Kinsella; The Honourable Dennis Dawson, Senator; The Honourable Percy Mockler, Senator; Ms. Janelle Feldstein, Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Senate; Ms. Gaëtane Lemay, Secretary to the Delegation.

Background – Latvia Located in North-Eastern Europe on the coast of the , Latvia is bordered by , Belarus, Russia and and has a population of 2.27 million, approximately one third of whom live in the country’s capital, . The country has a surface area of 64,589 km², of which 45% is covered by forests. Its land border measures 1,862 km while its coastline is 494 km long. Approximately 70% of the population lives in cities and 30% in rural areas. Latvia is a parliamentary republic. Its legislative power is in the hands of its Parliament, the , composed of 100 deputies elected every four years by universal, equal, direct and secret ballot based on proportional representation. Canada enjoys excellent relations with Latvia, mainly because it has always supported this country’s independence. It first recognized Latvia in January 1921 and never recognized the Soviet occupation of the country in 1940. Canada was also the first G7 member to acknowledge Latvia’s independence on August 26, 1991, and the first country to ratify Latvia’s accession to NATO in 2004. The Canadian delegation visited Latvia at the official invitation of His Gundars Daudze, . Background – Liechtenstein Located in Central Europe, sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, the Principality of Liechtenstein is a constitutional hereditary monarchy with a population of about 35,000. This tiny, highly urbanized territory of 161 km2 is divided into 11 municipalities, the largest being the capital, Vaduz. Called the Landtag, its Parliament consists of 25 elected members. The government is composed of a prime minister and four councillors appointed by the prince in his capacity as head of state, on the recommendation and with the approval of the Landtag. The reigning prince contributes to the legislative process through his ―right of initiative‖ and he can propose legislation to the government. He may parliamentary proposals and is authorized to enact princely orders, for instance, emergency decrees when the security and welfare of the state are at stake. However, such decrees must be countersigned by the Prime Minister. The reigning prince can also open and suspend Parliament. Despite its limited natural resources, Liechenstein has a prosperous and modern economy. As such, its citizens enjoy a very high standard of living. Objectives of the visit During this visit, the delegation sought to improve relations between Canada and Latvia on the one hand, and between Canada and Liechtenstein on the other, by encouraging ongoing dialogue to promote inter-parliamentary communication and by discussing areas of mutual interests, particularly in the fields of human rights and international exchanges between post-secondary institutions and research centres. More specifically, the delegation aimed to promote collaboration between Canadian and Latvian commercial shipping ports as well as the sharing of agricultural and forestry knowledge and expertise. In general, the delegation sought to establish good bilateral relations in all areas of contact with Latvia and Liechenstein. Meetings REPUBLIC OF LATVIA During its official visit to the Republic of Latvia, the delegation met with: His Excellency , President of the Republic of Latvia; His Excellency , ; His Excellency Mr. Gundars Daudze, Speaker of the Saeima; Ms. Solvita Āboltiņa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima; Mr. Imants Lieģis, Minister of Defence; Mr. Jānis Dūklavs, Minister of Agriculture; Mr. Mareks Grŭskevics, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science; Mr. Dzintars Rasnačs, Saeima Secretary General; Mr. Mārcis Auziņš, Rector, Latvijas Universitate (); Cardinal Jānis Pujats, Archbishop of Riga, Roman Catholic Church; Pavils Bruvers, Bishop of Liepāja, Deputy Archbishop of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church; The High Priest Aleksandrs Nagla, Orthodox Church; Ms. Vaira Vike Freiberga, former ; representatives of seven non-governmental human rights organizations; executives of the Freeport of Riga; representatives of Augstskola (Ventspils University College); Rimants Štrimaitis, Commander-in-Chief of the ; representatives of Ventspils Port; the director and researchers of the Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute. Meeting with His Excellency Valdis Zatlers, President of Latvia Welcoming his guests, the President of the Republic of Latvia, His Excellency Valdis Zatlers, mentioned that he had relatives in Canada, more specifically in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Speaker Kinsella thanked him for his warm welcome, underscoring the quality of the program prepared for this visit. He spoke highly of the Latvian Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Margers Krams, and said that he hoped Mr. Krams’ mandate would be extended. He added that he was delighted with Latvia’s progress after 20 years of independence and believed it was time to take Canadian- Latvian relations to a higher level. President Zatlers pointed out that today, all countries are inter-connected and that everyone benefits from economic integration. He emphasized the importance his country places on relations with Canada and the U.S. The parties then shared their points of view on the situation in Afghanistan—where Latvia is present alongside Canada, as well as events in Yemen, Iran and China. President Zatlers said that it will take diplomacy and the right approach to strike a lasting balance between military and civilian aid. Speaker Kinsella suggested that parliamentarians could play a more active role in diplomacy because they enjoy more latitude than the representatives of the executive branch. Senator Dawson indicated interest on Canada’s part in twinning Canadian and Latvian ports. President Zatlers responded that there was certainly room for such an initiative. For his part, Senator Mockler proposed technology sharing, particularly in research institutes, citing as an example the Potato Research Centre in Fredericton, which excels in improving seeds and developing new potato production, handling and management techniques. La Francophonie is another forum where the two countries could share experiences. Speaker Kinsella proposed collaboration with a view to increasing Latvian food production. At the end of the meeting, Speaker Kinsella wished President Zatlers a pleasant trip to Canada, where he was heading shortly to attend the Olympic Games in Vancouver. Meeting with His Excellency Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia Prime Minister Dombrovskis welcomed the delegation and said how much his country appreciates Canada’s unwavering support. After introducing the members of the delegation, Speaker Kinsella explained that Latvians are part of Canada’s multicultural fabric and that he hoped the two countries could strengthen their relations. He then explained the purpose of the visit, namely, to forge stronger ties between the Canadian Senate and the Saeima, to promote exchanges between post-secondary institutions, and to encourage alliances between the shipping ports of Latvia and Atlantic Canada. Prime Minister Dombrovskis spoke about his country’s difficult fiscal situation, the massive opposition to the budget handed down by the government, the need to slash spending and the efforts made to consolidate its finances and policies in order to meet domestic and international requirements (International Monetary Fund, European Commission, etc.). He expressed confidence that his country would succeed, mentioning in passing that in some respects Latvia is doing better than many other members of the European Union in grappling with the global economic crisis. He added that the Latvian economy is still quite regional, its main trading partners being Russia, Estonia and the Ukraine; neither Canada nor the U.S. are currently major partners, but the country is open to and interested in changing this situation. Meeting with His Excellency Gundars Daudze, Speaker of the Saeima Speaker Daudze extended a warm welcome to the delegation, recalling his visit to Canada in May 2008 and underscoring that the relations between the two countries are excellent on all fronts. He thanked Canada for the favourable positions it has taken over the years regarding Latvia. He noted that many Canadian and Latvian ministers have excellent relations with each other and said he hoped to see more exchanges between the two countries. While confirming that Canada should be viewed as a friend of Latvia, Speaker Kinsella reiterated the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and direct personal exchanges between parliamentarians for even stronger successful bilateral relations. He also expressed hope that more Canadians would pursue post-secondary studies in Latvia. Explaining that he believed the time had come to rethink the paradigm that governs Canada’s outlook on Europe and its access routes, Speaker Kinsella maintained that Canada would do well to replace its usual point of entry into Europe with a port like Riga or Ventspils. He observed that Latvia’s strategic location makes it an ideal gateway into the European market and a first-rate continental transportation corridor. Among the many advantages, he pointed out that smaller countries can make decisions, and resolve practical problems, more quickly. President Daudze said that the economic crisis racking his country is forcing it to look for new partners and markets and that his country is open to a mutually beneficial collaboration with Canada. He also suggested that Canada could ship its non-military material to Afghanistan via Latvia—a route that, in his view, is far safer than Pakistan. He added that the Youth Mobility Agreement, signed in 2006 with Canada, has generated a lot of interest among Latvians and is helping to strengthen the ties between the two countries. Senator Dawson expressed hope that Latvia will attend the Inter-parliamentary Union Conference in Quebec City in 2012. For his part, Senator Mockler offered Canada’s cooperation and collaboration, more specifically in scientific research, adding that our countries have much in common in both agriculture and forestry matters and can benefit from bilateral exchanges. Meeting with Ms. Solvita Āboltiņa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima At a luncheon hosted by Ms. Āboltiņa in honour of the delegation, sport was the main topic of discussion given the upcoming Vancouver Olympic Games. Speaker Kinsella and Ms. Āboltiņa also discussed the importance they both place on inter-parliamentary exchanges and diplomacy. Meeting with Mr. Imants Lieģis, Minister of Defence Mr. Lieģis began by invoking the special relationship between Canada and Latvia, underscoring that he has always had productive exchanges with Canadian representatives, especially during NATO meetings. Speaker Kinsella explained that he believes in a new marine shipping approach and in establishing new, secure navigation routes. In his view, strategic partnerships are possible between Latvian and Atlantic Gateway ports in Canada, even providing for pre- clearance of goods. Military forces could play a security role. Minister Lieģis said that since his budget was much smaller than last year’s, he was forced to prioritize spending; however, funding for the Afghanistan mission was remaining the same. Reminding the participants that the next plenary session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Riga in May 2010, he expressed the hope that Canadian representatives would attend. The parties then discussed territorial claims in the Arctic, Canadian concerns in this regard, the shipping advantages it could offer and the environmental risks involved. Meeting with Mr. Mareks Grŭskevics, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science, and Mr. Mārcis Auziņš, Rector of Latvijas Universitate (University of Latvia); After the customary welcome, Speaker Kinsella outlined the Canadian bursary program for foreign students, adding that he would like to see more international student and faculty exchanges. In his view, students should be able to study abroad for at least o ne semester to broaden their horizons and learn about other cultures. After briefly explaining the governance model of his university—the largest in the country with 22,000 students, only a handful of whom are Canadians, Rector Auziņš said that he hoped to see more exchanges. Despite the associated budgetary challenges, he is ready to explore various options. Mr. Grŭskevics referred to the 2007 discussions between the Canadian and Latvian departments of education on such exchanges. He also mentioned financial obstacles as well as the very real language barrier. Speaker Kinsella then suggested forging a partnership between Canadian and Latvian universities to carry out projects in developing countries. The Rector was prepared to explore this idea further. Meeting with Mr. Dzintars Rasnačs, Saeima Secretary General At a luncheon hosted by Mr. Rasnačs in honour of the Canadian delegation, the guests mainly discussed the importance of inter-parliamentary diplomacy and exchanges, and the key role that democratic institutions play in society. Meeting with Christian religious leaders The delegation had the opportunity to gain a better appreciation of the situation of various churches in Latvia during a meeting organized with Cardinal Jānis Pujats, Archbishop of Riga, Roman Catholic Church; Pavils Bruvers, Bishop of Liepaja, Deputy Archbishop of the Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church; and High Priest Aleksandrs Nagla, Orthodox Church. Speaker Kinsella pointed out that, as a multicultural nation, Canada is also multi-confessional and that he believes religion has a place in public policy. The religious leaders affirmed that their respective churches have established and maintained good relations with each other since the collapse of the and that they also have good relations with the State. Through the exchanges, the delegation was able to learn more about each Latvian church represented, for example, its relations with the State, how it was affected by the collapse of the Soviet Union, its financing, the high cost of maintaining its properties, its ability to attract and retain worshippers, the presence of young people in the church, and its sometimes tense relations with the media. The three religious leaders painted a fairly positive picture of the situation, stating that they did not feel discriminated against and at the same time adding that they would like to expand religious teaching. However, the possibility of the Latvian Parliament legalizing same-sex marriage worries them immensely, especially Cardinal Pujats, an ardent opponent, who intimated that legalization could have dire consequences. Speaker Kinsella tried to reassure them, explaining that Canada had a national debate on the issue just a few years ago that culminated in a distinction being made between religious and civil marriages. He added that the fears raised during the debate, which he himself shared, did not materialize. No religious group that has refused to perform same-sex marriages has been accused of infringing the Constitution. In response to a question from Cardinal Pujats, he then explained the Canadian educational system, which gives the provinces tremendous freedom and latitude in the area of religious education. Roundtable on human rights The delegation had a roundtable meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations to discuss the status of . The following people participated in this meeting: Ms. Marija Golubeva, Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS; Mr. Andris Aukmanis, Soros Foundation; Ms. Linda Freimane, Mozaîka; Ms. Mara Simane, LAPAS; Mr. Viktors Makarovs, EuroCivitas; Ms. Ilze Andresone, Marta Resource Centre for Women; Ms. Anhelita Kamenska, Latvian Human Rights Centre. After explaining their respective areas of involvement (the fight against homophobia, anti-semitism, conjugal violence, promoting human rights, the participation of women in politics, etc.), everyone lamented the deep budget cuts in their organizations. Speaker Kinsella encouraged them to continue their missions and suggested that specific partnerships be set up with Canada. Visit to the Port of Riga and meeting with its senior executives The delegation visited the Freeport of Riga Authority, where it met with: Mr. Viesturs Silenieks, Deputy Chair of the Board of the Riga Freeport Authority; Mr. Leonīds Loginovs, Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Vladimirs Makarovs, Director, Strategic Planning and Project Management; Mr. Edgars Sūna, Head of the Strategic Planning Unit; Mr. Eduards Delvers, Harbour Master. Following a presentation on the activities of Latvia’s largest port, essentially a transit port – with its 30 million tonnes of freight in 2008, 5,500 employees and US$700 million of revenues yearly – the members of the delegation discussed the possibility of new strategic partnerships between Canadian and Latvian ports, which would give freight carriers access to the North American market by way of Atlantic Canada. In return, Canadians would have better access to the European market. The discussion concluded with an invitation from Speaker Kinsella to further explore these potential alliances. Meeting with representatives of Ventspils Augstskola (Ventspils University College) The delegation made its way to Ventspils, 200 km from the capital, Riga. There the members met the First Deputy Chair of the Ventspils City Council, Mr. Jānis Vītoliņš, who first took them for a tour of the Pārventa Children’s Library, and then accompanied them to Ventspils University College to meet its rector, Professor Jānis Vucāns. Also present at this meeting were: Professor Sergey Hilkevich, Vice Rector, Research and Development; Ms. Egita Udodova, Vice Rector, Academic Affairs; Professor Galina Hilkevich, Dean, Faculty of Information Technologies; Professor Astra Skrabane, Head, Chair in Cultural Communications, Faculty of Translation; Ms. Liene Liepina, Student Representative. Speaker Kinsella began by stating that he wanted to encourage research in Canada. He found it unfortunate that Canadian universities put up barriers to international exchanges and felt that Canada is not doing as much as it should to globalize exchanges. The delegation learned about the history of the university, founded in 1997. The institution enjoys the support of the community, which in return benefits from the spinoffs like the applied research that helps the local business incubator. The Ventspils Augstskola offers both academic and professional programs in business administration, information technology and interpretation-translation, and has three research institutes. In 2010, it is offering 12 study programs to 850 students. The university stands out for its interest and involvement in regional economic development, mainly through public- private partnerships. Senator Mockler suggested that Latvia use its observer status within La Francophonie to explore a partnership with either St. Thomas University or Université de Moncton, both of which participate in their communities’ regional development. For Vice Rector Hilkevich, the forestry programs would be a good starting point for such a partnership. Senator Dawson stated that Canada, with its institutional bilingualism, could also serve as a unique laboratory for studying parliamentary multilingualism. Pleased with the possibilities mentioned and by the many areas of common interest, Rector Vucāns appeared amenable to initiating dialogue with Canadian educational institutions. Visit to the Port of Ventspils The delegation then made its way to the Port of Ventspils along with Mr. Vītoliņš. There the members met with Mr. Igors Udodovs, Head of the Marketing and Development Department, Freeport of Ventspils Authority. A detailed explanation on the Port’s strategic position, facilities, expansion potential, special economic zone status, creation of business incubators, marketing strategy and other aspects was followed by discussion among the participants. It was mentioned that the Port would like to reduce its dependence on Russia by diversifying its activities. Interest was expressed in twinning with the Port of Halifax. Meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Latvian Naval Forces and visit to the Naval Training Centre The delegation visited the Naval Training Centre in Liepāja, where it was greeted by the Commander-in-Chief of the Latvian Naval Forces, Captain Rimants Štrimaitis. The Centre’s Commanding Officer, Kaspars Zelcs, gave a detailed presentation on the Naval and Tactical School, which in 2009 turned out 237 graduates from eight different courses, including , navigation, radar plotter and surveillance operations, and mine counter-measures using simulators. The delegation then stopped by the Baltic Naval Diving Training Centre with its Commanding Officer, Juris Timofejevs. The Centre offers courses in ice diving, clearance diving and hyperbaric chamber operation. Lastly, Lieutenant Commander Ingars Pauris gave the members of the delegation a guided tour of the ship LVNS Virsaitis. That evening, the Vice-Chairman of the Liepāja City Council, Mr. Gunārs Ansinš, hosted a dinner held on the occasion of the delegation’s visit to the city. Meeting with the Latvian Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Jānis Dūklavs, and visit to the Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute The delegation went to Cēsis, visiting the Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute, where it met with the Latvian Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Jānis Dūklavs. After welcoming remarks by the Minister and the Institute’s Director, Mr. Ritvars Leitens, the delegation attended a presentation by two of the Institute’s researchers, Ms. Antra Kronberg, Scientific Director, and Ms. Ilze Skrabule, Plant Breeder. The Institute conducts research on genetic improvement of crops, mainly the potato. Without resorting to genetic modification, some 15 researchers are developing new varieties that are more disease resistant and better suited to the Latvian climate and soil. Senator Mockler briefly explained the role and activities of the Potato Research Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and Speaker Kinsella invited the Latvians to visit the Centre to exchange information and best practices. Both Minister Dūklavs and Mr. Leitens appeared receptive to various types of collaboration between the Latvian and Canadian institutions. The parties then discussed the possibility of joint projects aimed at sharing food surpluses with developing nations. As a pilot project, Latvia and Canada could combine their expertise and efforts to develop potato varieties especially adapted to the conditions of a given African country, thus creating a novel and concrete way to provide international humanitarian aid to countries in need. PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN In Vaduz, the capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, the delegation had an opportunity to visit the Landtag (the Lichtenstein Parliament), which houses the principality’s 25 elected officials and administrative services required for their work. The modern building is equipped with the latest technology. Meeting with Prince Alois Speaker Kinsella was granted a private meeting with His Serene Highness Crown Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein, heir to the Principality of Liechtenstein. While topics of common interest were discussed, the conversation focused mainly on the economic situation, not only in Canada and Liechenstein but also more broadly, in Europe and the world. Meeting with Ambassador Roland Marxer, Director, Office for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Roland Marxer, Director of Liechtenstein’s Office of Foreign Affairs, hosted a lunch in honour of the Canadian delegation, which was also attended by some of his staff: Ms. Christine Stehrenberger, Assistant Director; Mr. Peter Matt, Second Secretary; Mr. Dominik Marxer and Ms. Isabel Frommelt. After lunch, Ambassador Marxer gave a detailed presentation to the delegation on the role and place of the Principality of Liechtenstein on the international scene and within the European community. Liechtenstein has five foreign policy priorities: sovereignty, protection through international law, human rights, international solidarity, and the environment. With respect to human rights, the country is focusing on women’s and children’s rights, and on the control of small arms and landmines. To manifest its international solidarity, the country plans to earmark about 20 million Swiss francs to development and cooperation (0.7% of its GDP). Mr. Marxer discussed the unmistakable signs of Lichtenstein’s integration first into Europe and then into global organizations, despite the country’s tiny size. The participants had an informal conversation in which they discussed the situation in Afghanistan, the Kyoto Protocol, global warming, and the recent Swiss decree prohibiting the construction of minarets. Meeting with Ms. Aurelia Frick, Foreign Affairs Minister After introducing the members of the delegation to Ms. Frick, Speaker Kinsella explained the difference between government and parliamentary diplomacy. The Minister apologized for the absence of the members of Parliament in Vaduz; most of them were at a meeting in Brussels and regrettably were not able to change their plans. Speaker Kinsella explained that since middle-class demand for consumer goods has shifted from the West to Asia-Pacific, new trade models will likely emerge. He added that Liechtenstein and Canada could become strategic partners since they are not competitors. The Minister said that her country is interested in negotiating a treaty with Canada in order to avoid double taxation. Senator Dawson said he hoped that Liechtenstein would be present at the Inter- Parliamentary Union meeting being held in Quebec City in 2012. For his part, Senator Mockler said he believed that there were many areas in which both countries could be partners, for example, by sharing best practices in wood construction. The Minister reiterated that relations between her country and Canada were very good and that in her opinion, there were no irritants. Meeting with Ms. Katja Gey, Coordinator and Delegate for International Negotiations in Financial and Tax Matters, Prime Minister’s Office After welcoming the Canadian delegation, Ms. Gey explained that her country had been affected by the financial crisis as it relies heavily on exports (50% of its economy) and is recovering slowly. She did point out, however, that Lichtenstein’s banking system was not unduly affected and that the State did not have to come to its assistance. She then noted that Liechtenstein has bowed to international pressure as regards fiscal transparency and has issued a statement of undertaking to adhere to Article 26 of the OECD, which calls for sharing information for tax purposes. Ms. Gey stated that her country would like to have a tax agreement with Canada and appeared eager to begin discussions with Canadian authorities in this regard. Meeting with the heads of the Hochschule Liechtenstein (University) and tour of the institution Following a warm reception, the delegation attended a detailed presentation on the history and evolution of the Hochschule Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein’s young local university, and then toured the institution. Mr. Dieter Gunz, Head of the Graduate School, Professor Jan vom Brocke, Director of the Institute of Information Systems, Professor Stefan Güldenberg, Head of the Institute of Entrepreneurship, and Ms. Trudi Ackermann, Director of the International Office, each described their functions and responsibilities, along with the University’s structure, and provided pertinent statistics and information. The participants learned that the University has two faculties (Architecture and Business Economics), five research institutes (Architecture and Planning, Entrepreneurship, Financial Services, Information Systems and Economic Research), as well as a Small Business Centre. The Hochschule Liechtenstein is also quite active in continuing education. Speaker Kinsella said how impressed he was with the University’s commitment to regional economic development. Although the University has partnered with 70 educational institutions with which it conducts some 100 exchanges every year, none is Canadian. Speaker Kinsella agreed that there should be more student exchange opportunities and that studying abroad should be more heavily promoted to undergraduates. To this end, he handed out documentation on the bursaries Canada offers foreign students. Senators Dawson and Mockler both offered to act as ―ambassadors‖ of their respective universities, Université Laval (Quebec) and Université de Moncton (New Brunswick), to begin discussions. Acknowledgements The members of the delegation would like to thank His Excellency Mr. Gundars Daudze, Speaker of the Saeima, the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia, for his warm welcome and efforts to make this visit most informative and mutually rewarding. The coordinators of the Saeima’s Protocol Office deserve special praise for their cooperation in preparing the visit and ensuring it went smoothly. The delegation would also like to thank the staff of the Canadian embassies. Special thanks to Mr. Scott Heatherington, Canadian Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia, who helped prepare the agenda and who accompanied the delegation throughout the visit. Thanks are due as well to Mrs. Roberta Santi, Ambassador of Canada to Switzerland and to Liechtenstein, as well as to her Counsellor and Consul, Mr. Carl Schwenger, who accompanied the delegation during their stay in Vaduz. Lastly, the delegates thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada as well as the Library of Parliament for providing documentation that was both useful and necessary to prepare for this visit. Respectfully submitted,

Noël A. Kinsella Speaker of the Senate

Travel Expenses

Visit of a parliamentary delegation led by the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, to Latvia and Liechtenstein.

TRAVEL $55,757.09

ACCOMMODATION $5,084.82

PER DIEMS $3,211.37

PROTOCOL $11,043.81

MISCELLANEOUS $507.41

TOTAL $75,604.50