CPA Activities: The Canadian Scene

Fifty-First CPA Regional guests were Martin Penn, MNA Trends and Developments in Conference, from the British Virgin Islands, Private Members’ Business. The Michael Poley, Speaker of the presenters were Lisa MacLeod peaker Gene Zwozdesky Tasmania Legislature and Char- () Mary-Anne Jablonski Swelcomed approximately nit Singh Atwai, Speaker of the (Alberta) and Russ Hiebert MP. 80 legislators and observers for Punjab Legislature. Representing Immediately following the the 51st CPA Regional Confer- the Secretary General of the CPA first session William Mitchell, ence held in from July was Meenaksi Dhar, Assistant a Program Assistant with 14-20, 2013. Delegations came Director of Programs with the the Alberta Legislature gave from every Canadian jurisdic- CPA Secretariat in London. delegates a special presentation tion except British Columbia and The first business session, on the history of Alberta Manitoba whose legislatures were Chaired by Speaker David entitled “Oil Battles, Prosperity still in session. Among the special Laxton (Yukon) dealt with

Delegates to the 51st Canadian Regional Conference, Edmonton, July2013

56 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2013 Certificates and Disallowed During the course of the week of public policy consulting in Legislation. delegates were treated to many Alberta Two business sessions dealt examples of Alberta hospitality All the presentations focused with Technology and the Impact including an opening reception on the main objective of the CWP of New Media. The first, Chaired at Fantasyland Hotel in the continued to encourage more by Speaker Carolyn Bertram West Edmonton Mall, a lunch at young women to enter political (Prince Edward Island) featured the McKay Avenue School and life and to provide them with presentations by Blair Armitage, dinners at Northlands Park and practical help in running for Principal Clerk, Communications at Fort Edmonton Park. elected office. with the Senate of Canada and One day was set aside for Jeannine Richard (Québec) who optional tours which offered the Tenth Canadian Parliamentary filled in for the scheduled speaker choice of a walking tour of Old Seminar François Ouimet (Québec) Strathcona, a canoe trip on the rom June 2-8, 2013 the Federal who had to cancel due to family Saskatchewan River, a visit to Branch of the Commonwealth reasons. The other paper on social the Reynolds Alberta Museum or F Parliamentary Association hosted media was given by Professor a visit to Fort McMurray with a a seminar, Strengthening Democ- Steve Patten of the University of tour of the Alberta oil sands. racy and the Role of Parliamentar- Alberta. The Chair for this session Delegates thanked Speaker ians: Challenges and Solutions, was Speaker Dale Graham of New Zwozdesky and his dedicated for 21 delegates from around the Brunswick. staff for their efforts in organizing Commonwealth. The host of the Professor Brenda O’Neill the very successful conference. Seminar was , Chair- of the University of Calgary Next year the 52nd CPA Regional man of the Canadian Branch. spoke on the topic of Women’s Conference will take place in Branches represented included Representation in Provincial New Brunswick. Gambia, Lesotho, Namibia, Legislatures. The session was Northern Cape, Seychelles, Commonwealth Women chaired by Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Parliamentarians Meeting (Alberta). Jersey, Scotland, Bermuda, British Hunter Tootoo, Speaker of he Canadian Section of the Virgin Island, Jamaica, Trinidad the Nunavut Legislature, chaired TCommonwealth Women Par- and Tobago, India and Kiribati. a panel discussion on Making liamentarians held their annual The Australian states of Victoria Members’ Expenses Public meeting in Edmonton immedi- and South Australia as well as with George Rogers (Alberta), ately before the 51st CPA Confer- Canadian branches from Alberta Andrew Younger (Nova ence. Members of the Steering and Yukon were also represented. Scotia) and Jane Groenewegan Committee (one legislator from The following sessions were held (Northwest Territories) each jurisdiction) met on July 14 over the course of the six day seminar. The Director of the Institute to discuss business of the CWP for Public Economics at the for the coming year. Overview of the Role and , Robert The following day the Chair of Operation of the Canadian Ascah, gave a presentation on the Steering Committee,Myrna Parliament Labour Market Trends: Planning Dreidger of Manitoba presented • Mark Audcent, Law Clerk of for Tomorrow’s Workforce. The her report to the annual meeting. the Senate session was chaired by Warren It was followed by three sessions. • Marc Bosc, Deputy Clerk of Steinley (Saskatchewan) The first was by PremierAlison the House of Commons Redford who spoke about the The final session looked at The Commonwealth and the Role issue of gender and politics. New Members’ Expectations and of the CPA The second presentation was Requirements for Their Role as • Andrew Imlach, Director by Leslie Scorgie author of the Parliamentarians. The chair was of Communication and bestselling book Rich by Thirty: Research, CPA Secretariat Wade Verge (Newfoundland and A Young Adult’s Guide to Financial Headquarters Labrador) and the panellists were Services. The final speaker was Hal Perry (Prince Edward Island), The Canadian Political Scene Margaret Bateman, co-founder Blake Pedersen (Alberta) and • Senator Joan Fraser and CEO of Calder Bateman Victoria Jurgens (Saskatchewan) • Russ Hiebert MP which handles a wide variety

CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2013 57 Delegates to the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Meeting Edmonton, July 2013

Parliamentary Committees: What Have the Media taken over Influencing Governments and Works and What Doesn’t the Representational Job of Regulating Influence: Parliament • Senator Raynell Parliamentarians? and Lobbyists Andreychuk • Senator Jim Munson • Don Boudria, (former Minister • Joe Preston MP • Chris Cobb, Citizen and M.P.), Senior Counsellor, Hill & Knowlton Canada Financing Elections and Vice President of the Commonwealth Journalists Due to the hectic atmosphere • Senator David P. Smith Association at the end of a parliamentary How an M.P.’s Office Works Engaging Citizens: Resources session some last minute • Bev Shipley MP and Tools adjustments to the programme • Brian Masse MP • Ed Holder MP had to be made. For example Democracy, Human Rights and • Dr. Carolyn Bennett MP a session on the Role of Party Development Caucus was given by Senator Connecting with Constituents: Andreychuck instead of the • Chris Alexander MP and Representing Pluralistic scheduled presenters who were Parliamentary Secretary to Constituencies the Minister of National unable to leave the House during Defence • Rathika Sitsabaiesan MP a vote. • Devinder Shory, MP

58 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2013 The final session was devoted and diversity in Parliament and Senate and take a guided to topics suggested by delegates. Fazilatun Nasa Bappy tour of the Canadian Museum These included: (Bangladesh) Democracy and of Civilization. They also Terry Stephens, South Good Governance in Bangladesh attended social functions Australia, Committee Chairs including a reception hosted by Steven Herbert, Victoria, Susan Truppe, Parliamentary Sebastien Pillay Seychelles, Australia, The use of Private Secretary for Status of Women Parliament and the budget Members Bills. and Federal Representative for process Lesaoana Peete, Lesotho, the the Commonwealth Women Paul S. Koqo, Lesotho, Public Senate, Parliamentarians. There was a Account Committees Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Pakistan, luncheon hosted by the Speaker Kagisho David Molusi Democracy and Parliament in of the Senate and the Speaker of (Northern Cape) Strengthening Pakistan the House and a farewell dinner Constituency Offices hosted by the Canadian Branch of Shehan Asaka Semasinghe , the CPA, Kenneth Bascome (Bermuda) Sri Lanka, Lack of Confidence in Gaming, Fixed Term Elections, Representatives. The seminar illustrated once Restorative Justice again the usefulness of dialogue Visiting delegates had with legislators from around the Richard Parchment (Jamaica) an opportunity to attend Commonwealth. Corruption in Parliament, Gender Question Period in the House

Delegates to the 10th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar Ottawa, June 2013

CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2013 59 New Speaker in British She was the B.C. Chair for Columbia the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind and a Director of the ollowing the May 14, 2013 Garden City Hospice Society. She Fprovincial election Linda Reid has been active in the Richmond was elected Speaker of the British Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia Legislative Assembly Asia-Pacific Business Association, when it met on June 25, 2013. and the Canadian Council for Ms. Reid was first elected in Exceptional Children and the 1991 to represent the riding of Family Court Committee of Richmond East and was re- Richmond. She was a founding elected in 1996, 2001, 2005, 2009 member of the Richmond and 2013. She is currently the Chinatown Lions Club and was longest consistently serving Chair of the British Columbia Member of the Legislative Youth Parliament Board from Assembly. 1986 to 1991. A graduate of the University Ms Reid was appointed of British Columbia with an Minister of State of State for education degree she earned Speaker Linda Reid Early Childhood Development a Master of Arts from UBC on June 5, 2001 and Minister of specializing in education, State for Childcare in 2005. She exceptional learners, language Assembly, Ms. Reid worked as was appointed Deputy Speaker in acquisition and public a language therapist, teacher June 2009 and held that position administration. Before her and school administrator for the until her election as Speaker. She election to the Legislative Richmond School district. replaced Bill Barisoff who did not run in the last election.

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