CPA Activities: The Canadian Scene 33rd CPA Canadian Regional Seminar New Brunswick espite all the recent The first session on Decorum at the changes in legislatures Dprovincial and territorial in the House was led by Speaker over her twenty years in public elections, the 33rd Canadian Peters. Fatima Houda-Pepin life. She focused particularly on Regional Seminar of the CPA of Québec presented a paper the role of women and on the was held in Fredericton from in the second session entitled: participation of youth. November 3-6, 2011. Twenty- Do Political Parties Promote The fourth session was on the one legislators from the Senate Democracy and Parliamentary Role of the Independent member and from nine provinces and Freedom of Expression? She and featured a presentation by territories attended. looked at recent changes in the Vicki Huntington of British The seminar was hosted by Québec Standing Orders which Columbia who is one of the rare Speaker Dale Graham of New define the confidence convention members to have been elected Brunswick. Other Speakers thereby allowing freer discussion and remain as an independent present included Bill Barisoff of and voting on matters that are not member of the legislature. British Columbia, Gordie Gosse defined as confidence votes. The final session was a of Nova Scotia, Hunter Tootoo The third session featured a of Nunavut and Steve Peters of roundtable on Managing the presentation by Linda Reid of House in Fiscally Challenging Ontario. British Columbia who looked Delegates and observers at the 33rd Regional Seminar 44 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2011 Times. It was chaired by Speaker Singapore, United Kingdom, Joan Fraser, Senator Graham. Several delegates Wales, India, New South Wales, Michael Chong, MP discussed what their legislatures and Khyber Paktunkhwa, • Financing Elections were doing to control expenses. Pakistan. David Smith, Senator The Canadian Region was In addition to the business Patrick Brown, MP sessions there was lobster dinner represented by delegates • The Role of Party at the Fredericton Golf Club and from Prince Edward Island Caucuses an opening and closing dinner and New Brunswick. CPA hosted by Speaker Graham. Headquarters was represented Guy Lauzon, MP Delegates thanked the Speaker by David Broom, Director of Joe Comartin, MP and the conference co-ordinator Finance and Administration who • Parliamentary Committees: Lori Catalli Sonier, for a very spoke about the Commonwealth What Works and What Does productive seminar. and the Role of the CPA. Not Work Other topics and speakers Raynell Andreychuk, Senator Ninth Canadian Parliamentary were: Joe Preston, MP Seminar, Ottawa • The Operation of the • How an MP’s Office he 9th Canadian Parliamentary Parliament of Canada Works TSeminar organized by the Gary O’Brien, Clerk of the Bev Shipley, MP Canadian Branch of the CPA was Senate Brian Masse, MP held in Ottawa from October 16- Audrey O’Brien, Clerk of the • Democracy, Human Rights House of Commons 22. The host was Russ Hiebert, and Development Chair of the Canadian Branch. • The Canadian Political John McKay, MP International delegates attended Scene from Kenya, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, • Have the Media taken over Delegates at the Ninth Canadian Parliamentary Seminar CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2011 45 the Representational Job of During the seminar delegates Parliamentarians? had an opportunity to watch Dean Allison, MP Question Period in the House Richard Cléroux, and Senate, attend a lunch hosted Parliamentary Press Gallery by Senator Donald Oliver, • Engaging Citizens: Speaker Pro Tempore of the Resources and Tools Senate, a dinner hosted by House of Commons Speaker Andrew Dr. Carolyn Bennett, MP Scheer, a reception hosted by Pat • Representing Pluralistic Davidson of the Commonwealth Constitutencies Women Parliamentarians, Tim Uppal, Minister of State Canadian Branch, and a farewell (Democratic Reform) dinner hosted by Mr. Hiebert. Devinder Shory, MP Before adjourning, all • Parliament and Lobbyists delegates expressed their Tim Powers, Summa appreciation to the seminar co- Strategies ordinator, Elizabeth Kingston, Don Boudria, Senior Secretary of the Canadian Branch Speaker Daryl Reid Counsellor, Hill & Knowlton for a highly successful event. Canada Manitoba’s system of issuing drivers licenses, and chaired a The final morning of the New Speakers series of public meetings into the seminar was devoted to topics status of the province’s roads, suggested by the delegates. ince October there have rails and runways. In 2003 he Among these were: Implications been five provincial and two S chaired committees that selected of Climate Change and the territorial elections. As a result a new ombudsman and a new Role of Parliamentarians there are now new presiding Auditor General for Manitoba. (Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, officers in Manitoba, Northwest Sri Lanka); Unifying Diverse Territories, Newfoundland and He was elected Speaker on Views and Expectations Labrador, Prince Edward Island October 20, 2011 defeating two (Dr. Muhammad Faishal and Ontario. other candidates in a secret ballot. Ibrahim, Singapore); The He replaces George Hickes who Commonwealth as a Watchdog retired after twelve years in the of Democracy (Mangala Chair. Samaraweera, Sri Lanka); Social Media With Focus on the Youth Manitoba Involvement (Dr. Lily Neo, In Manitoba the new Speaker Singapore); Natural Disaster is Daryl Reid. He has represented Management, (Dr. Jhansi Winnipeg Transcona in the Northwest Territories Lakshmi Botcha, India); Tackling Legislative Assembly since 1990. Jackie Jacobson was elected Inequality: Models Employed Before entering politics he to the Legislative Assembly on (Dr. Roberta Blackman-Woods, was active in the trade union October 1, 2007 to represent the United Kingdom); The Petitions movement including four years Nunakput constituency, and Process in the National Assembly as national president of his re-elected on October 3, 2011. of Wales (William Powell, railway employee association. He has been an active member Wales); Challenge of Poverty He has been re-elected five of the Tuktoyaktuk community and Democracy (Dr. Sira Ubwa times and has sat on both the serving on the hamlet council Mamboya, Zanzibar); What government and the opposition as the mayor for two terms and Does Democracy Mean for the side of the House. Among other as a hamlet councillor for two Poor and Deprived Sections of things he has served as critic terms. He served as the secretary/ the Population? (Shariq Sharief- for Transportation and Labour treasurer of the Tuktoyaktuk Uddin, India); and Educating the and the Workers Compensation Community Corporation for Population (Saquib Ullah Khan, Board. He led a task force into eight years, as a community Khyber Paktunkhwa, Pakistan). 46 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2011 several branch and regional Prince Edward Island management positions throughout In Prince Edward Island the Newfoundland and Labrador. new Speaker is Carol Bertram. While a Member in the House Ms. Bertram was first he has held many positions elected to the Prince Edward including Deputy Chair of the Island Legislative Assembly in Public Accounts Committee. He September 2003 to represent chaired the public consultations District 17, Crapaud Hazel Grove. on the “Smoking Ban in Bars She served as Opposition Critic and Bingo Halls” resulting in for Education, Tourism, the a new Act entitled The Smoke Status of Women and Community Free Environment Act (2005). He and Cultural Affairs. Re elected chaired the Provincial Advisory in the provincial general election Council on Aging and Seniors on May 2007 in the new district and also the Public Consultations of Rustico Emerald, she was on Healthy Aging, a process to appointed to cabinet as Minister assist Government in developing Speaker Jackie Jacobson of Communities, Cultural a Provincial Healthy Aging Plan. Affairs and Labour, and Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs recreation board member for and Acadian and Francophone three years, and as the Chair Affairs. In January 2010, she was of the Tuktoyaktuk Housing made Minister of Health and board for four years. In addition, Wellness. Mr. Jacobson served for six years Formerly a school teacher as both member of the board at Central Queens Elementary and as the Chair of the Inuvialuit School in Hunter River, Ms. Development Corporation, and Bertram is fluently bilingual and Chair of the Human Resources holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree Board with Norterra. from the University of Prince He was elected Speaker by Edward Island, and a Bachelor of acclamation on October 26, 2011 Education Degree from Mount St. replacing Paul Delorey who did Vincent University. not seek re-election. She was elected Speaker by acclamation on November 1, 2011 replacing former Speaker Speaker Ross Wiseman Kathleen Casey. Newfoundland and Labrador In 2003 he was appointed In Newfoundland and Labrador Parliamentary Secretary to the the new Speaker is Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health & Community MHA for Trinity North. He has Services and in 2007 he became been a member of the House Minister of Health & Community since he was elected in a by- Services. He was appointed election on April 25, 2000. Prior Minister of Business on July 9, to entering political life, he had a 2009 and became Minister of successful 15-year career in health Environment and Conservation administration with the Peninsulas in January 2011. Health Care Corporation and the former Clarenville Area Hospital He was elected Speaker Board. He also has extensive on October 27 replacing experience in the financial Roger Fitzgerald who retired. services industry, having held Speaker Carol Bertram CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2011 47 Ontario Central Liberal Caucus. He was During his time in the In Ontario the new Speaker re-elected in 2003 and served as Legislature he has successfully is Dave Levac. Born and raised Chief Government Whip for four sponsored or co-sponsored a in the riding of Brant, he taught years. number of private members’ elementary and secondary school For most of the 39th Bill including the Firefighters’ for 12 years before becoming a Parliament, from 2007-2011, he Memorial Day Act, 2000; and principal in 1989.