CPA activities: the Canadian scene.

• Position: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - Conference notes

50th CPA Conference

The 50th Conference of the Canadian Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was opened by Jacques Chagnon, President of the Quebec National Assembly and Chairman Of the Quebec Branch of the CPA on July 17, 2012.

The Vice-Chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga of Uganda, brought greetings from that organization and Sir Alan Haselhurst spoke on behalf of the Executive Committee of CPA.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The first business session consisted of a presentation on "Interparliamentary Relations and the Promotion of Human Rights." The speaker was the First Vice-President of the National Assembly Fatima Houda-Pepin.

Joe Preston MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London spoke at the second session on "Reinforcing Parliamentary Democracy in the Caribbean: A Project for the Canadian Region of CPA?"

The third session featured a presentation by Nomaindiya Mfeketo, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa on "Bicameralism in South Africa." During the course of this session the delegates adopted a motion congratulating Nelson Mandela on his 94th birthday on July 18. He was lauded for his contribution to democracy, human rights and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

"The Participation of Aboriginal Peoples in Political and Parliamentary Life" was examined in the fourth session with a presentation by Pearl Calahasen MLA for Slave Lake, Alberta and two officials from Elections Canada, Alain Pelletier and Miriam Lapp.

The fifth session dealt with "Women's Participation in Politics: Challenges and Perspectives". The presenters were Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe, Speaker of the House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands, Mme Houda-Pepin and Lindiwe Maseko, Speaker of the Gauteng provincial legislature in South Africa.

The sixth session considered the question "Are Private Members' Bills a a Useful Tool in Today's Legislature?" The presenter was David Forbes MLA of Saskatchewan.

Yves-Francois Blanchet MNA (Quebec) and Linda Reid MLA (BC) spoke at the seventh session on "The Impact of Conventional and Social Media on Parliamentary Government and the Role of Parliamentarians".

The final business session featured a presentation by Speaker Hunter Tootoo on "Consensus Government in Nunavut".

A total of 125 delegates and observers attended the conference from every federal, provincial and territorial legislature as well as guests from Uganda, South Africa, British Virgin...