CPA activties: the Canadian scene.

• Position: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Twentieth Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar

A Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar was held in Ottawa from June 8-14, 2008. It was co-sponsored by the federal branch of CPA and by the International Headquarters.

Among the topics on the agenda were:

* The Commonwealth and the Role of the CPA

* The Parliamentary and Political Scene in Canada

* The Role of the Presiding Officer, the Parliamentary Staff and the Standing Orders

* The MP and the Political Party

* Parliamentary Ethics, Transparency and Accountability

* Parliamentary Committees and the Committee System

* The Relationship Between Parliament and the People

* Financial Scrutiny of the Executive

* Parliament, the Executive and the Public Service

* Right to Information

Delegates were invited from each of the Regions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa, Asia, Australia, the British Isles and Mediterranean, The Caribbean, India, the Pacific and South East Asia. Canada was represented by the three Canadian Regional Representatives, Russ Hiebert, Bill Barisoff and Kathleen Casey as well as representatives from two provincial branches, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.

CPA Regional Conference

The 46th Canadian Regional Conference of CPA will be held in Halifax from July 22-26, 2008. As has been the case in recent years it will be immediately preceded by a Conference of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) to be held July 21-22.

The CWP will include a meeting of the Canadian Network Steering Committee chaired by Charlotte L'Ecuyer, MNA, of Quebec. It will be followed by three business sessions on topic s of particular interest to women in their role as parliamentarians.

The CPA Regional Conference will be hosted by Alfie MacLeod, Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. There will be eight business sessions consisting of presentations by federal, provincial and territorial legislators. One of the session will focus on Democracy 250: commemorating 250 years of representative government in Canada. The presenters will be Russell G. MacLellan, Premier of Nova Scotia (1997-1999) and John F. Harem, Premier of Nova Scotia (1999-2006).

The programme also includes opportunities for delegates to visit some on Nova Scotia's famous places with Optional Tours available to the Annapolis Valley and Grand Pre National Historic Site, the South Shore (Lunenburg) or an afternoon of golf. All delegates will be invited to a reception Dinner and evening of Nova Scotia entertainment at...