At Work Representing Canada Abroad
Through parliamentary diplomacy, Members of Parliament
play an active role representing and promoting Canada on
the international stage. From their participation at
international conferences to their work promoting
democracy as well as economic and social ties with
developed and developing nations alike, Members help to
advance Canada's interests.
The Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons also
build parliamentary relationships with other countries by
receiving courtesy calls from newly accredited
ambassadors to Canada and keeping in regular contact with
the diplomatic community in the capital.
The Speaker of the House of Commons held 48 such courtesy
calls in 2007-2008.
Representing Canada's Interests
and Sharing our Experience
Group picture of participants in
the XVth Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary Meeting,
held
in Mexico in February 2008.
Photo: © House of Commons
The Speaker and Members are regularly invited to visit
other legislatures to discuss common issues, foster
relationships and share knowledge and expertise. At the
invitation of his counterpart presiding officers, Speaker
Milliken led official delegations to the following
countries during 2007-2008:
-
Trinidad and Tobago (April 2-5, 2007)
-
Germany (October 8-13, 2007)
-
Malaysia (November 1-9, 2007)
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Peru (March 15-20, 2008).
In addition, the Speaker participated in the following
parliamentary conferences:
-
G8 Speakers' Conference, Berlin and Potsdam, Germany
(September 7-9, 2007)
-
19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding
Officers
of the Commonwealth, London, United Kingdom
(January 2-6, 2008)
-
Canadian Presiding Officers Conference, Quebec City
(January 24-26, 2008)
-
XVth Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary
Meeting, Mazatlán, Mexico (February 17-19, 2008).
Welcoming Foreign
Parliamentarians and Dignitaries
OUTREACH PROFILE
Parliamentary Officers' Study Program
Outreach at the House of Commons extends to an
interparliamentary and international level through the
Parliamentary Officers' Study Program. This program
affords an opportunity for senior parliamentary staff
from foreign legislatures and Canadian jurisdictions to
learn about the functioning of the Parliament of Canada
and, in turn, to reflect on their own practices. Hosted
by the Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of
Parliament, it provides participants the opportunity to
observe, discuss and exchange views with senior
Canadian parliamentary officials on the various
procedural, administrative and research services
provided to parliamentarians. Three such programs were
held in 2007-2008, including one specifically for
officials from the parliaments of the Gulf Cooperation
Council.
Participants in the session of the Parliamentary
Officers' Study Program held in November 2007.
Standing from left to right:
Mr. Alistair Doherty
(United Kingdom - House of Commons)
Ms. Marie Thérèse Soya
(Cameroon - National Assembly)
Ms. Gloria Nakebu-Esiku
(East African Legislative Assembly)
Mr. Sambo Sin
(Cambodia - National Assembly)
Ms. Vuyokazi Hellen Mnana
(South Africa - National Council
of Provinces)
Mr. Jagdish Kumar
(India - Council of States)
Mr. Ganbat Bayasgalan
(Parliament of Mongolia)
Mr. Untung Djumadi
(Indonesia - House of Representatives)
Sitting from left to right:
Ms. Elizabeth Watson
(Parliament of Scotland)
Ms. Anca-Daniela Chesaru
(Romania - Chamber of Deputies)
Mr. Brahm Dutt
(India - House of the People)
Mr. Peter Milliken,
M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons
of Canada
Mr. Galal Al-Halali
(Yemen - Consultative Council)
Mr. Manuel Mamadi Fati
(Guinea-Bissau -
National People's Assembly)
Photo: © House of Commons / chris diotte
In addition to their work abroad, the Speakers of the
Senate and the House of Commons also serve as hosts to
foreign parliamentarians and dignitaries visiting Canada.
In 2007-2008, Parliament hosted the following official
visits by foreign parliamentary speakers and delegations:
-
The Honourable David Hawker, M.P., Speaker of the House
of Representatives of Australia, and a parliamentary
delegation (April 14-21, 2007)
-
His Excellency Dr. Jaime José Matos da Gama,
President
of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic, and a
parliamentary delegation (April 30-May 4, 2007)
-
His Excellency Franco Marini, President of the
Senate
of the Italian Republic (September 4-7, 2007)
-
The Right Honourable the Baroness Hayman, Lord Speaker
of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland (September 24-28, 2007)
-
Her Excellency Jozefina Topalli, M.P., Speaker of the
Parliament of the Republic of Albania, and a
parliamentary delegation (October 14-20, 2007)
-
His Excellency Degefe Bula, Speaker of the House of the
Federation of the Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia, and a parliamentary delegation (October
15-21, 2007)
-
Her Excellency Katalin Szili, M.P., Speaker of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Hungary, and a
parliamentary delegation (October 28-November 1, 2007)
-
His Excellency Wolfgang Erlitz, President of the
Federal Council of the Republic of Austria, and a
parliamentary delegation (November 25-30, 2007)
-
His Excellency Danzan Lundeejantsan, Chairman of
the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia,
and
a parliamentary delegation (December 2-7, 2007)
-
His Excellency Dr. Norbert Lammert, President of the
Federal Parliament (Bundestag) of the Federal
Republic
of Germany (January 30-February 5, 2008)
-
The Honourable Kathleen Casey, Speaker of the
Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island (February
12-13, 2008)
-
The Honourable Roger Fitzgerald, Speaker of the
House
of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador
(February 12-13, 2008).
By visiting abroad and by serving as host to foreign
visits, parliamentarians share ideas with their
counterparts from around the world, exploring common
concerns and finding lasting solutions to problems.
Frequent topics of discussion include parliamentary
democracy, international security, agriculture,
immigration, trade and investment, the environment and
international development.
The Parliament of Canada is also a member of various
parliamentary associations. Each of these associations
holds conferences, seminars and meetings. These events
offer Canadian parliamentarians further opportunities to
promote Canada's interests abroad, and to maintain
bilateral and multilateral relationships with other
countries.
CANADA'S CENTENNIAL FLAME
On January 1, 1967, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
launched Canada's 100th anniversary
celebrations by lighting the Centennial Flame for the
first time. Surrounded by the shields of Canada's
provinces and territories, and joined by the water of
the fountain, the Centennial Flame symbolizes our
nation's unity from sea to sea.
An Act passed by Parliament in 1991 ensures that coins
tossed into the Centennial Flame's fountain go to fund
research by and about Canadians with disabilities.
Photo: © House of Commons / Bernard Thibodeau
Many issues of concern to Members of Parliament and their
constituents transcend national and regional borders.
Canadian parliamentarians must take into account the
views and interests of other countries. This is
especially true in a globalized world in which decisions
of international organizations can have an effect on the
daily lives of their constituents. Here are examples of
activities undertaken by Members of Parliament in this
regard:
-
The World Trade Organization (WTO) holds annual public
events where participants from government, parliament,
civil society, the business sector, academia and the
media jointly reflect on the functioning of the
multilateral trading system and analyze the
institutional state of the WTO. As part of the 2007
program, a delegation participated in a panel on
climate change, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary
Union.
-
The Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas sent a
delegation to the 37th Regular Session of
the General Assembly of the Organization of American
States. The main theme, Energy for Sustainable
Development, was of particular interest to the
delegation and their attendance allowed members to
improve their understanding of issues of hemispheric
interest.
-
In meetings with United States governors and state
legislators, members of the Canada-United States
Inter-Parliamentary Group advocated for measures that
would be beneficial to Canadian business, such as the
balanced implementation of the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative.
-
In 2007, Canadian NATO Parliamentary Assembly members
worked with other delegates on examining issues such as
the security repercussions of global warming, as well
as the security ramifications related to the ability of
certain nations to gain nuclear weapons. Canadian
members were very active in debates on the subject of
NATO's mission in Afghanistan.
Visit in Canada of His Excellency Viktor Zubkov, Prime
Minister of the Russian Federation with
Speaker Milliken.
Photo: © House of Commons / Chris Diotte
DID YOU KNOW THAT …
The Library of Parliament originated in the legislative
libraries of Upper and Lower Canada, which were created
in the 1790s. The two libraries were amalgamated when
Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841.
Interparliamentary Groups
Interparliamentary groups strengthen relations between
Canadian parliamentarians and their counterparts from
other countries. These groups promote cooperation and
understanding between nations. The Parliament of Canada
is involved in official interparliamentary groups with
Germany, Ireland, Israel and Italy. The activities of
these groups are supported financially through the
membership fees from individual parliamentarians.
On April 25, 2007, the Speakers of the Senate and of
the House of Commons were honoured to welcome His
Excellency László Sólyom, President of the Republic of
Hungary.
Photo: © House of Commons / Chris Diotte
PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATIONS
The Parliament of Canada belongs to five bilateral
associations and seven multilateral associations.
Bilateral associations
-
Canada-China Legislative Association
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Canada-France Interparliamentary Association
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Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group
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Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association
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Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group
Multilateral associations
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Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association
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Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association (including
the delegation to the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly)
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Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie
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Inter-Parliamentary Union
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NATO Parliamentary Association
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Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas
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Commonwealth Parliamentary Association