The theme of the first business session was “Electoral Reform” with presentations by Harry Bloy, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, David McKenna and Richard Brown, Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island and Mme L'Écuyer and Martin Lemay of the Quebec National Assembly. 

The second business session was a panel on the Western Hemisphere Travel initiative with three Ontario MLAs, Ted Arnott, Bruce Crozier, and Michael Prue. The topic for the third session was the “Communications Plan of the Québec National Assembly” and featured a presentation by Quebec Speaker Michel Bissonnet. 

The theme of the fourth session was “Challenges of Women in Canadian Politics: Responsibilities of Political Parties, Legislators and the Public” The presenters were: Sue Barnes, MP, Olive Crane MLA, Prince Edward Island, Nicole Demers, MP, Judy Junor MLA, Saskatchewan and Mme L'Écuyer MNA, Quebec. 

The theme of the fifth session was “Politics and Family Balance” with a presentation by John Betts, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. The sixth session was on Privacy in the Age of Technology – the Need to Protect Personal Information.  The speaker was Mavis Taillieu, MLA Manitoba. 

The seventh session consisted of a film by CTV journalist Lisa Laflamme entitled, “Outside the Wire”.  It dealt with the Canadian mission in Afghanistan.  The ensuing discussion was moderated by Senator Raynell Andreychuk. The eighth and final business session consisted of a presentation on “Making Government Accountable” by John Baird, President of the Treasury Board of Canada. 

Aside from the business sessions delegates and observers were treated to a number of other events including a reception and dinner hosted by Speaker Kinsella in the Parliament Buildings and a reception and dinner hosted by Speaker Peter Milliken at the Canadian War Museum. There was also an excursion by boat to Montebello and a visit to Manoir Papineau National Historic Site and to Parc Oméga. The farewell dinner was hosted by Gord Brown, MP, Acting Chair of the Canadian Branch CPA. 

Regional Council Meeting 

On July 13, 2006 the Canadian Regional Council held its annual meeting to consider the business of the Canadian Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.  The meeting was chaired by Speaker George Hickes of Manitoba since Manitoba will be hosting the Regional Conference next year. Other Speakers in attendance were:  Ken Kowalski, (Alberta), Bill Barisoff (British Columbia), Michael Malley (New Brunswick), Harvey Hodder (Newfoundland and Labrador), Paul Delorey (Northwest Territories), Peter Kilabuk (Nunavut), Michael Brown (Ontario), Gregory Deighan (Prince Edward Island), Michel Bissonnet (Quebec), Myron Kowalsky (Saskatchewan) and Ted Staffen (Yukon).  Also in attendance were Deputy Speaker Wayne Gaudet of Nova Scotia, Sue Barnes, Gord Brown, and Charlotte L'Écuyer. 

The main item on the agenda was consideration of the constitution and budget of the newly formed Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Canadian Section.  After discussion it was agreed to amend the rules of the Canadian Region to add the CWP and to provide funds in the budget for its activities. 

Sites for several future meetings and conferences were confirmed including the next Council meeting which will be held in Winnipeg in July 2007.  Finally the Council considered a request by the Parliamentary Centre to nominate a representative to the Board of Directors of the Centre and Speaker Kowalski of Alberta agreed to serve in this capacity.