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CPA Activities: The Canadian Scene

New Speakers 

As a result of recent appointments and elections four new Speakers have been elected and one former Speaker has been returned to the office. 

In the Northwest Territories Paul Delorey was re-elected Speaker following the NWT elections on October 18, 2007.  He was first elected to the legislature as the member for Hay River North on December 6, 1999.  He was acclaimed for a second term in office on October 31, 2003, and re-elected for a third term to the 16th Legislative Assembly on October 1, 2007. 

Prior to his election as Speaker he was a Member of the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight and served as the Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole. In addition, he was a member of the Special Committee on the Implementation of Self-Government and the Sunset Clause. 

Mr. Delorey was born in Guysborough, N.S., the second youngest child in a family of 13. He moved to Hay River in 1968 and, two years later, began work for Canadian National Railway as a trainperson before advancing to locomotive engineer.  He has an extensive history of volunteerism and community service having been an active member of the Knights of Columbus for 24 years and has held many executive positions including District Deputy for the Northwest Territories for four years. He was the local representative for the United Transportation Union for 10 years and sat on the Hay River Recreation Board for two years. 

An avid curler, Mr. Delorey represented the NWT/Yukon at the Canadian Mixed Curling Champion- ships in 1987 and represented Canada in the Strathcona Cup Championships in Scotland in 1998. He coached junior curling for 22 years as a fully qualified Level 2 coach. He also served as a Director on the NWT Curling Association Board for three years and as the president of the Hay River Curling Club for five years. 

The new Speaker of the Ontario Legislative Assembly is Steve Peters.  Born in St. Thomas, Ontario he is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. 

He was elected to St. Thomas Council as an alderman in 1988 and as Mayor 1991. He was re-elected Mayor in 1994 and 1997. First elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1999 he was appointed Critic for Persons with Disabilities. He moved to the agriculture critic portfolio the next year and continued in that role until his re-election in October 2003. Premier McGuinty appointed him to Cabinet as the Minister of Agriculture and Food shortly after the election. He served as Minister of Labour from July 2005 to October 2007. At the time of his election to the Chair he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transportation. 

Mr. Peters was elected Speaker by secret ballot on November 28, 2007 defeating four other candidates Michael Brown, Ted Arnott, David Zimmer and Lorenzo Berardinettii. 

In Newfoundland and Labrador the new Speaker is Roger Fitzgerald.  Acclaimed in the General Election of October 9, 2007 in the District of Bonavista South, Mr. Fitzgerald was also acclaimed Speaker of the House of Assembly on November 1, 2007. 

He was first elected to the House of Assembly for the District of Bonavista South in 1993. He was re-elected in 1996, 1999, and 2003. In November 2003, he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. 

Over the years he has served in a number of positions including:  Opposition Shadow Critic for Social Services; Fisheries and Aquaculture; Agrifoods; Development and Rural Renewa1; Industry, Trade and Rural Development; and Intergovernmental Affairs; as a member of the Public Accounts Committee; as a Member of the Caucus Strategy Committee; and as Vice-Chair of the Caucus Economic Development Committee. 

He was Vice-Chair of the House of Assembly Standing Committee on Social Services and  Vice-Chair of the House of Assembly Select Committee reviewing the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry in Newfoundland and Labrador; as a Member of the House of Assembly Standing Committee on Resources; and as Opposition Party Whip. He then served as the Opposition Critic for Tourism, Culture and Recreation and Municipal and Provincial Affairs. 

On October 25 Alfie MacLeod was elected Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly replacing Cecil Clarke who resigned after being  appointed to the Cabinet as Provincial Secretary. 

Mr. MacLeod represents Cape Breton West and has a long history with the Progressive Conservative Party of NS, serving many roles from Constituency President to President of the Provincial Party. He was MLA representing Cape Breton West from 1995-1998. He was the Provincial Field Organizer for the PC Party from 1998 until the successful election in 1999.  He recently served as the Cape Breton Co-ordinator of the leadership campaign for Premier Rodney MacDonald.  He was re-elected in 2006 and  served as the Government (PC) Caucus Chair and member of the Public Accounts, Law Amendments and Human Resources legislative committees. 

He is the Vice-Chair of the Cape Breton Community Housing Association and is on the Board of the Two Rivers Wildlife Park and the Horizon Achievement Centre.  He is also a Member of the Sydney Port Authority and the Ports Day Planning Committee. 

On November 27 Roy Boudreau was elected Speaker of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly replacing Eugene McGinley who was named to the Cabinet as Minister of State for Seniors and Housing. 

Mr. Boudreau was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the provincial election held June 9, 2003, as the Liberal MLA for Campbellton. During the 55th Legislature, he was opposition critic for family and community services, tourism, education (Anglophone), culture, and sport. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments. 

He was reelected to the 56th Legislature on September 18, 2006 for Campbellton-Restigouche Centre. He was elected Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and was a member of the following standing committees: Committee on Crown Corporations; Committee on Private Bills; Committee on Procedure; Committee on Privileges; Legislative Administration Committee. 

Born in Campbellton on October 24, 1946 Mr. Boudreau was a graduate of the Assomption Academy, in Campbellton. He furthered his education at the New Brunswick Teachers’ College, and then went on to the Université de Moncton, where he received his B.Ed. (Primary), B.Ed. and P.A.C. 

Mr. Boudreau retired after spending 33 years in the education system as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, chairman of the local teachers’ council, and provincial representative on the audiovisual subcommittee. Until recently, he was a Campbellton city councillor, responsible for sports and leisure. 

He has been actively involved in community organizations: The CNIB; the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges parish council, as chairman of the management committee; the board of directors of the 2003 Canada Winter Games; the management committee of the 2003 Canada Winter Games; the Campbellton Youth Centre; the board of directors of the Campbellton Civic Centre; the management committee of the Civic Centre, as chairman. A qualified captain and recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration, he has been commanding officer of the Campbellton cadet corps, commanding officer of C Company Campbellton, and transportation officer for the Campbellton, Bathurst, and Miramichi cadet squadrons.

Twenty-nineth CPA Regional Seminar, Yukon 

The annual Seminar of the Canadian Region, CPA was held in Haines Junction, Yukon from September 7-9, 2007.  The seminar was originally scheduled to take place in the Northwest Territories later in the fall but due to Territorial Elections in the NWT Speaker Ted Staffen of Yukon agreed to host the 2007 seminar.  Twenty MLAs from eight jurisdictions participated along with a number of officials. 

The first business session was chaired by Gary McRobb MLA (Yukon).  The topic was Kluane National Park - its History and Current Challenges. The presenter was Michael Riseborough, Superintendent, Kluane National Park. 

The second session was on the topic of Long-Service Awards for Political Staff.  The presenter was Myron Kowlasky, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. The session was chaired by Cliff Cullen MLA (Manitoba). 

The third session dealt with Disability Issues – Presenting Challenges to the Provinces.  The presenter was Rob Lougheed MLA, (Alberta).  This session was chaired by Alan McIsaac MLA (PEI). 

Olive Crane MLA (PEI) gave the presentation on the Changing Role of the Rural MLA at the fourth business session.  The chair was Bill Barisoff, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. 

The final session dealt with Financial Compensation for Elected Members: What’s Fair? What’s Acceptable? How Do We Get There?  The presenter was Patrick Michael, former Clerk of the Yukon Legislative Assembly and Chair of the independent commission established by the Assembly to review the salaries and benefits of Yukon MLAs. The session was chaired by Speaker Staffen. 

Delegates who attended the seminar expressed their gratitude to Yukon members and staff for their hospitality and particularly to Speaker Staffen for accepting to host the seminar on relatively short notice. 

Sixth Canadian Parliamentary Seminar 

The Sixth Parliamentary Seminar of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was held in Ottawa from October 21-27, 2007. The theme of the seminar was Strengthening Democracy and the Role of Parliamentarians: Challenges and Solutions. It brought together some 20 legislators from 10 Commonwealth jurisdictions along with four members from provincial legislatures.  The host of the seminar was Russ Hiebert MP, President of the Canadian Branch of CPA. 

The following sessions were held for the visiting parliamentarians. 

• Overview of the Role and Operation of the Canadian Parliament 

Chair - Russ Hiebert, MP
Paul Bélisle, Clerk of the
Senate 
Audrey O'Brien, Clerk of the House of Commons 

• The Commonwealth and the Role of CPA 

Russ Hiebert, MP, Chair, Canadian Branch, CPA
Shem Baldeosingh, CPA Headquarters, (London, UK). 

• The Canadian Political Scene 

Chair - Leanne Rowat, MLA, (Manitoba)
David Smith, Senator, (Canada) 
John Reynolds, former MP, (Canada) 

• Role of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians 

Chair - Vicki Dunne, MLA, (Australia)
Maria Minna, MP, Canadian Branch 

• Getting There:  Political Recruiting and Women in the Political Process 

Chair - Sumitra Majajan, MP, (India)
Judy Wasylycia-Leis, MP, (Canada) 
Ann Wicks, Executive Director, Equal Voice Canada 

• The Parliamentary Presence of Political Parties:  The Role of Party Caucuses 

Chair - Richard Mulcahy, MLA, (Australia)
Karen Redman, MP, Chief Opposition Whip, (Canada)
Rahim Jaffer, MP, Chair, National Caucus, CPC, (Canada) 

• Parliament and Civil Society 

Chair - Geoffrey Southern, Deputy, (Jersey)
Rob Anders, MP, (Canada) 

• How an MP's Office Works 

Chair - Sonny Gallant, MLA, (Prince Edward Island)
Nicole Demers, MP, (Canada)
Patricia Davidson, MP, (Canada) 

• Dealing with the Competition:  Have the Media Taken Over the Representational Job of Parliamentarians? 

Chair - Robert K. Lewis, MP, (Saint Lucia)
Kady O'Malley, Maclean's 

• Parliamentary Committees:  What Works and What Doesn't 

Chair - Gerard Jennissen, MLA, (Manitoba)
John Williams, MP, (Canada) 

• Engaging Citizens:  Resources and Tools 

Chair - Solamalemalo Keniti, MP, (Samoa) 
Carolyn Bennett, MP, (Canada) 

• Connecting with Constituents:  Representing Pluralistic Constituencies 

Chair - John Otekat, MP, (Uganda)
Derek Lee, MP, (Canada) 

• Influencing Governments and Regulating Influence:  Parliament and Lobbyists 

Chair - Bernice Olsson, (St Helena) 
Joe Jordan, Principal, Capital Hill Group 

The final session was devoted to discussion of topics suggested by delegates and included the “Role of Emerging Economics from Commonwealth in Supporting Fellow Developing Countries” by Smt Sumitra Mahajan, MP, (India) and “Improving Voter Turnout”by Gerard Jennissen, MLA, (Manitoba).