23^rdCanadian Regional Seminar

The Canadian Regional Seminar of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was held in Halifax from October 19-22, 2000.  About 35 delegates and observers from every legislature except the House of Commons, Nunuvat and Yukon attended.

The host of the Seminar was Speaker Murray Scott of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.  Other Speakers in attendance were Mildred Dover of Prince Edward Island, Lloyd Snow of Newfoundland, Gary Carr of Ontario, Ken Kowalski of Alberta and Bill Hartley of British Columbia.

There were six topics on the agenda all of which generated considerable discussion.  Harvey Hodder (Newfoundland) led off a discussion on “The Consequences of Under-funding our Post-secondary Educational Institutions.”  Mark Parent (Nova Scotia) opened the session on “Does Religion have a Role in Politics?”  The Clerk of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, George MacMinn, presented opening remarks in a session on “Enhancing the Public Image of Parliament and Parliamentarians.”

Shawn Graham (New Brunswick) was the lead speaker in the session on “Youth and Government.”  The session on Family Policy was lead off by Roger Paquin and Russell Copeman of the Quebec National Assembly.  Finally, the session on “The Use of Technology in Legislatures” was led by Speaker Kowalski of Alberta.

The seminar was held in historic Province House and delegates experienced many instances of traditional Nova Scotia hospitality including a Lobster Supper and induction to the “Order of the Good Time” established by Samuel de Champlain.