Nineteenth Canadian Regional Seminar

The Nineteenth Regional Seminar of the Canadian Region was held in Toronto from November 24-26, 1995. Parliamentarians (including a number of Speakers) from every province, , as well as representatives from the Senate, the House of Commons and Yukon attended the seminar which was held at Queen’s Park.

Delegates were welcomed by Speaker Allan McLean of Ontario who also hosted a reception and dinner for the visiting members.

The first session was on the "Role of Independent Commissions in Determining Members’ Remuneration". The opening speaker was Herman Rolfes of Saskatchewan. A number of factors that should be taken into account when fixing salaries were discussed including the very high rate of turnover among Canadian legislators.

The second session looked at "Information Systems, Modern Technology and the Chamber". The lead-off speaker was Denis Heard of Alberta. This session gave members a chance to compare notes about where their respective legislatures were going in this rapidly changing area.

The third session dealt with "Improving the Public Image of Politicians". The opener was Bert Johnson of Ontario. The fourth session dealt with the "Role of the Backbench in a Downsized Legislature". Nancy Guptill, Speaker of the Prince Edward Island was the opener.

The last session dealt with "Constitutional Renewal in Canada after the Referendum". The opener was Don Boudria from the House of Commons. A wide range of views were expressed and there seemed general agreement that changes, both administrative or constitutional, were needed.

This was the first time the seminar was reduced in length to one and one half days and held on a week-end but judging from the level of discussion and participation the format seemed to be appreciated by the delegates.

New Speakers

There are new Speakers in New Brunswick and Newfoundland, the former as a result of a recent provincial election, the latter following a resignation

The new Speaker of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly is Donald (Danny) Gay.

Mr. Gay was born on December 12, 1950 in Chatham, New Brunswick. He received his early education in the public schools of Neguac, and graduated from St. Michael’s School in Alma, Quebec. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University and a Bachelor of Education degree from Mount St. Vincents. He completed additional courses at the University of Ottawa.

Mr. Gay has a broad range of work experience. He was a labourer in the Gold Mines in Yellowknife, NWT; an officer with the Canadian Armed Forces; a course facilitator with Native peoples at the New Brunswick Community College. He was employed by School District No. 8 as a teacher at Harkins Junior High School in Newcastle before entering politics.

Mr. Gay was first elected to the Legislative Assembly on October 13, 1987. A Liberal, he was re-elected in 1991 and 1995 for the constituency of Miramichi Bay. He has served on the Legislative Assembly’s Special Committee on Social Policy Development; the Select Committee on Land Use and the Rural Environment, and on several Standing Committees including Public Accounts and Crown Corporations, Estimates, Private Bills, Public Accounts, Procedure, and Law Amendments. During the 52nd Legislature he served as Party Whip.

Mr. Gay is active in community affairs. He is a former chairman of an anti-vandalism program, secretary, and president of the Miramichi Jaycees. In 1986 he won the Jaycees’ Atlantic Region Effective Speaking Contest.

On October 16, 1995, Lloyd Snow became Speaker of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland. He was born in Victoria, Conception Bay, in 1943. Subsequent to completing high school at E.J. Pratt Memorial in Brownsdale, he went on to attend Memorial University. There, he earned Bachelor’s degrees in both Science and Arts (Education). With 25 years teaching experience, Mr. Snow taught in numerous communities, including Brownsdale, where he held the position of Vice Principal.

He entered politics when he became Deputy Mayor and later Mayor of Hant’s Harbour. He held a position on the Joint Mayor’s Association, was a president of the Hant’s Harbour Lion’s Club, and was on the founding committee of an Air Cadet Squadron in the Hant’s Harbour area.

In April 1989, Mr. Snow was elected MHA for the District of Trinity-Bay de Verde. Upon entering the House of Assembly, he was appointed Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees, a position which he held following his re-election in 1993.

New Regional Representative

During the 41st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, last fall Stanley S. Schumacher, Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly was elected Canadian Regional Representative to the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.