22^nd Canadian Regional Conference

The Twenty-second Canadian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association took place in the Northwest Territories from July 31 to August 7, 1982, the first such conference to be held north of the 60th parallel. Representatives attended from the Senate and House of Commons, the ten provinces, both Territorial legislatures as well as Alaska, Australia, the Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and the United Kingdom. The Honourable Clement Maynard of the Bahamas. President of CPA. Gerald Ottenheimer, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Canadian regional representatives Dr. Maurice Foster and Gerald Amerongen were also present.Conference participants spent the first few days at one of four regional arrival points: Rankin Inlet, Inuvik, Hay River and Frobisher Bay. They visited local hamlets, toured schools, medical centres, churches, commercial and resource extraction undertakings, craft outlets, exhibitions of a rctic sporting events. Caribou and buffalo were sighted and some of the more daring participants rode the three-wheeled Honda cycles which are a predominant source of transportation in some of these isolated communities.

Participants regrouped in Yellowknife for the working sessions which included a plenary discussion on the constitutional and political development of the Northwest Territories chaired by Speaker Arthur Donahoe George Braden and Dennis Patterson from the NWT legislature acted as resource persons commenting on the topic and responding to delegates' questions. The discussion centered on resource ownership, division of the Territory, and future provincial status.

The Conference then divided into two workshops for further discussion of the plenary topic followed by sessions on the economic, social and local impacts of mega-projects. The former sessions were chaired by Deputy Speaker Jean-Pierre Jolivet of the Quebec National Assembly and Speaker James Russell of Newfoundland. A lively discussion ensued concerning the Dene proposals requiring ten years residence to vote and hold office for the assembly and an upper house controlled by the Dene that could veto all legislation affecting aboriginal rights. The absence of political parties in the NWT legislature was also subject of much discussion.

Sessions on mega-projects were chaired by Harvey Schroeder, Speaker of the British Columbia legislature and Speaker Herb Swan of Saskatchewan. Points raised during the discussion included the problems of the rapid growth of small communities, the decline of traditional industries, the increase in the cost of goods and services, shortages of housing, demands on existing public services and increased social and law enforcement problems.

Social events at Yellowknife included an optional fly-in fishing trip, a ride along the Ingraham Trail to Cameron Fails, and a visit to the Giant Yellowknife mine and the Northern Heritage Centre. A musical show, barbecue, and dinner-dance with a sumptuous buffet were part of traditional north of 600 hospitality accorded the participants.

Congratulations should be extended to Speaker Donald Stewart and Binks Remnant, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly as well as all of the staff whose superb organizational skills and high spirits made the Conference a memorable event.

Eighth Canadian Branch Seminar, Ottawa

From October 31 to November 4, 1982 the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will host the Eighth Canadian Regional Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure. The theme of the seminar is "Our Parliamentary and Legislative Institutions Are They in a State of Crisis"? As usual the seminar brings together approximately forty parliamentarians from across Canada to discuss matters pertaining to their role as legislators and representatives. The following topics are on the agenda this year: "Are the regions and the provinces adequately represented in Ottawa by present institutions?", "Do members have adequate access to information and to the public service?", "The role of the Opposition: Are there limits to opposition criticism and action?", "How effective is Parliament in exercising financial control over the executive?", In a parliamentary system what positive role is there for a backbencher in the formulation of policies and programs?". The opening speaker for each session will be allowed twenty minutes after which the floor will be open to general discussion.

For the first time this year the seminar will also include an Oxford Union style debate on a resolution that "Parliaments and Legislatures of Canada have Lost their Relevance". This debate which will feature four distinguished parliamentarians and former parliamentarians should be a most interesting addition to the usual seminar agenda.