Speakers' Conference

The Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons hosted the third annual Speakers' Conference. Speakers and Clerks from every province were invited although several Speakers were absent on account of recent or impending elections.

Speaker John Bosley distributed a paper explaining recent changes to the Standing Orders including new practices concerning voting procedure, the removal of confidence from the Standing Orders relating to supply days, the new method of choosing a Speaker, changes to private members business, the committee system, review of delegated legislation and order-in-council appointments and establishment of a registry of travel. He pointed out a few practical problems with the new orders but concluded that nevertheless, "they offer concrete evidence that the House is still serious about trying to make Parliament a more meaningful and effective place. In working out new rules, in trying to overcome the frustrations that sometimes burden Members, and reduce the tension between Government and opposition must continue to be what it has been for centuries the Grand Inquest of the Nation."

Other items on the agenda to generate some discussion were included the casting vote of the Speaker and appeals to Speakers rulings.

Accountability Session, Federal Branch

About thirty-five members of the federal branch of the CPA held their annual Accountability Session on March 19, 1986.

Reports were circulated on various activities which took place over the past year. These included the 25th Regional Conference in Quebec City, the 10th Seminar in Ottawa and the Mst CPA General Conference in Saskatchewan. Reports were received from delegates to Barbados, Bermuda, and the United Kingdom.

The federal branch also sent members to a meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization, the annual parliamentary seminar at Westminster and a colloque on the Commonwealth held in Leeds.

The Chairman of the federal branch Lloyd Crouse presided at the accountability session. He thanked members for the time they spent receiving visiting parliamentarians and emphasized the importance of the Association in building bridges between Canada and many countries of the Commonwealth.

Twenty-sixth Regional Conference The 1986 Canadian Regional CPA Conference will be held in Toronto from July 26 to August 2, 1986. Among the items on the agenda are the following: Canada's Workforce in Transition, Provinces and States What is the state of our relation?, Does the Family Farm have a future?, Water Management Is Canada's water for :3ale?, Regeneration: Is it a success or is it the final assault on Canadian forestry? and Acid Rain Money versus nature, which takes priority?

New Speakers

In Prince Edward Island Premier Joe Ghiz announced the nomination of Edward Clark as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Clark, 54 was born and raised on the Island. A farmer and beef producer he served for two years in the Royal Canadian Navy. He has been President of the P.E.I. Shorthorn Breeder's Association and served for more than twenty years as the 4H Leader in his community. Mr. Clark was first elected to the legislature in 1970 and re-elected five times. He served briefly as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in 1978-79.

In Manitoba Myrna Phillips was elected Speaker on May 8, 1986. First elected to the House in 1981, she was re-elected in 1986.

Appointments

In New Brunswick Loredana Catalli-Sonier was appointed Clerk Assistant (Procedural) of the Legislative Assembly effective November 4, 1985. Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Sonier had been Registrar of the Nurses' Association of New Brunswick and, before that, had practised law. In her new position she replaces the previous Administrative Assistant to the Clerk, Enid McDonald, who retired last fall.

Mickey Akavak at 19 became the youngest Sergeant-at-Arms in Canada when he was named to the position by the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Akavak is acting as sergeant-at-arms, a position traditionally held by retired police or military officers, during the current session of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife. As such, he is responsible for the safe-keeping of the mace, the symbol of authority of the legislative assembly.

The new Commissioner of the Yukon is John Kenneth McKinnon. Mr. McKinnon was born and educated in Manitoba before moving to Yukon is 1956. He is a former member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, representing Whitehorse North Centre in 1961. He was re-elected in 1967, 1970 and 1974. Selected by Rotary Club in 1970 as recipient of an International Travel Bursary to study in Japan for two months in 1970, Mr. McKinnon was nominated by Whitehorse Jaycees as Outstanding Young Canadian in 1974 in recognition of his many services to the community.