Eighth Atlantic Provinces Parliamentary
Conference
The annual parliamentary conference of the
Atlantic province does not bring together large numbers of legislators but the
very fact that attendance is limited usually lends to a free-flowing exchange
of ideas.
This year the conference, held in Halifax,
was hosted by the Speaker of the Nova Scotia Legislature, Arthur Donahoe. The
Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, David Tonkin,
spoke to the delegates on "The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at
age 75 What of its Future?"
Other subjects on the agenda included a
discussion of the role of the provinces in free trade negotiations and
accountability of cabinet ministers and MLA's.
Canadian Regional Council Meeting
The Executive of the Canadian Region of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held its annual meeting in June 1986.
Among other things it decided that the 1987 Conference of the Association will
take place in Saskatchewan, the next Seminar in Prince Edward Island and the
next Speakers' Conference in Winnipeg.
The Council approved grants for two Special
projects. The first, a seminar on free trade to be held in Washington in the
autumn of 1986, will be organized by the Centre for Legislative Exchange. The
second project is a conference on the Parliamentary Tradition in Canada. It
will bring together parliamentarians, professors and legislative staff from
across Canada to discuss the future of parliamentary government in this country.
The annual conference of the Canadian Region
of CPA was held in Toronto from July 26 to August 2, 1986. Every province and
territories sent delegates and there were also observers from legislatures in
the United Kingdom, the United States, the Commonwealth of Australia, South
Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, as well as the Secretary General of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
The Conference was opened by the Lieutenant
Governor of Ontario Lincoln Alexander and the keynote speech was delivered by
David MacDonald, former Member of Parliament and Co-ordinator of African Famine
Relief.
One of the subjects on the agenda was: Is
Canada's Water for Sale? The speakers were Frank Quinn of Environment Canada,
Thornas Kierans, Kenneth Hare and Karl Morin-Strom, MPP (Ontario). Canadian
Forest policy was discussed by a panel consisting of Joe Bird of the Ontario
Forest Industries Association, Professor Les Reed, and two legislators, Floyd
Laughren (Ontario) and Neil J. LeBlanc (Nova Scotia).
Richard Brown a former Research Director of
the Ontario Task Force on Employment and Technology, Glenna Carr, Assistant
Deputy Minister of Skills Development, Jean Joly, MNA (Quebec) and Thomas
Hickey, MLA (Newfoundland) were on a panel looking at Canada's workforce in
transition.
A panel on the subject of the family farm
and its future consisted of Elmer Allan of Unifarm, Harry Pelissero of the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Walter Johnson, MLA (Saskatchewan) and
Speaker Charles Gallagher, MLA (New Brunswick).
The question of acid rain was discussed by
Professor Harold Harvey, Ron Taborek of Ontario Hydro, Norman Rubin of Energy
Probe and Brian Charlton, MPP (Ontario).
Finally the subject of relations between
Provinces and States was examined by Gerald Regan former MP, Roy Romanow,
Maximilien Polak, MNA (Quebec) and Irving J. Stolberg, President elect of the
National Conference on State Legislatures (NCSL).
A number of social activities including
dinners hosted by the Government of Ontario and by Speaker Hugh Edighoffer were
much appreciated by all delegates and observers.
The 17th African Regional Seminar of CPA was
held in Malawi in June. For the first time a Canadian observer was in
attendance. The Chairman of the federal branch, Lloyd Crouse, is shown here
with Speaker Mati of Kenya and a group of Kenyan parliamentarians.
New Speaker in Alberta
Born in Saskatchewan and raised in Medicine
Hat, Alberta David Carter graduated in 1958 from the University of
Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts. He has a Licentiate in Theology, and a Doctor
of Divinity from St John's College, Winnipeg as well as a Bachelor of Sacred
Theology from the Anglican Theological College, University of British Columbia.
From 1965 to 1969 Dr. Carter was Chaplain
for the University of Calgary, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology,
and Mount Royal College, where he had a special interest in the development of
student housing. His appointments include Rector, Cathedral Church of the
Redeemer; Dean, Anglican Diocese of Calgary; and Senator, University of
Calgary. He has written seven books on Western Canadian history and poetry.
Dr. Carter was employed by NOVA, an Alberta
Corporation from 1982-1986 and is active in many community activities in Calgary.
First elected to the Alberta Legislature in 1979 and re-elected in 1982 and
1986, he became Speaker of the Assembly in June 1986.
New Lieutenant Governor in Newfoundland
James McGrath long-time Conservative Member of Parliament for St.
John's was named Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland by the Prime Minister on
July 18.
First elected to the House of Commons in
1957 and re-elected at every subsequent election except 1963, Mr. McGrath was
Minister of Fisheries in the Joe Clark government in 1979. In 1984 he was named
Chairman of a Special Committee on Reform of the House of Commons. Its reports
led to numerous changes in the rules and procedures of the House. He was also
chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and an active participant in
the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association throughout his career.
Legislative Librarian in New Brunswick
The new Legislative Librarian for New
Brunswick is Eric L. Swanik. A graduate of the universities of Carleton, McGill
and Leeds, he was formerly in charge of the government section of the library.
Roderick Lewis Retires
On July 2, on the occasion of his 75th
birthday, Roderick Lewis, announced his retirement as Clerk of the House. He
joined the Assembly as Assistant Clerk in 1946, and succeeded his father, Major
Alex C. Lewis, as Clerk in 1955. In tribute, the Legislature adopted a motion
"to express its appreciation to Roderick Lewis for his dedication and
years of service as Clerk of the Ontario Legislative Assembly and [ordered]
that, notwithstanding the customs of Parliament, the Clerk be invited to
address the House." With the mace on the Table indicating the House was
still in session, Mr. Lewis expressed his appreciation for this honour and for
the friendships he had formed with members on all sides of the House. He
concluded by thanking all Members "for their kindness, their patience and
their words."