CPA Conference in Fredericton

The 30th conference of the Canadian Region of CPA took place in Fredericton, New Brunswick from August 22-27, 1990. Approximately 91 delegates from every Canadian jurisdiction attended the conference. Also attending were legislators from Zimbabwe, the Isle of Man, the British House of Commons and a representative of the Headquarter's Secretariat.

Following the official opening by the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, the delegates considered the impact of free trade on the Canadian economy and Canada's sovereignty.

The second business session featured two panels both with guest speakers. Christopher McCormick of the Native Council of Canada spoke on Problems in achieving a practicable native self-government in one panel. The other featured Lorne Bozinoff, Vice President of Gallup Canada and John Godfrey, Editor of the Financial Post. They addressed the question of pollsters and the interpretation of polls in influencing public opinion.

Two other sessions also featured guest speakers. Senator Joyce Fairbairn and Dr. James Downey, President of the University of New Brunswick spoke on the subject of combatting illiteracy in the educational system. The transitional role of women in public life was addressed by three guest speakers: Judge Gladys Young of the Provincial Court of New Brunswick, Constable Patricia Thibodeau of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Elizabeth Weir leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party.

Other topics on the agenda included: The state of the fishing industry in Canada; effective environmental management of solid, toxic and nuclear waste; the independent role of the private member within traditional party discipline; the future of Canada's health care system; teen suicides; the powers of the Senate in theory and practice; and Canadian identity, a multicultural Canada versus a common Canadian culture.

The conference featured a number of memorable social events including a lobster feast and a dinner cruise on a paddle wheeler. Delegates were unanimous in their praise for the conference host Speaker Frank Branch of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly and the secretariat headed by David Peterson, Clerk of the Legislature, for the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that went into making the conference a success.

 

New Lieutenant-Governors

New Lieutenant-Governors have been appointed recently in Quebec and Prince Edward Island. In Prince Edward Island the new Lieutenant-Governor is a former Speaker, Marion Reid. She was educated at North Rustico, Stella Maris School and Prince of Wales College where she graduated with her First Class Teacher's License at age seventeen. She taught for some twenty years on the North Shore of Prince Edward Island. During her tenure she was awarded a sabbatical to return to university (1972-73) where she earned her Teacher's Certificate.

She was first elected in a 1979 by-election and re-elected in 1982. After serving as Deputy Speaker from 1979 to 1982 she was elected Speaker at the opening of the 56th Legislature on March 8, 1983. She held that position until 1986.

The new Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec is Martial Asselin. A lawyer, he was born in La Malbaie, where he later became Mayor from 1957-1963. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1958 and, althought defeated in 1963 was re-elected in 1965 and 1968. Mr. Asselin was appointed to the Senate in 1972. He was Deputy Speaker of the Senate from 1984 to 1988 and played an active role in the International Association of French-Speaking Parliamentarians.