On the International Scene
Parliamentary Associations
Parliamentary associations promote Canada's
interests abroad and are composed of members of the
Senate and House of Commons. The Parliament of Canada
belongs to five bilateral associations (including the
Canada-China Legislative Association and the
Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group) and
seven multilateral associations (including the
Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association and the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association).
Interparliamentary Groups
Interparliamentary groups strengthen relations
between Canadian parliamentarians and those in the
partner country, and promote cooperation and
understanding between the nations concerned. Canada's
Parliament is involved in four official
interparliamentary groups with Germany, Israel, Italy
and Ireland, respectively. The activities of these
groups are supported through the membership fees of
individual parliamentarians.
Receiving International Visitors
Foreign visits enable parliamentarians from around the
world to discuss common issues, share ideas and
knowledge, and learn from each other's experiences. These
exchanges also strengthen Canada's ties with other
countries and promote cooperation.
Parliamentary democracy, international responsibilities,
trade, visa and immigration issues are frequent topics of
discussion between parliamentarians, as are electoral
reform, Aboriginal issues and environmental concerns.
The Parliament of Canada hosted the following official
visits of foreign Speakers and delegations during the
year:
-
Chairman of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
-
President of the Senate of Malaysia
-
Speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand
-
President of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia
-
Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland
-
Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal
Assembly of the Russian Federation
Further to their diplomatic role of receiving world
leaders and distinguished guests visiting the Parliament
of Canada, the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Commons welcomed the President of Mali,
Amadou Toumani Touré; the Prime Minister of the Republic
of Vietnam, Phan Van Khai; and the President of the
People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao. The Speakers also
held courtesy calls with newly accredited Heads of
Mission to Canada and Heads of Mission leaving the
country. These meetings offer a unique opportunity to
build direct parliamentary relations with representatives
from other countries. The Speaker of the House of Commons
held 68 courtesy calls in 2005-2006.
Promoting Canada's Interests Abroad
Parliamentary Exchanges
Exchanges enable parliamentarians to enhance
relations with other countries and share ideas,
knowledge and experience. These exchanges can take
several forms: visits to Canada by speaker-led foreign
delegations; delegations of Canadian parliamentarians
abroad headed by the House of Commons Speaker; and the
Parliamentary Officers' Study Program, which enables
senior parliamentary staff from foreign legislatures
and other Canadian legislatures to learn about the
functioning of Canada's Parliament.
The Speaker, Members and Administration staff are
regularly invited to visit other legislatures to discuss
a variety of issues, foster links, and share knowledge
and expertise. Over the past fiscal year, the Speaker of
the House of Commons led official delegations to
Australia, New Zealand, Scotland (as part of the G8
Speakers' Conference), the Czech Republic, Slovenia, the
Russian Federation and Portugal. The various
parliamentary associations to which the Parliament of
Canada belongs were also active during the year,
attending conferences and seminars or receiving their
counterparts at meetings in Canada. Reports on these
meetings are available on the Parliament
of Canada Web site under "Interparliamentary
Affairs."
Former Senate Speaker Dan Hays and House of Commons
Speaker Peter Milliken welcomed many foreign
dignitaries to Parliament in 2005-2006 to discuss
common issues.
Photo: © C. Diotte
Hosting Conferences
The Parliament of Canada regularly shares its
perspectives with other legislatures by hosting
international conferences. In June 2005, the Speaker of
the House of Commons hosted a professional development
seminar for provincial and territorial Speakers in
conjunction with the annual meeting of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association's Canadian Regional Council.
The Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Acting Clerk of the House
of Commons made presentations on the role of the Speaker,
preparations for first-time Speakers, and tools and
procedures to ensure the smooth functioning of a
legislature.