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Home The House of Commons Report to Canadians 2005 Overview: The Year in the House of Commons The House of Commons Report to Canadians 2005 The House of Commons Report to Canadians 2005
Letter from the Speaker
Overview: The Year in the House of Commons
Overview
Chamber Activities
Committee Work
Serving Constituents
International Activities
Behind the Scenes: The House of Commons Administration
Conclusion
Financial Report
Members of the House of Commons
Parliamentary Heritage
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International Activities

On the World Stage
Exchanging Knowledge, Sharing Perspectives

Throughout the year, Members work and share knowledge with representatives of other governments and non-governmental organizations, in Canada and around the world -advancing the interests of Canadians through bilateral and multilateral associations, interparliamentary groups, and international exchanges and conferences. When leaders, parliamentarians and dignitaries from abroad come to visit Canada's Parliament, the Senate and the House of Commons serve as their official hosts.

Over the course of the 2004-2005 fiscal year, among the most notable foreign visitors were two heads of state: George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, who visited Ottawa from November 30 to December 1, 2004; and Vicente Fox, President of the United States of Mexico, who delivered an address to a joint meeting of the Senate and the House of Commons on October 25, 2004.


Mexican President Vicente Fox addresses parliamentarians © House of Commons  

PHOTO: © HOUSE OF COMMONS

 

Other notable visitors during the year included: the President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland (October 2004); the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Botswana (October 2004); the Speaker of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation (November 2004); the President of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia (February 2005); and the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Benin (March 2005).

 

Speaker Milliken greets the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Botswana © House of Commons  

PHOTO: © HOUSE OF COMMONS

 

Canadian Parliamentarians Abroad
Canada's House of Commons is renowned for its leadership in many areas -from procedural services to business management, security and technology. The House of Commons shares its knowledge and promotes features of Canada's parliamentary system with other legislatures, including those of emerging democracies. The Speaker, Members and administrative personnel are often invited to share Canada's methods and practices, and exchange ideas, values, knowledge and experience with other parliaments. During the period of this report, Members participated in a variety of meetings abroad, in countries as diverse as Scotland and Singapore. Reports generated as a result of these visits are available under "Interparliamentary Affairs" on the Parliament of Canada Web site.

Conferences
The Parliament of Canada regularly hosts international parliamentary conferences. During the 2004-2005 fiscal year, Canada hosted the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Ottawa, Quebec City and Toronto. From August 29 to September 9, more than 600 delegates attended the conference at the invitation of Speaker Milliken, in his capacity as President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and his counterparts in the Senate and in the provincial and territorial legislatures. Promoting knowledge and understanding of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural systems within a parliamentary democratic framework, the theme of the conference was Responsibilities and Rights of People and Parliaments in a Global Community.

Going Online
A new International and Interparliamentary Affairs section was added to the Parliament of Canada Web site in February 2005, highlighting the activities undertaken by parliamentarians in parliamentary associations, parliamentary conferences, parliamentary exchanges and protocol events. The site, which presents a complete calendar of international and interparliamentary activities, provides readily accessible information to Canadians about parliamentarians' international work.

  Parliamentary Heritage: Testament to Canada's International Role
Parliament's Memorial Chamber © House of Commons
A solemn space that inspires a sense of peace and respect, the Memorial Chamber situated in the Peace Tower of Canada's Parliament buildings is a noble tribute to those who gave their lives during the Great War in France and Flanders. It was constructed between 1923 and 1927 using stone donated by the governments of Great Britain, France and Belgium. The Memorial Chamber is noted for its detailed Gothic Revival style -the small space has a lofty appearance due to the exceptional height of its walls and the delicate tracery of its carving. The focal point of the Chamber is an altar containing the Book of Remembrance that holds the names of over 66,000 Canadians who died during the First World War. Today, five additional Books of Remembrance Commemorate Canadians who have given their lives in other conflicts around the world.

Parliament's Memorial Chamber © House of Commons


Addresses by Distinguished Visitors

A Joint Address to Parliament is a speech made by a distinguished visitor -usually a foreign head of state or head of government- to Members of the Senate and the House of Commons. The regular proceedings of the House of Commons are suspended for the occasion.

Parliamentary Associations

The Parliament of Canada belongs to a dozen associations through which it promotes the country's interests abroad and engages in multilateral and bilateral activities. These associations include members of both the Senate and of the House of Commons.

Interparliamentary Groups

Canada's Parliament maintains four official interparliamentary groups: Canada-Germany, Canada-Israel, Canada-Italy, and Canada-Ireland. This last group received official recognition in 2004. These groups strengthen relations between Canadian parliamentarians and those in the countries concerned. Their activities are supported with membership fees contributed by individual parliamentarians.

Parliamentary Exchanges

Parliamentary exchanges play an important role in Canada's international parliamentary diplomacy by enhancing ties with other countries and facilitating the exchange of ideas, values, knowledge and experience. They include: official visits to Canada by Speaker-led foreign delegations; official visits abroad by Canadian parliamentarians headed by the Speaker of the House of C­ommons; and the Parliamentary Officers' Study Program, which allows senior parliamentary staff from abroad and Canadian provincial and territorial officials to learn about the Parliament of Canada.

       
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