On May 27-31, 2019, the Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., Speaker of the Senate, and the Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons received His Excellency Radek Vondráček, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. He was accompanied by six members of the Committee on Economic Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies: Mr. Radim Fiala, Chair of the Committee, Mr. Pavel Pustějovský, Mr. Jan Bauer, Ms. Zuzana Ožanová, Mr. Petr Pávek, Mr. Leo Luzar, as well as Mr. Jan Morávek, Secretary General of the Chamber of Deputies and Ms. Kateřina Tarant, Secretary of the Committee on Economic Affairs. Speaker Vondráček's Director of Cabinet, Ms. Jaroslava Sílešová, his Principal Adviser for European Union Affairs and Foreign Policy, Mr. Jan Sechter, a Protocol Officer, Ms. Zuzana Kohoutová Balcarová, and a Senior Adviser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Mr. Jaroslav Zajíc, supported the Speaker's delegation. The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Canada, His Excellency Pavel Hrnčíř, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Jiří Borcel, and the Head of Economic and Trade Section of the Czech Embassy, Mr. Josef Dvořáček, participated in the program in Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax. Consul Generals Mr. Ivan Počuch and Mr. John Steinsky accompanied the delegation in Toronto and Halifax, respectively. Eight representatives of the Czech Republic business sector and a media crew from the Czech public television, Ceska televize, also traveled with the group and engaged in several activities arranged for the parliamentary delegation.
In Ottawa, the delegation held meetings with:
While in Ottawa, the members of the Committee on Economic Affairs met with the Honourable Mark Eyking, P.C., M.P., Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade, and participated in some events organized by the Czech Embassy for the business delegation. The delegation learned more about Canada's culture and history by visiting the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. In addition, the members of the delegation had the occasion to exchange views with senators and members of the House of Commons, including the Chair of the Canada-Czech Republic Friendship Parliamentary Group, Mr. Bill Casey, M.P., during an evening reception at Parliament.
Following their stay in Ottawa, the delegation visited the Ontario Legislature in Toronto, where the delegation met with:
In Toronto, the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Consulate General organized a program for the delegation, including meetings with Canadian businesses and members of the Czech community in the Toronto region, and a tour of the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station in Niagara Falls.
After Toronto, the delegation visited the Nova Scotia Legislature in Halifax and held meetings with:
In Halifax, members of the business delegation met with local businesses and members of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Before leaving Nova Scotia, the Czech delegation visited the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Peggy's Cove and then proceeded to Millbrook First Nation where the group was greeted and briefed by Chief Bob Gloade, as well as representatives of the Band Council, and toured the Cultural Centre. The Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P., and Mr. Bill Casey, M.P, met the delegation in Peggy's Cove and Millbrook First Nation, respectively.
This visit was an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between the Parliaments of the Czech Republic and Canada and to discuss numerous topics, including free-trade and the benefits of CETA; the recent European Parliament elections; challenges posed by Brexit; and cooperation in the field of defense. During the meetings, participants underscored the similarities between our political systems, our shared values, particularly at the international level, and the importance of parliamentary diplomacy. Discussions also focused on political structure and parliamentary procedure. Another important objective of this visit was to support business and trade by connecting Czech and Canadian businesses.