Visit to Canada of His Excellency Dr. Gundars Daudze, Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia (Saeima), and a Parliamentary Delegation

From May 26 to 30, 2008, at the invitation of the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, His Excellency Dr. Gundars Daudze, Chairman of the Parliament (Saeima) led a parliamentary delegation to Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake. The delegation was composed of Mrs. Karina Petersone, Deputy Chair of the Parliament (Saeima), Mrs. Vaira Paegle, Chair of the parliamentary group for cooperation with the Parliament of Canada, Mr. Sergejs Dolgopolovs, Member of Parliament (Saiema), Mr. Indrikis Putnins, Head of Chairman’s Office, Mr. Ugis Bambe, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Chairman, and Mrs. Zane Rukmane, Deputy Head of the Parliament’s (Saeima) Protocol. The official delegation was also accompanied by His Excellency Margers Krams, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia and Ms. Elina Cakla, First Secretary from Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to Canada.

In Ottawa, the delegation met with:

• The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate;
• The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable Peter Van Loan, P.C., M.P., Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform;
• The Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P., Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity);
• The Honourable Tommy Banks, Senator, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources;
• The Honourable Wilbert Keon, Senator, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology;
• Mr. David Anderson, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources;
• Mr. Steven Fletcher, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health;
• Mr. Kevin Sorenson, M.P., Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development;
• Members of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association;
• His Worship Larry O’Brien, Mayor of Ottawa;
• Dr. Robert Roberts, President and CEO, University of Ottawa Heart Institute; and
• Mr. Ian Wilson, Librarian and Archivist of Canada.

In Toronto, the delegation met with:

• The Honourable Steve Peters, M.P.P., Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario;
• Mr. Jim Wilson, M.P.P., Second Deputy and Chair of the Committee of the Whole House; and
• Dr. Kuldip Kular, M.P.P., Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

In Niagara-on-the-Lake, the delegation met with:

• His Worship Garry Burroughs, Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The visit provided an opportunity to develop ties with federal, provincial and municipal officials. A number of subjects were discussed during the meetings, including health care, energy, foreign affairs, municipal issues, immigration and culture. The delegation visited the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, as well as the Library and Archives Canada Preservation Centre. Their visit concluded with a trip to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.