Official Visit to Canada of Her Excellency Ene Ergma, President of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia, and a Parliamentary Delegation

From February 1 to 4, 2005, the President of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia led a parliamentary delegation composed of Mr. Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Sven Mikser, Chairman of the Defence Committee, Mr. Mart Opmann, Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee, Mr. Mart Nutt, Member of the Constitutional Committee and the European Affairs Committee, Mr. Heiki Sibul, Secretary General of the Riigikogu and Mrs. Merle Pajula, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Riigikogu to Ottawa and Toronto, at the invitation of the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons.

While in Canada, the delegates met with the following officials:

• The Honourable Dan Hays, Senator, Speaker of the Senate;
• The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration;
• The Honourable Jean Augustine, P.C., M.P., Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole;
• The Honourable Keith Martin, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence;
• Mr. Pat O'Brien, M.P., Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs;
• Members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
• Members of the Canadian Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly;
• Mr. Bob Delaney, M.P.P., Chair, Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario;
• Mr. Claude DesRosiers, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; and
• Officials from Foreign Affairs Canada.

The visit was an opportunity to continue the cordial relationship between Canada and Estonia. Discussions were held on the visa requirements, diplomatic relations between our countries, relations between Russia and Estonia, and the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments in Canada. President Ergma and the delegation were able to visit the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Art Gallery of Ontario, as well as to meet with members of the Estonian community in Toronto.

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