Visit to Canada of the Honourable David Hawker, M.P., Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia, and a Parliamentary Delegation

From April 14 to 21, 2007, the Honourable David Hawker, M.P., Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia, led a parliamentary delegation to Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria, Ottawa and Niagara Falls at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Peter Milliken. The delegation was composed of Mr. Michael Hatton, M.P., the Honourable Kay Patterson, Senator, the Honourable Anne McEwen, Senator, Mrs. Trish Draper, M.P., Mrs. Kay Elson, M.P., Mr. Chris Paterson, Senior Adviser to the Speaker and Mr. Andres Lomp, Delegation Secretary and Director of the Parliamentary Relations Office.

In Whistler, the delegation met with:

• Mr. Doug Forseth, Senior Vice-President, Operations, Intrawest Corporation at Whistler Blackcomb; and
• Mr. Kirby Brown, Director Experience Development and Intrawest Corporation at Whistler Blackcomb.

In Vancouver, the delegation met with:

• Representatives of the British Columbia Regional Treat Office and the Assembly of First Nations; and
• Mr. Kevin Lamb, Honorary Consul of Australia in Vancouver.

In Victoria, the delegation met with:

• The Honourable John Van Dongen, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs of British Columbia;
• The Honourable Bill Barisoff, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia; and
• Mr. Lorne Brownsey, Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation of British Columbia.

In Ottawa, the delegation met with:

• The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Senator, Speaker of the Senate;
• The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister;
• The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency;
• The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration;
• The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food;
• The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform;
• Mr. Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration;
• The Honourable George Furey, Senator, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration;
• The Honourable Joan Cook, Senator;
• Mr. Paul C. Bélisle Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments; and
• Ms. Audrey O’Brien, Clerk of the House of Commons.

While visiting British Columbia, the delegation met with young Australians working in Whistler as part of the working holiday program. In Vancouver and Victoria, they held discussions with provincial and federal officials on the issue and challenges facing the management of Aboriginal affairs. The delegation also discussed federal-provincial relations and, more specifically, compared the equalization program in Canada to a similar program in Australia. In Ottawa discussions covered a wide range of topics such as the situation in Afghanistan, the environment, the working holiday program for young people in Australia and Canada, agricultural issues, parliamentary reform legislation in Canada and the parliamentary budget process and service provided to parliamentarians. The delegation concluded its trip to Canada with a visit to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.