Visit of the Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons, and a Parliamentary Delegation, Finland
From May 19 to 22, 2009, the Speaker of the House of Commons led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Finland. The delegation was composed of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, P.C., M.P.; Mr. Michel Guimond, M.P.; Mr. Ron Cannan, M.P.; Mr. Bruce Hyer, M.P.; Ms. Colette Déry, Communications Officer, Speaker’s Office; and Ms. Julie Pelletier, Secretary to the delegation.
In Helsinki, the delegation met with:
- Her Excellency Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland;
- His Excellency Matti Vanhanen, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland;
- Her Excellency Tuija Brax, Minister of Justice;
- His Excellency Sauli Niinistö, M.P., Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland;
- Mr. Johannes Koskinen, M.P., Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland;
- Mr. Markku Laukkanen, M.P., Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee;
- Ms. Tuula Haatainen, Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture, City of Helsinki;
- The Finnish delegation to the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region;
- Mr. Jarmo Vuorinen, Deputy Secretary General, Parliamentary Office;
- Mr. Kari T. Ahonen, Administrative Director, Parliamentary Office; and
- Ms. Anne Brunila, President and CEO, Finnish Forest Industries Federation.
In Rovaniemi, the delegation met with:
- Mr. Timo E. Korva, Governor of Lapland;
- Ms. Outi Snellman, Vice-President, Administration and Director of International Affairs, University of Lapland and University of the Arctic Secretariat;
- Mr. Jukka Jokinen, Vice-President and Director General of Bombardier Recreational Products Finland OY; and
- Professors from the Arctic Centre.
The delegation also had an opportunity to visit:
- The island of Suomenlinna;
- The Ateneum Art Museum; and
- The Arctic in Change exhibition.
The delegation also attended:
- The plenary session of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland; and
- A Finnish Symphony Orchestra Concert.
The purpose of the delegation’s visit was to highlight the importance that Canada places on its relations with Finland. The Canadian parliamentarians discussed topics of mutual interest with Finnish parliamentarians, policy-makers and researchers, including the importance of immigration, Finland’s response to the current economic crisis, the challenges of climate change for the Nordic countries, as well as those related to national forest resource management. The members of the delegation also took the opportunity to learn more about the Finnish parliamentary system, government structure and election process.