Visit of the Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons, Norway

On January 9 and 10, 2017, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P., conducted an official visit to Norway. Accompanying the Speaker were Mr. Brian Underhill, Chief of Staff, Office of the Speaker, and Ms. Marlene Sandoval, Secretary to the delegation.

While in Oslo, Speaker Regan had the great honour of being granted an audience with His Majesty King Harald V. The Speaker also met with:

• Mr. Olemic Thommessen, President of Stortinget;
• Ms. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway;
• Mrs. Vibeke Larsen, President of the Sámi Parliament;
• Mr. Eirik Sivertsen, Chair of the Arctic delegation in Stortinget and Chair of the Standing Committee of the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region;
• Mr. Ola Elvestuen, Chair of the Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment, and Ms. Marit Arnstad, member of the Committee;
• Mr. Gunnar Gundersen and Mr. Ove Bernt Trellevik, members of the Standing Committee on Business and Industry.

In addition to the above meetings, the Speaker attended the opening of Stortinget's spring session, where he was recognized by President Thommessen, and participated in a round table discussion on the Arctic held at the Fram Museum. He was guest of honour at a luncheon reception hosted by the Embassy of Canada to Norway.

The main purpose of the visit was to enhance relations and cooperation between the Parliament of Canada and Stortinget of Norway, and to highlight the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Norway. The visit provided opportunities to discuss topics of common interest such as the restauration and renovation of the parliamentary precincts, climate change, the Arctic, indigenous issues, and immigration, as well as to underline shared challenges and opportunities for bilateral collaboration.