Visit of the Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, France

From June 30 to July 5, 2016, the Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to France. The delegation was composed of Mrs. Karen Furey, as well as the Honourable Senators Elizabeth Marshall and Fabian Manning. Accompanying the delegation were Mr. Charles Robert, Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments, Mr. Stuart Barnable, Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Senate, and Ms. Marie-Ève Belzile, Secretary to the delegation.

First, the delegation travelled to Thiepval, Beaumont-Hamel and Courcelette to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Important commemorative ceremonies were held in France on July 1st and 2nd at the Thiepval Memorial, the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial and the Courcelette Canadian Memorial. The fact that the Senate delegation was composed of Senators from Newfoundland and Labrador was a testament to the enduring interest and memories among members of the Senate, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Canadians concerning the sacrifices made during the First World War.

In Paris, France, the delegation met with:

• Mr. Gérald Larcher, President of the French Senate;
• Mr. Jean-Marc Todeschini, Secretary of State Responsible for Veterans’ Affairs and Remembrance to the Minister of Defence;
• Ms. Michèle André, Senator, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee;
• Ms. Claudine Lepage, Senator, Chair of the France–Canada Friendship Group;
• Mr. Dominique Bailly, Senator, Questeur of the Senate;
• Mr. Alain Richard, Senator, Vice-Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee;
• Ms. Catherine Coutelle, Member, Chair of the France–Canada Interparliamentary Association;
• General Jean-Pierre Moulinie, Military Commander of the Palais du Luxembourg;
• Mr. Jean-Charles André, Secretary General of the Questure in the Senate;
• Mr. Emmanuel Triboulet, Manager of the Senate Finance Committee; and
• Ms. Marianne Bay, Director of Visitor Services and Security, Senate Questure Council.

The delegates also met with Ms. Michelle d’Auray, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the OECD, and discussed issues pertaining to Brexit and the comprehensive economic and trade agreement between Canada and the European Union in relation to the OECD and their ties to France.

To promote and deepen their understanding of the ties that bind France and Canada in terms of educational exchanges and cooperation, the delegates visited the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris and the House of Canadian Students, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2016. They met with with Ms. Carine Camby, Executive Officer of the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris and Mr. Louis Jolin, Director of the House of Canadian Students.

The purpose of the visit was to highlight the contribution of Newfoundlanders on the 100th anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel during the First World War, and to strengthen the ties between Canada and France, encourage ongoing dialogue in order to promote parliamentary exchanges, and share best practices with respect to parliamentary security, parliamentary privilege and the budget process. The visit was also an opportunity to discuss foreign policy on issues of mutual and international interest and to promote educational exchanges.