Official Visit to Canada of Mr. Max Binder, Speaker of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation

From November 17 to 24, 2004, the Speaker of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation and Mr. John Clerc, Assistant Secretary-General of the Federal Assembly visited Ottawa and Regina at the invitation of the Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons.

While in Ottawa, 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 John Buchanan, P.C., Senator;
• The Honourable David Kilgour, P.C., M.P.;
• The Honourable Dan McTeague, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs;
• The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport;
• The Honourable Jerry Grafstein, Senator;
• The Honourable Lorna Milne, Senator;
• Mr. Paul Steckle, Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food; and
• Officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Foreign Affairs Canada.

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

• The Honourable Dr. Lynda M. Haverstock, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan;
• The Honourable Lorne Calvert, Premier of Saskatchewan; and
• The Honourable P. Myron Kowalsky, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.

The visit allowed Canada and Switzerland to pursue the long-standing friendship both countries share. Discussions were held on the political situation in Switzerland, trade relations and investments, agriculture and transport. This visit was also an opportunity for the delegates to visit Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm, the Royal Museum of Saskatchewan in Regina, as well to meet with members of the Swiss community in Regina and Ottawa.