Visit to Canada of His Excellency Artūras Paulauskas, Chairman of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and a Parliamentary Delegation

From April 3 to 8, 2005, the Chairman of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania led a parliamentary delegation composed of Mr. Arimantas Dumčius, M.P., Mr. Julius Sabatauskas, M.P., Mrs. Loreta Graužinienė, M.P., Mr. Gediminas Jakavonis, M.P., Mrs. Erika Vėberytė, Advisor to the Chairman of the Seima, Mr. Ferdinandas Kauzonas, Advisor to the Chairman of the Seimas, and Mrs. Kristina Kačkuvienė, interpreter. The delegation visited Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara at the invitation of the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons.

During their visit to Canada, the delegates met with the following individuals:

In Ottawa:

• The Right Honourable Paul Martin, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada;
• The Honourable Dan Hays, Senator, Speaker of the Senate;
• The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable Joseph Volpe, P.C., M.P., Minister of Citizenship and Immigration;
• The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs;
• The Honourable Lorna Milne, Senator, Chair of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association;
• The Honourable Jane Cordy, Senator, Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association;
• Mr. John Cannis, M.P., Chair and members of the Sub-committee on Trade, International Disputes and Investments of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.;
• Mr. Bernard Patry, M.P., Chair and members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade; and
• Mr. Bryon Wilfert, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Stéphane Dion, P.C., M.P.

In Toronto:

• The Honourable Alvin Curling, M.L.A., Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario;
• The Honourable Monte Kwinter, M.L.A., Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services;
• His Worship David Miller, Mayor of the City of Toronto; and
• Mr. Don Black, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Government of Ontario.

The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen relations between Canadian and Lithuanian parliamentarians. Discussions dealt with the question of visa requirements by Canada for Lithuanian citizens wishing to visit Canada; cooperation between Canada and Lithuania on the international scene; bilateral relations, responsibilities of Canada and Lithuania in NATO; trade; and community safety. The Chairman and the delegation also met with members of the Canadian Lithuanian community; visited the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau; and learned about vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario.

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The Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, with His Excellency Artūras Paulauskas, Chairman of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and members of the Lithuanian Parliamentary delegation.

From left to right: Mr. Julius Sabatauskas; His Excellency Artūras Paulauskas; the Honourable Peter Milliken; Her Excellency Sigutė Jakštonytė, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Canada; Ms. Loreta Graužinienė; Mr. Gediminas Jakavonis and Mr. Arimantas Dumčius.

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The Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, welcomes His Excellency Artūras Paulauskas, Chairman of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

From left to right: Speaker Milliken and His Excellency Artūras Paulauskas.

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The Honourable Dan Hays, Speaker of the Senate of Canada, and His Excellency Artūras Paulauskas, Chairman of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

From left to right: His Excellency Artūras Paulauskas and the Honourable Dan Hays.