Visit to Canada of His Excellency Blaž Kavčič, President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, and a Parliamentary Delegation

From October 20 to 23, 2010, His Excellency Blaž Kavčič, President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, led a parliamentary delegation to Ottawa and the Toronto area at the invitation of the Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella. The delegation was composed of Mr. Milan Ozimič; Mr. Vincenc Otoničar; and Mr. Bojan Papič; all members of the National Council, and Mr. Marjan Maučec, Secretary General of the National Council. His Excellency Tomaž Kunstelj, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Canada, as well as other members of the diplomatic corps, also accompanied the official delegation.

The delegates had the opportunity to attend various meetings in Ottawa and Toronto.

In Ottawa, the visitors toured the Parliament of Canada, attended Question Period in the House of Commons and Senators’ Statements in the Senate. While in Canada, the delegation met with the following representatives and organizations:

• The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate;
• The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable Rob Merrifield, P.C., M.P., Minister of State (Transport);
• The Honourable Keith Ashfield, P.C., M.P., Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway;
• The Chair, Deputy Chair and members of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry;
• The vice-presidents and members of the Executive Committee of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association;
• The co-chairs of the Canada-Slovenia Friendship Group; and
• Mr. Gary O’Brien, Clerk of the Senate.

In Toronto, the delegation toured the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and met with the Speaker, the Honourable Steve Peters, M.P.P. The Slovenian visitors also met with representatives of Canadian-Slovenian communities, in Etobicoke, Hamilton and St. Catharines.

The visit served to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. A variety of subjects were discussed, including trade, shipping and air transportation, the forestry industry, the functioning of the Parliament of Canada, as well as cooperation and investment opportunities.