Visit of the Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons, and a parliamentary delegation, Republic of South Africa
From August 27 to September 3, 2006, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Peter Milliken, led a parliamentary delegation composed of the Honourable Jay Hill, P.C., M.P.; the Honourable Karen Redman, P.C., M.P.; Mr. Michel Guimond, M.P.; Mr. Yvon Godin, M.P.; Ms. Audrey O'Brien, Clerk of the House of Commons; and Mr. Rémi Bourgault, Secretary to the delegation.
The visit was in response to an official invitation from the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, the Honourable Baleka Mbete.
In Cape Town, the delegation met with :
- The Honourable Baleka Mbete, M.P., Speaker of the National Assembly;
- The Honourable Mninwa J. Mahlangu, Chairman of the National Council of Provinces;
- The Honourable Celia-Sandra Botha, M.P., House Chairperson: Internal Arrangements-Speaker's Office;
- The Honourable Tony Leon, M.P., Leader of the Opposition;
- Members of the Ethics Committee;
- Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly; and
- Members of the Chief Whips' Forum.
The delegation visited the Iziko Museum in Cape Town, Robben Island, the Slave Lodge Museum and Constantia Uitsig wine estate.
In Johannesburg and Pretoria, the delegation met with :
- Mr. Aziz Pahad, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs;
- Ms. Sophia Theresa Williams-De Bruyn, Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Assembly;
- Mr. Murumba Werunga, Clerk of the Pan-African Parliament;
- Dr. Brigalia Bam, Chairperson, Independent Electoral Commission;
- Dr. Eddy Maloka, Executive Director, African Institute of South Africa;
- Mr. Steven Friedman, Research Fellow, Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa); and
- Mr. Prince Mashele, Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
The delegation visited the Voortrekker Monument and Pilannesberg National Park.
During the visit, the Canadian delegation sought to enhance parliamentary exchanges and dialogue between Canada and South Africa in all areas of common interest, to exchange views on the role and functions of Parliament in South Africa and Canada, including the legislative process and its evolution and to revitalize the links created by the common membership in multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and Commonwealth.