On Tuesday, May 16, 1989 Girve Fretz the Member of Parliament for Erie was elected Chairman of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Mr. Fretz was first elected to the House of Commons in 1979 and re-elected in 1980, 1984, and 1988. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian and Northern Development in 1984 and in 1985 was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State (Mines). He has been a member of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs as well as the External Affairs and International Trade Standing Committee. Mr. Fretz, a former Mayor of Fort Erie is a very active member in the community. He is married with three children.

Regional Council Meeting

On Saturday June 3, 1989 the Canadian Regional Council of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association met in Ottawa for its annual meeting. As noted by Speaker John Fraser of the House of Commons in his opening remarks the Council not only transacts the annual business of the Association but provides one of several opportunities for presiding officers and parliamentary staff to get together and exchange views about matters of commons interest. He welcomed the newest Speaker and member of the Council, Tom Lush of Newfoundland.

Among other things the Council chose Speaker David Carter of Alberta as President for the coming year. Speaker John Reynolds of British Columbia was chosen to replace Herb Swan as one of the three Canadian members of the international committee of CPA.

Speaker Carter outlined the program for the forthcoming Canadian Regional Conference to be held in Calgary and Edmonton from July 12 to 17, 1989. Topics on the agenda include: Oil and Gas Industry: Energy Self-Sufficiency in Canada-Myth or Reality? Substance Abuse a Challenge to Governments in the 1990s; Water Management-Development of the Resource, National Parks Policy-Achieving a Balance Between Development and Preservation; Special Waste Management -The Role of Government; and The Viability of Energy Mega Projects.

Speaker Edward Clark announced that Prince Edward Island would host the next Atlantic Parliamentary Conference in Prince Edward Island and Speaker Red Pedersen of the NWT confirmed that the next Regional Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure would take place in the Northwest Territories in November 1989. The following year it will be held in Manitoba and in 1992 the Yukon will host this event. It was also agreed that the Northwest Territories would be the venue of the next Conference of Presiding Officers.

Two other proposals for conferences were considered and accepted by the Council. The Centre for Legislative Exchange will organize a Seminar on Bilateral/Global Environmental Issues to be held in Washington from September 26-28, 1989. A Commonwealth-wide parliamentary seminar was tentatively scheduled to be held in conjunction with the Regional Council Meeting next May or June.

New Speaker in Newfoundland and Labrador

Following the change in government as a result of the recent election Tom Lush was elected speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly.

Born in Gambo, Newfoundland, Mr. Lush was educated at Memorial University and subsequently became a teacher. He was first elected to the House in 1975 and re-elected in 1979 and 1982. He left politics in 1983 but returned to the House in 1985. As Speaker he replaces Patrick McNicholas who was defeated in the election.

Clerk of Committees in Manitoba

Patricia Chaychuk-Fitzpatrick has been appointed Clerk of Committees in Manitoba effective April 17, 1989. She also serves as a procedural officer at the table. Patricia has been a legislative intern in Manitoba and was the research officer with the Clerk's Office in 1988-89. She has a B.A. Hons. and has completed her Master of Public Affairs. She replaces Janet Summers who has been named as the Assembly's members' benefits officer.