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The Canadian Regional Conference
Gary Levy

At the time this article was written Gary Levy was a member of the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament, Ottawa.

The year 1958 marked a turning point in the history of the Canadian Branches of the CPA when Nova Scotia invited representatives from Ottawa and the other provinces for the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the first elected legislature in Canada. At Halifax. the delegates appointed a committee to examine the feasibility of regular regional parliamentary meetings in Canada. In 1960, a conference was held in Winnipeg and one has been held every year since then, except in 1966 and in 1977 when the Canadian Branches were hosts to the 12th and 23rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences. In 1969, it was proposed that conference agendas should include an item of special interest and an item relating to parliamentary affairs. Over the years, new rules were adopted which led to the establishment of a permanent constitution in 1975.

Each year, some eighty parliamentarians from the thirteen Canadian Branches of the CPA attend the event. The Canadian Regional Conferences generally take place in August and this year's conference will be held in Alberta, August 14-18 New Brunswick, British Columbia and Newfoundland are next in line for the 19th, 20th and 21st annual regional conferences.

The Canadian Parliamentary seminar, inaugurated in 1973, has become an established forum wherein Canadian legislators can discuss common problems and exchange their views and experiences. The fourth such seminar, held in Ottawa from October 31 to November 3, 1977, saw a further advance in the development of this institution through the participation of representatives from three Parliaments of Commonwealth countries in the West Indies.

Up until last year, the meetings were held in Ottawa in the late fall. At its last meeting, however, the Canadian Regional Council warmly accepted a proposal from the President of the Quebec National Assembly that his Branch should this year be host to a special conference where the discussions will centre on the British Parliamentary System. The Fifth Seminar will therefore be postponed until the fall of 1979.

The Office of the Regional Representative was created when the Executive Committee of the General Council of CPA was established in 1967 to secure representation of all CPA Branches on the committee. All Branches of the CPA are grouped into seven Regions and, since 1974, each Region is allowed two representatives. Their term of office is for three years with each period of service so arranged as to ensure that both representatives of a same Region do not retire at the same time. The first Regional Representative specifically elected to represent the Provincial Branches was Harry Blank, MNA, of Quebec, whose term expires in the fall of this year. A new Canadian Provincial Regional Representative will be nominated at the Canadian Regional Conference in August.

A Regional Representative is obliged to attend "mid-year" meetings of the Executive Committee and Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences that take place during his term. In addition, he is usually invited to conferences and seminars that are held in his Region.