The Honourable Joan Fraser, Senator,
Québec, represented the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association (CPA) at the International Parliamentary Governance Seminar which
took place from November 15-25, 2010.
The seminar consisted of meetings,
workshops and discussions with Commonwealth parliamentarians and other
experts. Delegates attended from Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South
Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia), Bangladesh, Barbados, Bermuda,
Canada (Federal Branch and Manitoba), Cayman Islands, Dominica, East African
Legislative Assembly/Uganda, Guernsey, India (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat,
Haryana, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh), Kenya, Malawi,
Malaysia (Selangor), Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, New
Zealand, Nigeria (Bayelsa), Pakistan (Federal, Balochistan, NW Frontier
Province and Punjab), Rwanda, South Africa (Federal, Eastern Cape, Free State,
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape), Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Lucia,
Swaziland, Tanzania (Zanzibar), the Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago and the
United Kingdom (Scotland).
The aim of the seminar was to enhance
understanding of supranational and national governance issues, as well as
devolved (sub-national) and municipal questions, within the context of the
Westminster parliamentary model. The seminar took place mainly in Portcullis
House, adjacent to the Palace of Westminster; and sessions in London were also
held at the UK Supreme Court, the Methodist Central Hall and Westminster
School. In addition, delegates participated in a two-day visit to Brussels,
for study of the European Union and European institutions, and a one-day visit
to Cardiff to study the Welsh parliament as well as municipal issues with representatives
of the city of Cardiff.
The seminar was an excellent occasion
to broaden delegates’ understanding of many facets of governance in the
Westminster-style context. Of particular interest were the sessions on the
various facets of the UK and European justice systems.
The program included sessions on models
of governance and the international system. Discussions touched on the United
Nations and the international system; the International Criminal Court and the
International Court of Justice; and international development institutions and
governance.
The program in Brussels focused on the
European Union. Discussions included the organization and work of EU
institutions; the European Commission; the European External Action Service and
the European Council. In Brussels, a session on supranational governance
included a general discussion on the European Parliament and discussions with
members of the Committee on International Trade and the Committee on
Development. Sessions were conducted on European law and the European Court of
Justice.
Back in London, a session on the
Westminster system in Commonwealth contexts touched on co-operation and
governance within the Commonwealth. Sessions on the Westminster parliamentary
system focused on the role of the opposition and parliamentary committees. A
session on justice and the rule of law focussed on the court structure in
England and Wales and the UK Supreme Court. Topics of justice and the
separation of powers and legitimacy were explored. Principles of good governance
were discussed in workshops on evidence-informed policy-making; accountability
& transparency; conflict-sensitive policy-making; representing diversity;
and engaging the next generation.
In Cardiff, sessions on the topic of
devolution were conducted at the National Assembly for Wales & Cardiff City
Council. The discussions provided a political perspective on devolution and the
National Assembly for Wales. Other topics included First Ministers’ Questions
and local governance at Cardiff City Council.
Upon return to London, sessions on
trust and legitimacy touched on public ownership of regional governance;
scrutiny of the Prime Minister and Prime Minister’s Questions; elections and
electoral systems; and building trust with the electorate. The final session
was on effective oversight outside of Parliament including discussions on
holding Parliament to account: scrutiny by the media; economic governance;
public sector governance; effective oversight outside Parliament; and the role
of Parliamentarians.
All of the sessions were useful and
instructive, and the UK branch is to be commended both for the high quality of
the speakers it attracted and the comprehensive nature of the program.
Delegates also attended a reception hosted by the Speaker of the House of
Commons, Hon. John Bercow during the seminar. As mentioned, the sections on
justice systems were particularly useful. Other highlights include the
sections on devolution, the session with Hans Marten on the institutions of the
European Union and the briefing by Prof. John Greenaway on governance, as well
as the session on engaging young people in the political process – Canada could
usefully learn from the impressive work of the parliamentary education unit at
Westminster.
The UK branch produced an electronic
record of the seminar, which has been forwarded to the Canadian branch of the
CPA.
Respectfully submitted,
Mr.
Russ Hiebert, M.P. Chair, Canadian Branch
of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for
Senator Joan Fraser