Speaker of the House Corine George-Massicote is leading a three-member delegation to the 65th annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference this week in Halifax, Canada, government announced Tuesday.
The conference — which started Saturday and will end tomorrow — is hosted by the Canadian Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association under the theme “Inclusive, Accessible and Strong Parliaments: The Cornerstone of Democracy and Essential for Development.”
The annual event typically draws more than 500 parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and decision-makers from across the Commonwealth, who discuss political issues and developments around the globe, according to Government Information Services. Ms. George-Massicote is accompanied by At-Large Representative Shereen Flax-Charles, the junior minister for trade, economic development, agriculture and fisheries; Clerk of the House Phyllis Evans; and Senior Executive Officer Myrna Lennard-Penn.
The agenda
Sessions scheduled during the conference include the 38th Small Branches Conference; the Seventh Triennial Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian Conference; The CPA Executive Committee Meetings; The Commonwealth Parliamentary with Disabilities Meetings; and the 56th Society of Clerks at the Table General Meeting.
The events offer opportunities for networking, professional development, and sharing best practices with colleagues from Commonwealth parliaments and other organisations, according to GIS.
Besides its annual Commonwealth parliamentary conferences, the CPA also hosts regional conferences, seminars, workshops, symposiums, publications, and inter-parliamentary visits.
The CPA is divided into nine geographic regions: Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and Mediterranean; Canada; India; Pacific; Southeast Asia; and the Caribbean, America and Atlantic.