Presiding Officer leaves for Canadian visit
091/2006 | 27 November 2006
Presiding Officer George Reid MSP leaves Scotland today on a week-long information exchanging visit to Canada (27 Nov – 4 Dec).
During the visit, which coincides with St Andrew’s Day on 30 November, he will meet the speakers of both the Legislative Assemblies of Ontario and British Columbia to discuss with Canadian parliamentarians the issues of e-democracy, citizenship and wider public engagement.
On St Andrew’s Day, he will address members of the Scottish-Canadian community as guest speaker at a St Andrew’s Society Dinner in Vancouver hosted by The Scotland Funds and Standard Life Canada.
During his speech he will outline the current mood of optimism in Scotland, the developing role of the Scottish Parliament and the strong historical links between the two Commonwealth countries.
Speaking ahead of his visit, George Reid said:
"Scottish-Canadians are the third largest ethnic group in Canada, and over the years we have built up a regular dialogue with our Canadian colleague. We share the key parliamentary objectives of increasing accessibility and widening public participation through innovative, popular initiatives and there is much we can learn from each other.”
The Presiding Officer will also visit representatives of the Scottish Studies Centre at the Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and pay a courtesy call on the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, the Honourable Iona Campagnolo.
Programme details
Monday 27 November
Travel to Toronto
Tuesday 28 November - Toronto
Ontario Government Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs for meeting with Karl Cunningham, Head, Ontario Government E-Government Branch.
Legislative Assembly of Ontario for meeting with Hon Michael A. Brown MPP, Speaker, Ontario Provincial Legislature
Observe Provincial Legislature Question Period. Presiding Officer to receive formal Acknowledgement from the Speaker
Art Gallery of Ontario for meeting with Matthew Teitelbaum, Director and CEO and Dr. Katharine Lochnan Curator of Prints and Drawings, Art Gallery of Ontario to discuss the Art gallery’s links with Scottish galleries.
Address reception co-hosted by SDI, Globalscots and The Scotland Funds.
Thursday 30 November – Vancouver / Burnaby
Simon Fraser University for discussion with group of students on Scottish Parliament and modern Scotland followed by Q&A.
Meeting with Kevin Regan from Ministry of Economic Development to discuss the Pacific Gateway initiative and comparison of some of the economic development issues facing modern day Scotland with recent experiences in BC.
Address reception hosted by British Consulate-General, SDI, Globalscots, The Scotland Funds and Simon Fraser University.
Address dinner hosted by The Scotland Funds and Standard Life Canada .
Friday 1 December – Vancouver / Victoria
Meeting with The Honourable John Les, Solicitor General.
Meeting with The Honourable Bill Barisoff, the Speaker, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia .
Meeting with The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor.
Sunday 3 December – Vancouver
Deliver reading at West Vancouver Presbyterian Church: I Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
Monday 4 December
Return to Scotland.
Background Notes
Scottish-Canadian is an ethnic group in Canada with a population of 4,15,210 people, according to the 2001 Census of Canada data. Scottish-Canadians are the third largest ethnic group in Canada.
For further information, the Scottish Parliament media contact is:
Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6265
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or
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Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk
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