SHILLONG, May 26: Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma is attending the 16th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar in Ottawa, Canada, from May 25 to 29, 2026. The seminar is being organised by the Parliament of Canada and brings together parliamentary leaders, legislators and officials from different countries to discuss evolving democratic practices and legislative challenges in the modern era.
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| Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma with delegates and parliamentary officials during the 16th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar held in Ottawa, Canada, from May 25 to 29, 2026. (Image: facebook.com/MeghalayaAssemblyChannel) |
The five-day seminar is being conducted under the theme “Parliaments in the 21st Century: Innovation and Adaptation for Democracy.” It focuses on strengthening democratic institutions and improving parliamentary functioning through innovation, technology and international cooperation.
During the seminar, delegates are participating in discussions on several important topics related to governance and legislative systems. Key sessions include the structure and functioning of the Canadian parliamentary system, the role of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), youth participation in parliamentary democracy, and the growing role of women in political leadership.
The seminar will also address issues such as government accountability, adapting parliamentary institutions to traditional and social media, electronic voting systems, and hybrid parliamentary proceedings in the House of Commons. Another major topic of discussion is the future role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in parliamentary institutions and democratic governance.
Speaker Thomas A. Sangma is accompanied by Malthus S. Sangma, Secretary of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, and Raja K. Kharpuri, Deputy Secretary. The delegation is expected to gain valuable insights into international parliamentary best practices and innovative legislative mechanisms.
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Officials stated that participation in the seminar will help strengthen democratic governance and institutional capacity in Meghalaya by exposing delegates to global experiences in parliamentary administration and policy-making. The visit is also expected to promote greater exchange of ideas and cooperation with parliamentary representatives from other countries.
The seminar serves as an important platform for lawmakers and parliamentary officials to deliberate on the future of democracy and the evolving role of legislatures in addressing contemporary global challenges.
