The Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians (CAFP) is a non-profit organization, established by an Act of the Parliament of Canada, the membership of which is composed of former members of the Senate or House of Commons of Canada.
History
On May 29, 1996, legislation establishing the Canadian Assoociation of Former Parliamentarians was adopted. Concurrently, thirty-four bronze plaques, representing the thirty-four parliaments to that time, and containing the names of all persons who had served in the Senate and House of Commons to that time, were unveiled in the Visitors Centre of the House of Commons.
The Association was created in response to a 1985 recommendation of a Special Committee on Reform of The House of Commons, chaired by James McGrath. It is modeled after the United States Association of Former Members of Congress, founded in 1970.
The Association sponsors an annual Distinguished Service Award, "presented annually to a former parliamentarian who has made an outstanding contribution to the country and its democratic institutions." Past award recipients, from the time of the inception of the award in 1999, are Keith Penner (2010), Douglas Roche (2009), Sheila Finestone (2008), Jacques Hébert (2007), Wilton Littlechild (2006), Joseph-Roland Comtois (2005), Bruce Halliday (2004) and Aideen Nicholson (2003), John M. Reid (2002), Douglas Fisher (2001), Stan Darling (2000) and John Matheson (1999).
Among its other activities, the Association has established an Educational Foundation with, among other objectives, to "generally support the strengthening of democracy and good governance in Canada and abroad." The Association is also a participant in the International Election Monitors Institute, providing "former legislators as election observers to operate worldwide in collaboration with other democracy-building organizations."