The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Canadian parliament to push home Nigeria's request for debt cancellation as the legislatures of both countries resolved to strengthen ties for the sustenance of democracy.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Austin Opara, who made the debt cancellation case for Nigeria and other poor countries at the opening of a two-day seminar organised by the National Assembly and the Canadian cabinet in Abuja yesterday, said that cancellation of debts owed by poor countries would set them on the path of development.

"It is our earnest hope that the Canadian parliament will champion the call in the international community to reduce substantially, the debt of the poorest countries and to cancel the public debt of Nigeria and other heavily indebted poor countries, while not neglecting the opportunity of recovering funds illegally sequestered by some rulers of these countries for their own personal gains", he said.

Opara commended Canada for setting aside $500 million to help African countries last year in addition to writing off more than one billion dollars owed by poor countries and ceasing collection from 11 highly indebted nations.

He urged Canada to do more in that direction while calling on other rich countries to emulate Canada because the widening economic and social disparities between developed and developing countries was a threat to world security which necessitates an improved sustainable interaction.

Such interaction, he said, would lead to "a more meaningful and efficient allocation of global resources for the benefit of people of all nations".

Declaring the seminar open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Masari expressed the National Assembly's resolve to further strengthen the legislative relationship between Nigeria and Canada through exchange of visits, development of legislative procedures and expertise of lawmakers.

He commended the Canadian government for giving Nigeria $20 million in health and agricultural aid and its commitment to the success of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

The deputy speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, Bob Kilger, who led his country's delegation, said the Canadian parliament will continue to champion the cause of NEPAD.

"The issue of governance is central to the success of NEPAD. We believe that building the capacity and sustainability of democratic institutions - notably legislatures and infrastructure that supports legislators - is a key element in addressing the complex challenges of governance", he said.

The two-day seminar, titled "Parliamentary Democracy, The Canada Experience", was initially slated for last March but postponed due to the April and May general elections. Parliamentarians from both countries are in attendance.