A Canadian government lawyer has praised Tynwald’s unique blend of history and modern parliamentary life following a two-day study visit to the island earlier this summer.

Charlie Feldman, a legislative counsel with Canada’s Department of Justice, visited as part of a programme arranged by the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office.

During his visit, Mr Feldman observed sittings of both the House of Keys and Legislative Council and met members and parliamentary staff.

Describing himself as a ‘parliament nerd’, he said: ‘It’s been an exhilarating experience to visit Tynwald. There’s no other parliament like it and I’ve made some great connections.’

He joked that ‘at Tynwald you get three chambers for the price of one’ and said its combination of longstanding traditions and modern technology had stood out.

Mr Feldman said: ‘Most parliaments I’ve visited have similarities and shared challenges, but very few can boast the same level of history, heritage and tradition as Tynwald, a parliament that so successfully brings the old and the new together - wigs and robes alongside electronic voting.’

He also praised the enthusiasm of those working within Tynwald, saying members and the teams supporting them demonstrated a ‘passion for parliament’.

Mr Feldman said he was particularly interested to see the Legislative Council operating from what he described as a ‘separate space’.

He said members in both chambers were fully engaged in proceedings and praised the level of detail used when explaining clauses.

Mr Feldman also met the President of Tynwald and Speaker of the House of Keys ahead of the sittings, praising the way both proceedings were presided over.

Reflecting on the visit, he said: ‘After hearing from Members and officers I came away thinking I’d witnessed a vibrant expression of the parliamentary function and how Tynwald “does parliament” in a unique way.

‘I had read up on Tynwald before I came to the Isle of Man but seeing truly was believing.’

He also reserved praise for another part of the parliamentary experience, describing Tynwald’s gift shop as ‘impressive’.