Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU)

A delegation from the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) led by the Hon. David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the UIPU and comprising the Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, Vice-President of the UIPU; the Hon. Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, Senator; the Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner, P.C., M.P.; and Ms. Andréanne Larouche, M.P. attended the 145th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Kigali, Rwanda from October 11-15, 2022. Joined by nearly 600 parliamentarians from 120 countries, the Canadian delegation debated the overall theme, “Gender equality and gender-sensitive parliaments as drivers of change for a more resilient and peaceful world.” Canadian delegates played leadership roles in the Assembly’s adoption of a resolution on migration and human trafficking proposed by the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights as well as a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They also actively participated in meetings of various subsidiary bodies focusing on women parliamentarians, young parliamentarians, peace and security, sustainable development, and health. In addition, they attended numerous side events on topics such as genocide, terrorism, and 2SLGBTQI+ matters, and held several bilateral meetings.

On September 26, 2022, the Hon. Marilou McPhedran, Senator, attended a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Twelve Plus Group in her capacity as a Bureau member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Sustainable Development Committee. Participants discussed several matters relating to the Group’s activities, including its priorities at the 145th Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda, confirmation of candidates for the next chair, and financial matters. The Group’s members on the Executive Committee of the IPU provided an update on their work, such as progress on various policy reviews and setting a sustainable financial outlook for the organization.

On July 6, 2022, the Hon. Marilou McPhedran, Senator, attended a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Twelve Plus Group in her capacity as a Bureau member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Sustainable Development Committee. Participants continued their discussion of the planned mission to Kyiv and Moscow by the IPU’s Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine. Senator McPhedran emphasized the importance of the principle of neutrality as the Task Force exercises its mandate.

On July 1, 2022, the Hon. Marilou McPhedran, Senator, attended a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Twelve Plus Group in her capacity as a Bureau member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Sustainable Development Committee. Participants discussed the mandate of the IPU’s newly created Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine and preparations for its upcoming mission to Kyiv and Moscow.

On March 15, 2022, the Hon. Marilou McPhedran, Senator, and Mr. Sven Spengemann, M.P., participated in a virtual event marking the 10th anniversary of the Plan of Action for Gender-sensitive Parliaments, a document adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at its 127th Assembly in Quebec City. This event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations. Senator McPhedran offered welcoming remarks, highlighting factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in parliaments. Mr. Spengemann participated in the panel on the role of men in advancing gender equality. He emphasized recent developments in Canada, including the enactment of the Gender Equality Week Act in 2018, legislation which he had introduced in the House of Commons during the 42nd Parliament.

The Annual Parliamentary Meeting at the 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) took place virtually on March 14, 2022. Co-organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women, it brought together legislators from around the globe to discuss the theme, “The role of women’s leadership and gender-responsive parliaments in climate action.” The Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) was represented by the Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, the Hon. Rosa Galvez, Senator, the Hon. Amina Gerba, Senator, the Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson, Senator, the Hon. Marilou McPhedran, Senator, the Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne, Senator, the Hon. Rosemary Moodie, Senator, the Hon. Kim Pate, Senator, Ms. Iqra Khalid, M.P., Ms. Andréanne Larouche, M.P., Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen, M.P., the Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner, P.C., M.P., and Mr. Francesco Sorbara, M.P. Participants shared their experiences regarding women’s leadership and political participation in climate action, green parliaments, as well as legal and policy reforms for gender-responsive climate action. Senator McPhedran emphasized the role that informal networks among women parliamentarians can play in advancing discussions on gender-responsive parliaments in climate action and achieving all of the Sustainable Development Goals, given their intersectionality. Senator McPhedran joined her voice to that of other participants in expressing solidarity with Ukraine’s women parliamentarians following the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine.

On March 7, 2022, the Hon. Marilou McPhedran, Senator, attended a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Twelve Plus Group in her capacity as a Bureau member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Sustainable Development Committee. Participants discussed several matters, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the group’s solidarity with Ukrainian parliamentarians. They also reviewed the Group’s financial matters and questions related to IPU membership. During discussions about the programme of activities for the 144th Assembly of the IPU, Senator McPhedran noted that the Canadian Group of the IPU (UIPU) had submitted proposed amendments to both the draft resolution on reframing peace processes and the draft resolution on leveraging information and communication technology in education. Participants were also briefed on key issues discussed by the Executive Committee of the IPU, including the organization’s relationship with the United Nations.

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee Vice-President for the Twelve Plus geopolitical group, remotely participated in the sixth sitting of the 286th session of the International Executive Committee of the IPU. The meeting took place on November 25, 2021 as part of the 143rd IPU Assembly in Madrid, Spain. Members of the Executive considered new initiatives to strengthen the organization’s accountability and transparency, as well as reviewed the work of its Sub-Committee on Finance, including the proposed consolidated budget for 2022. The Executive also examined the IPU’s calendar of future activities, which includes both in-person and virtual events. The meeting was the last for Mr. McGuinty as a member of the Executive Committee. The IPU President thanked him for his four years of dedicated service and offered best wishes for his continued contribution to the IPU specifically and parliamentary diplomacy more broadly.

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee Vice-President for the Twelve Plus geopolitical group, remotely participated in the fifth sitting of the 286th session of the International Executive Committee of the IPU. The meeting took place on November 24, 2021 as part of the 143rd IPU Assembly in Madrid, Spain. Members of the Executive finalized the draft IPU Strategy 2022-2026, as well as other matters related to the membership of the organization. Its recommendations were submitted to the Governing Council for endorsement by that body.

On 22 November 2021, the Hon. David McGuinty, P.C., MP, President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU), and the Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, attended a virtual meeting of the Twelve Plus Group. During this meeting, the Group voted for candidates to fill two vacancies on the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and one vacancy on the organization’s High-Level Advisory Group on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism. MP McGuinty and Senator Ataullahjan were both voting members.