Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA)

MPs Cheryl Gallant (Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of the NATO PA) and Leona Alleslev participated in this virtual meeting, which included a panel discussion on Space and Security, a panel discussion on Biotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges, and a presentation by the Director of NATO’s Collaboration Support Office (CSO) on CSO’s role within NATO's Science and Technology Organization (STO) and STO cooperation with its partners. Discussion among the attending members followed.

The Honourable Jane Cordy, Senator, attended this Committee meeting on Civil Dimension of Security to learn about Estonia’s experience in building resilience to disinformation and cyberthreats.

Cheryl Gallant MP, the Vice-Chair of the Canadian NATO-PA, participated in this event which was held over the course of two half-days, and entitled: “Russian Military Build-up and Crisis in Belarus at the Center of Polish Strategic Concerns”.

MP Leona Alleslev, a rapporteur for this committee, participated in a virtual visit to Germany, together with the Honorable Vernon White, Senator and MP Cheryl Gallant. The meeting was divided into two panels: the first addressed biological weapons and biosecurity, and the second addressed outer space. An informal discussion followed on the committee’s upcoming activities, scheduled to take place in France and Japan, which will be subject to the public safety measures in place at those times.

MP Karen McCrimmon, President of the Canadian NATO PA, together with MP Cheryl Gallant, Vice-President, participated in this meeting of the NATO PA Standing Committee. It was originally scheduled to take place in person in the Czech Republic, but it was held virtually due to public health restrictions. The Czech delegation hosted the virtual meeting. The discussion covered study topics for the months ahead, in preparation for the spring session to be hosted virtually by Sweden in May 2021. The NATO PA Secretary General presented a report on gender equality within the organization. Participants then considered the auditor’s report for the NATO PA and adopted a number of financial provisions. The meeting concluded with a discussion on subsequent meetings to prepare for the 67th annual session scheduled to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in the fall of 2021.

The Honorable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, Senator, together with MPs Cheryl Gallant, Julie Dzerowicz, John McKay and Michel Boudrias participated in this meeting. It was Part 2 of the Forum; Part 1 took place on February 3, 2021. Discussion topics included concerns shared by NATO members involving major geopolitical issues, such as peace and security in Europe, North America and other regions of the world.

The Honorable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu and Jane Cordy, Senators, and MP Cheryl Gallant participated in this webinar. Senator Cordy was a moderator for the first panel, on the topic “10 years After the Arab uprisings.” The first session provided an update on the uprisings and identified lessons NATO countries could learn from the situation. Participants heard about the case of Tunisia and the socio-political and economic consequences it is experiencing 10 years later. The second session focused on the current situation and how NATO countries are responding to tension and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa. Both sessions were followed by a question and answer period and participants were able to engage in lively discussions.