Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (CANA)

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.

The Honourable Vernon White, Senator, attended the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC) meeting on February 8, 2021. The Council meets twice a year to discuss issues concerning both Ukraine and NATO. The latest edition was an opportunity to discuss Ukraine’s political situation and recent developments to allow for constructive exchanges between the various NATO member countries and to reiterate their support for the Ukrainian people.

The Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, Cheryl Gallant, MP, and Julie Dzerowicz, MP, attended the first virtual edition of the Transatlantic Forum, normally held in person in Washington, D.C. The purpose of this special 2021 edition of the Forum was to inform participants of the directions that the new U.S. administration intends to take regarding its NATO participation. U.S. Congress members took the floor to discuss various considerations and their impact over the next four years on their country’s participation in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the ties that bind the United States to other NATO member countries.

The Honourable Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, Senator, and Brenda Shanahan, MP, attended this webinar, intended to train parliamentarians who recently joined the association and its Executive Committee. It also served as a refresher for those who have been in office for some time already. The session was divided into two components. The first was an overview of the NATO PA’s structure to understand how it works and to determine who the permanent officers are and what their role and tasks are. The second was a review of the political agenda, current peace and security issues, future challenges and the partners that help the NATO PA carry out its mandate.