Report

1.    Background^[1]

The IPU is the international organization of Parliaments of sovereign states. It was established in 1889. The Union is the focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and cooperation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy. To this end, it:

o   Fosters contacts, co-ordination, and the exchange of experience among parliaments and parliamentarians of all countries;

o   Considers questions of international interest and concern and expresses its views on such issues in order to bring about action by parliaments and parliamentarians;

o   Contributes to the defence and promotion of human rights – an essential factor of parliamentary democracy and development; and

o   Contributes to better knowledge of the working of representative institutions and to the strengthening and development of their means of action.

The IPU supports the efforts of the United Nations, whose objectives it shares, and works in close cooperation with it. It also cooperates with regional inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as with international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations which are motivated by the same ideals.

At the close of the 125th Assembly 159 national parliaments were members of the IPU and nine regional parliamentary assemblies were associate members. Most members are affiliated to one of six geopolitical groups that are currently active in the IPU.

2.    Agenda for the 125^th IPU Assembly

The IPU Assembly is the principal statutory body that expresses the views of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on political issues. Twice a year it brings together parliamentarians to study international problems and make recommendations for action.

The agenda for the 125th IPU Assembly, which took place in Bern, Switzerland between 16 and 19 October 2011, addressed the following items:

o   Panel discussions on the subject items chosen for debate during the 126^th Assembly to be held in Kampala, Uganda in March-April 2012:

§  Promoting and practising good governance as a means of advancing peace and security: Drawing lessons from recent events in the Middle East and North Africa;

§  Redistribution of power, not just wealth: Ownership of the international agendas;

§  Access to health as a basic right: The role of parliaments in addressing key challenges to securing the health of women and children.

o   Report of the IPU Committee on United Nations Affairs

o   Emergency Item: The plight of the people of famine-stricken Somalia and relief efforts by IPU Members

A detailed report on the 125th IPU Assembly and Related Meetings is available online.^[2]

3.    The Canadian Delegation

Delegations from the parliaments of 127 countries attended the 125th IPU Assembly. Of the 1,253 delegates who attended, 534 were members of national parliaments, of which 158 were women (29.6%) and six were Canadian parliamentarians. These included:

The Honourable Donald H. Oliver, Leader of the delegation

The Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, Senator

The Honourable Dennis Dawson, Senator

Scott Armstrong, M.P.

Jean Crowder, M.P.

Chris Charlton, M.P.

4.     Interventions made by the Canadian Delegation during the 125^th IPU Assembly[3]

Canadian delegates participated in the full program of meetings and related panel sessions held during the 125th IPU Assembly.

During the panel discussion on “Access to health as a basic right: The role of parliaments in addressing key challenges to securing the health of women and children,” Senator Ataullahjan, in her capacity as the Committee’s co-rapporteur, observed that the Committee’s report, for which she was a principal author[4]:

... comprised an evaluation of progress towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 (on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health), a description of the key challenges – including the need to strengthen health systems and address the inequities faced by vulnerable groups of women and children – and a summary of relevant international human rights frameworks. The report described the lack of accountability that existed in some countries that had not introduced policies or made resources available to enhance maternal and child health services.

While progress still needed to be made to achieve the MDGs by 2015 and to ensure transparency in national health expenditure, there were already a number of successes at the country level that the international community could build upon. The concluding section of the report focused on the role that all parliamentarians could play to ensure that the necessary improvements were made to women’s and children’s health services globally. The report also recognized that women and children played a key role in all areas of development.

Following a series of interventions on this topic she:

... welcomed all the comments that had been made on the content of the draft report and said that the scope of the report was intended to be international, not focusing on country‑specific situations, so as to be relevant to as many IPU Member Parliaments as possible.

Many comments had been made on reproductive health and family planning and she noted that the report’s aim was to draw on existing international norms and commitments in that area and encourage countries to ensure that men and women had equal access to health care, including family planning services. Particular attention should be paid to promoting access to health care among vulnerable groups, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women specifically included the right of women in rural areas to health care facilities, including counselling and services in family planning.

The subject of surrogacy, raised by the delegate of Iceland, was of concern, as it raised important issues for the health and rights of both women and children. Many of those issues were, however, specific to surrogacy and therefore beyond the scope of the draft report. The subject could benefit from a more in‑depth discussion by IPU Members in the future.

Mr. Armstrong served as a member of the Drafting Committee for the Emergency Item, addressing “The plight of the people of famine-stricken Somalia and relief efforts by IPU Members.” During the Committee debate on this item,” he said:

... that the world must scale up its humanitarian efforts, particularly in Somalia, which had recently been struck by drought and famine. Somalia faced huge challenges, including political instability, climate change and terrorism, as well as the serious problem of pirates operating off its coast. The global community could and should come to Somalia’s aid in order to meet the needs of the people, and must support and promote democratic processes in that country, where elections were due to be held in 2012. At a time when the whole world was facing economic crisis, and each country was focusing on its own problems, those most in need must not be forgotten. Parliaments had a responsibility to support the entire world. The international community, as a whole, must stand up and support the people of Somalia and make concerted efforts to build a better nation.

Senator Dawson chaired the IPU Committee on United Nations Affairs during its first sitting, at which time he introduced Mr. Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal and High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). Senator Dawson noted:

... that the Alliance of Civilizations had been established in 2005 at the initiative of the Governments of Spain and Turkey. It had emerged in the post‑11 September environment, marked by misconception and mistrust between religious communities, particularly between Muslim and western societies. The Alliance provided a platform that was conducive to greater understanding and cooperation between nations and peoples across cultures and religions, thus countering polarization and extremism. By promoting the values of tolerance and cultural diversity, the Alliance endeavoured to help create an environment where peace, security and development could thrive.

He also recalled that in 2007, the IPU had adopted a resolution entitled Ensuring peaceful co‑existence between all religious communities and beliefs in a globalized world. That resolution identified practical steps parliaments could take to help advance cultural diversity, respect and understanding among religious communities.

Senator Oliver participated as a panellist for a special discussion on “Reform of the financial markets.”  In this capacity he said:

... that financial reform was fundamentally important to the future prosperity of all countries. Efforts were being made by the leaders of the G20 nations, their finance ministers and central bank governors, to bring about that reform. Those efforts had got under way at the 2009 G20 Leaders Summit in London, where the reform agenda had included: enhanced transparency and disclosure; higher prudential and liquidity standards; a new system of macroprudential oversight; credible and effective resolution regimes for large financial institutions; a broader scope for regulation and oversight in respect of all systemically important financial institutions, markets and instruments; a stronger infrastructure for key financial markets; and measures to promote adherence to international prudential regulatory and supervisory standards. At the Pittsburgh Summit later that year, the G20 had been established as the premier forum for international economic cooperation. Since then, G20 leaders had been working to strengthen global financial systems. The adoption of the Basel III Accord, a new global regulatory standard for bank capital adequacy and liquidity, by members of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, which included representatives of most of the G20 nations, was a positive example of international cooperation.

Turning to the situation in Canada, he said that, owing to the leadership of the Prime Minister both before and after the onset of the global economic and financial crisis, the merits of the Canadian banking system had been the subject of international focus: in Canada the rules had been applied, effective supervision and oversight had been ensured, and as a result, the effects of the crisis had been less pronounced in his country than in many other nations. In recent months, such reputable international organizations as the IMF, the OECD and the World Economic Forum had praised Canada’s banking system, describing it as robust and exemplary, in particular its high prudential standards and strict supervision. Reference had also been made to Canada’s stringent capital regulation with higher‑than‑minimum requirements, the limited involvement of Canadian banks in foreign and wholesale activities and Canada’s conservative mortgage product market. Canada was one of few countries where the global crisis had not resulted in bank failures and bailouts financed by taxpayers, and where banks had continued to experience credit growth.

In Canada, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OFSI) was responsible for ensuring the safety and soundness of Canada’s banks. The Office strove to ensure a balance between allowing market forces to operate freely, and guaranteeing necessary regulation. Following the conclusion of the Basel II Accord, OFSI had established capital requirements for Canadian banks that had exceeded the minimums in the Accord, and had required banks with higher risk to offset that risk with higher capital of a higher quality. In so doing, OSFI had played an important role in the stability of Canada’s financial system. OFSI was encouraging Canada’s banks to implement the Basel III Accord capital standards in early 2013. Those were minimum standards, and Canada’s banks would be encouraged not only to meet, but to exceed them. The impact of higher capital standards on lending ability, growth and job creation must, however, be recognized, even if the risk to Canada would probably be lower than to other nations. Preparedness was crucial, since a stable global financial system was in everyone’s interests.

While he supported free markets, he also supported appropriate regulation, oversight and enforcement, including in the financial sector. The Basel III Accord had been designed to prevent overexposure of banks to risk, supporting the need to increase their capital requirements. That Accord proposed to strengthen global capital and liquidity regulations to improve the banking sector’s ability to absorb financial and economic shocks. Enforcement was crucial to bolster governance. Since the nature and form of supervisory authorities varied between countries, rules could only be helpful when those authorities applied them in both letter and spirit, when appropriate legal sanctions were imposed in situations where rules were violated, and there was consistency in implementation and enforcement across nations, recognizing that there might be legitimate reasons for some differences.

The global crisis had shown the need for international enforcement of key standards, such as the Basel III Accord. It had been suggested that lax enforcement of the Basel II Agreement in certain countries had led to the global crisis. Various proposals had been made for establishing a monitoring framework for implementation, requesting country‑by‑country progress reports, or establishing impartial peer review and enhanced mutual assessment or surveillance. Those proposals remained inadequate, however, and consideration should be given to establishing a single, international agency responsible for ensuring respect for the Basel III Accord.

In response to questions following the panellists’ presentations Senator Oliver indicated that:

... with regard to the Basel II Accord, that about 13 years previously, OFSI had commissioned a study by the Senate Banking Commission on regulation in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the Netherlands in comparison with that in Canada. The study had concluded that the Canadian regulator was particularly effective because it encouraged surpassing minimum standards. As a result, Canada had not experienced any bank failures during the crisis.

Responding to a question raised by the representative from Belarus regarding the new world order, he said that the G20 was no longer sufficient, and as yet there was no organization that was representative of the contemporary global reality.

Regarding the issue of enforcement mechanisms for the Basel III Accord, he said that there was no treaty‑based enforcement mechanism in place, nor was there a dispute resolution mechanism. The Bank of Canada Governor had said that he did not consider that the Basel III Accord would reach the level of a global treaty that had to be ratified by all parliaments, including the United States Congress. That Accord was consistent with the provisions of the US Dodd‑Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. It was the responsibility to implement that Act, and it was the responsibility of European States to implement the provisions of the Basel III Accord. Regulatory colleges had been established to be involved in peer group assessment.

He added that he agreed with the delegate of Algeria on the need for an international enforcement agency and on the need to strengthen the Bretton Woods institutions. Issues of ageing and pensions were indeed going to put increasing pressure on financial institutions. With regard to mortgage lending, consumer education was crucial. Efforts were being made to promote financial transparency and promote legislation for education and financial literacy. The IPU should be commended on having organized such a timely discussion.

5.     Participation by Canadian Delegates in Related Meetings and Activities

Concurrent with Standing Committee activities associated with the 125^th IPU Assembly were the meetings of several related committees and working groups. This section identifies those meetings that were attended by Canadians delegates.

(a)  The 262^nd Session of the IPU Executive Committee

The IPU’s Executive Committee held its Meetings in Bern on 14, 15 and 18 October. Senator Oliver, who was elected to the Executive for a four year term in October 2010, participated in these meetings. The proceedings of the Executive Committee were devoted to discussing and making recommendations on agenda items to be addressed and ratified by the IPU’s Governing Council. A summary of its decisions may be found online.[5] 

(b)  The 189^th Session of the IPU Governing Council

The Governing Council is the plenary policy-making body of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Several committees and working groups are subordinated to it and report to the Council on their work. Meetings of the 189^th Session of the IPU Governing Council were held on 17 and 19 October. All Canadian delegates attended at least one session of the Governing Council. A detailed report on the work and decisions of the Governing Council is available online.[6]

During the reports on specialized meetings, Senator Oliver, in his capacity as the co-Chair of the IPU’s Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO reported on the Parliamentary panel within the framework of the annual WTO Public Forum that was held in September 2011 in Geneva. He said that the:

... parliamentary conference on the WTO, which was a partnership between the WTO, the IPU and the European Parliament, had been established as a mechanism for parliamentary interaction with the WTO. The theme of the parliamentary panel’s discussion had been “Trade in natural resources – a curse or a blessing? A parliamentary perspective”. The panel had been well attended, and the discussion had been spirited and informative. It had been chaired by a journalist with very broad experience, and the panellists had been a parliamentarian from Namibia, a member of the European Parliament and an expert from the WTO. The panel had been one of the best attended events at the WTO Public Forum, and had increased awareness of the invaluable role of parliamentarians in the WTO through a rich and interactive debate, and had been a valuable addition to the programme of the Public Forum.[7]

During the final sitting of the Council Mr. Abdelwahad Radi was elected President of the IPU for a three year term that ends in October 2014. In recognition of the outgoing President’s contributions to the IPU, Senator Oliver, on behalf of the IPU Executive Committee, delivered the following tribute to Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab:

On behalf of the IPU Executive Committee I would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to President Theo-Ben Gurirab for his important contributions to the IPU these past three years.

When I learned that I would have the honor of thanking our President, I asked myself: What does it take to be a great leader? One thought is: Leadership is someone who brings people together. But it was Nelson Mandela who said: “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” And Peter Drucker said:“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributed.” 

So, Dr, President Gurirab, you have been the veritable epitome of a successful leader by: (1) promoting others, (2) bringing our diverse forces together, and (3) as Mandela said “you took the front line when there was danger.”

To gain a full appreciation for your leadership qualities, it is instructive to have a glimpse at your distinguished career. You were Namibia’s Prime Minister from 2002 to 2005 and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 2000. You were a member of the Constituent Assembly Constitution Drafting Committee and a founding member of your parliament. In 1999, you served as President of the 54th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. You were instrumental in driving the UN reform process and presided over the drafting of the historic United Nations Millennium Declaration in 2000.

Since being elected as IPU President in 2008, you have used this valuable experience to advance our shared interests, with a view to ensuring the longer-term stability and relevance of the IPU. Your election coincided with the unfolding economic and financial crisis. Under your leadership, the IPU has played a lead role in debating the effects of this crisis with a view to determining what parliaments, governments and the international community could do to mitigate its effects.   

The Third Meeting of Speakers was also held during your mandate. The Conference of Speakers was initially convened by the IPU on the occasion of the United Nations Millennium Assembly in the year 2000. It has become an important factor helping parliaments to bridge the democracy gap in international relations. The Third Meeting of Speakers – which I was honoured to attend as the Deputy Speaker of the Senate of Canada – was no exception. More than 130 Speakers of Parliament gave their assent to a text that affirmed how accountability and representation lie at the heart of democracy. It called for the need to secure global democratic accountability. It voiced our shared preoccupation with how politics can become a closed space, where there is insufficient room for opposing opinions and consideration of alternative policies. It declared that today's multilateral systems should allow for greater consideration for the thoughts and aspirations of people whose voices go unheard. It called for greater parliamentary involvement in international cooperation. And, perhaps most importantly, it affirmed that the IPU is the international body best suited to build the relationship between parliaments and the United Nations.

In response to this you recognized the urgent need for the IPU to reposition itself in today’s evolving world by strengthening its structure and working methods. You said we had to define clearly who we are and who we want to be. Today’s adoption of the IPU Strategy for 2012-2017 represents the successful culmination of your vision in that regard.

The IPU’s new Strategy firmly anchors our organization in the 21^st Century by giving it more focus and a clearer sense of direction. It consolidates the IPU as the global forum for parliamentary dialogue and cooperation. It will help enhance our ability to advance democracy and assist parliaments and parliamentarians in fulfilling their mandates. And, most significantly, it expresses a clear vision that will assist the parliamentary community throughout the world to articulate and respond effectively to the needs of the people and their aspirations for peace, human rights, gender equality and development.

In parallel with these efforts, you have worked closely with the IPU Secretariat to establish new internal management structures to enable our organization to better deliver its services to Members. You have been sensitive to the realities of today’s budgetary constraints, which has necessitated the identification of savings and efficiencies associated with the IPU’s structure and functioning. You have also been a champion of gender mainstreaming, and have worked with a steadfast determination to ensure the implementation of gender-sensitive policies, practices and programs.  

The austerity budget adopted this afternoon for 2012 is a testament to your commitment to ensuring the responsible financial stewardship of this organization as it moves forward. During your mandate the IPU’s membership has grown thanks to your tireless outreach initiatives. With a refocused mission and vision, we have every reason to be optimistic for the future growth of this important organization, notwithstanding the difficult challenges that we must still address.

Mr. President, all told, the IPU is stronger, more agile, and better equipped to meet the challenges of the coming years. We are deeply grateful for the important contributions you have made to the IPU these past three years and wish you the very best as you embark on new endeavours. That said, we hope and expect you will remain active and engaged in the work of the IPU and look forward to working with you in the future as we work to realize your vision. It has been a sincere pleasure for me personally to have been able to work closely with you on many different initiatives over the term of your presidency.

Thank you very much.  

(c)  Geopolitical Group Meetings

Article 25 of the Statutes and Rules of the Inter-Parliamentary Union permits members of the IPU to form geopolitical groups.  These groups play an important role in the functioning and activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). 

There are six geopolitical groups formally recognized by the IPU: the African Group (42 members), the Arab Group (17 members), the Asia-Pacific Group (26 members), the Eurasia Group (7 members), the Latin American Group (19 members) and the Twelve Plus Group (45 members). Each group decides on working methods that best suit its participation in the activities of the Union and informs the Secretariat of its composition, the names of its officers, and its rules of procedure.

Canada belongs to the Asia Pacific Group and the Twelve Plus Group. Since Canada belongs to more than one geopolitical group, it submits candidatures for vacant positions within the Union through the Twelve Plus Group.[8]

A meeting of the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) was held on 16 October. Agenda items considered included:

o   Briefing by the Group’s representatives on the work of the Executive Committee

o   Report from the APG Working Group

o   Emergency Item

o   Vacancies to be filled

o   IPU Presidency

o   Future meetings of the APG and its Working Group

Meetings of the Twelve Plus Group were held on 16-19 October. Agenda items considered included:

§  Report on work of the Group’s Steering Committee

§  Report from Group representatives on the work of the Executive Committee and its subsidiary bodies

§  Election of the IPU President

§  Panel discussions

§  Emergency item

§  IPU Committee on UN Affairs

§  Vacancies to be filled

§  Matters relating to the Twelve Plus Group

§  Schedule of Group meetings for the 126th Assembly (Kampala, March-April 2012)

(d)  Reception to promote the 127^th IPU Assembly, Quebec City, October 2012

On 18 October, Senator Oliver and the Canadian delegation hosted a reception to promote the 127^th IPU Assembly to be held in Quebec City from 21-26 October 2012. The event opened with a promotional video about Quebec City, featuring the Mayor of Quebec, Mr. Regis Labeaume.[9]

In making his remarks to those in attendance, Senator Oliver said:

As President of the Canadian Group of the IPU, I would like to welcome you all to this reception, which is being held to celebrate the official announcement of Canada’s hosting of the 127^th IPU Assembly in Quebec City in October 2012.

Let me begin by introducing the Canadian parliamentarians who are your hosts this evening. I am joined by two colleagues from the Senate of Canada: the Honourable Dennis Dawson and the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan; and, by three Members of our House of Commons: Ms. Jean Crowder, Ms. Chris Charlton, and Mr. Scott Armstrong.

I would also like to acknowledge the presence of our Ambassador of Canada to Switzerland and to Liechtenstein, Ms. Roberta Santi, and to express our gratitude to her, and to members of her team, for their assistance in support of this Canadian event. 

Speaking on behalf of the Canadian Group, we feel tremendously honoured that Canada was selected to host this major event.  It will build on our history of active participation in the IPU’s work.

Moreover, the host city – Quebec City – is beautiful and vibrant, with a rich cultural heritage and history that we are proud to share with the world. We are working closely with the IPU to develop an exciting and innovative program. 

We are pleased to announce that the Assembly’s overall theme will be: The role of parliaments in addressing the challenges of citizenship, identity, and linguistic and cultural diversity in a globalized world. As one of the most ethnically diverse and multicultural countries, Canada is particularly well placed to tackle such a topic.  

The IPU – representing more than 150 member parliaments – has a critical role to play in addressing the issues raised by this theme. Through its assemblies, the IPU facilitates parliamentary dialogue and cooperation.  It defends democracy.  It promotes human rights.  It works in support of gender equality and the participation of women, minorities and indigenous peoples in political and public life. 

For parliamentary democracies to remain relevant, the various groups in society must be equitably defended and represented within them.  We must strive for truly inclusive parliaments and greater civic engagement so that all members of society have an equal opportunity to participate in the political decision-making process, regardless of their background or identity. As parliamentarians, we must do everything we can to ensure that equal access to education, employment, and justice is upheld for all. I am convinced that this dialogue will raise awareness among those who gather in Quebec City of the pressing need for action to ensure the full integration and representation of all people in societies. 

On a more practical note, the 127^th IPU Assembly also affords the Parliament of Canada an opportunity to uphold its commitment to the promotion of responsible environmental stewardship, and to showcase innovative ways of delivering the Assembly in Quebec City. We also look forward to showcasing the diverse cultural heritage and francophone character of our country, with a unique program that will give IPU delegates a true sense of the “Canadian experience.”

On behalf of the Parliament of Canada, I thank the IPU once again for having selected Canada as the host country for the 127^th Assembly. My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming all IPU delegates in October 2012.

Thereafter, Senator Dawson made some additional remarks during which he noted that:

... the usual business of a three day fall Assembly will be spread across five days. That said, the Assembly will not be “business as usual.” We are working in close collaboration with the IPU to develop an innovative and exciting program. The Assembly structure will allow us to experiment with creative new session formats and approaches. Tangible outcome documents will be generated from our meetings and the lessons learned will be valuable for future IPU reform efforts. At a time when the IPU budget is under such close scrutiny, this will be an unprecedented opportunity for the IPU membership to think “outside the box”

Further information on the 127^th Assembly of the IPU may be found online at: http://www.ipu2012uip.ca/.

6.    Follow-up

Following each statutory IPU Assembly the Canadian IPU Group prepares this report, which is tabled in the House of Commons and the Senate. It also forwards relevant IPU reports and resolutions to parliamentary committees and government departments and sends letters to Ottawa-based diplomatic missions concerning the IPU’s report and recommendations on the human rights violations of former or serving parliamentarians.

Respectfully submitted,