Report

1.   Introduction[1]

In accordance with the Statutes[2] of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a 17-member body of parliamentarians oversees the administration of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and provides advice to its Governing Council[3].

The Executive Committee advises the Council on matters relating to affiliation and reaffiliation to the Union fixes the date and place of Council sessions and establishes their provisional agenda. It also proposes to the Council the annual work program and budget of the IPU. The Executive Committee controls the administration of the Secretariat as well its activities in the execution of the decisions taken by the Assembly and the Council.[4]

Fifteen members of the Executive Committee are elected by the Council for a four-year term. The President of the IPU is an ex officio member and President of the Committee. The President of the Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians is an ex officio member of the Executive Committee for a two-year term which can be renewed once. Not less than 12 members of the Executive Committee are elected from among members of the Governing Council and at least three members must be women.

In October 2010, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, Q.C, from the Senate of Canada, was elected to a four year term to serve on the IPU Executive as a representative of the Twelve Plus Group, a geopolitical association of European and like minded nations.[5]

2.   Agenda of the 264^th Session of the IPU Executive Committee

The IPU Executive Committee holds sessions twice a year prior to its spring and fall Assemblies and, exceptionally, will hold a third session between assemblies to address matters of high priority. This was the case for the 264^th Session of the Executive Committee, held from 29-30 August 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.  The annotated agenda for this meeting is attached as Appendix 1.

3.   Results of the 264^th Session of the IPU Executive Committee

Meetings of the IPU Executive Committee are held in camera. A Summary Record is attached as Appendix 2.

During the Committee’s consideration of other business, Senator Oliver made the following statement:

Mr. President, Colleagues,

I am delighted to have this opportunity to provide you with an update about the Assembly in Quebec City.

We have an outstanding team that has been hard at work on this project for the past several months.

Canada is very honoured to host the 127th Assembly, for the fourth time in our history. This will be the first time since 1985.

In 2012, we are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the formal affiliation between Canada and the IPU. To mark the occasion, during the Assembly in Quebec City we will be distributing a commemorative booklet that looks back over the 100-year-old partnership between Canada and the IPU.

IPU assemblies generally welcome more than 3,000 delegates and observers from around the world; the Assembly in October will be no different. It will be the largest conference in Canadian history. To date, over 1,000 hotel rooms have been booked and close to 60 countries and 7 organizations with observer status have been registered. At last count, 425 delegates have made use of our state-of-the-art online registration system. In some cases, we have also worked closely with delegations less familiar with new technologies in order to facilitate the process.

The Assembly's overall theme will address:  Citizenship, identity, and linguistic and cultural diversity in a globalized world. This past June, a Draft Declaration on this topic was circulated to the full IPU membership. This Declaration was developed by the Canadian Group, in collaboration with our colleague Dr. Assegaf of Indonesia, who will serve as my co-rapporteur when we present this document at the outset of the Special Debate in Quebec City.

To date, we have received excellent feedback on the Draft Declaration.  A revised version will soon be circulated for further feedback from IPU members. In Quebec City, additional input will be received via the Special Debate during which we will have high profile keynote speakers with expertise on elements of our theme to open each sitting. Upon the conclusion of the Special Debate, a drafting committee will meet to prepare a final Declaration for adoption by the Assembly during its closing session.  

The statutory activities of the second annual Assembly will include, as usual, meetings of the Governing Council, meetings of the IPU Committee on UN Affairs, and panel sessions that will address the topics to be studied by the Standing Committees in Quito next year.  In addition to this, several special sessions have been developed in collaboration with the IPU Secretariat.

Perhaps most notable among these will be a Special Session that has been developed by the Gender Partnership Group. The objective of this activity is to consider, and adopt a Plan of Action on Gender-sensitive parliaments through plenary discussions and breakout groups. This Plan is envisioned as a tool to support parliaments in their efforts to become more gender-sensitive. Such a Plan responds to the needs of both men and women in its structures, operations, methods and work.  As such, we are requesting that all delegations send male and female delegates to these Gender Partnership meetings.

We are also planning panel sessions on topical issues including:

·         Building peace after conflict

·         Creating opportunities for youth in today’s global economy

·         Peak oil and the prospects for energy security, and

·         Multilateralism and the role of parliamentary diplomacy

Much work has been invested by the Canadian planning team to identify high-level panelists for these sessions. I'm pleased to report that we have secured a wide and dynamic range of panelists and moderators from all walks of life and regions, with representatives from international institutions, parliaments, and the private sector.  We are aiming to have dynamic formats for these sessions that will encourage dialogue and preclude the presentation of prepared speeches.

Lastly, I would like to bring to your attention the important work that is being done to host a special day-long meeting on Parliamentary representation and communication, and the role of social media.  This major event is being organized by the IPU in collaboration with the ASGP, the IFLA section on Parliamentary Libraries and Research Services, and the Global Centre for ICT. It is targeted at parliamentarians; Secretaries General; and parliamentary staff involved in social media.  It will be held on the final day of the Assembly. We strongly encourage all delegations to send MPs and parliamentary personnel to this day-long event.

The dynamic program that we have developed for the 127th IPU Assembly will be enhanced by the cutting-edge technology of the Québec City Convention Centre, a state of the art facility recognized internationally for its reputation and expertise in hosting green events.

In addition to our work program, there will be an exciting series of cultural experiences, meals and events, including a special event hosted by our Speakers for the diplomatic corps and Heads of delegations on October 25 at the historic Citadel fortress, a world heritage site. Additional activities, including a special performance of the world renowned Cirque du Soleil following the opening ceremony, will showcase Canada's diverse cultural heritage as well as the francophone character of our country.  These special events will give IPU delegates a true sense of the "Canadian experience."

The 127th IPU Assembly also affords the Parliament of Canada an opportunity to uphold its commitment to the promotion of responsible environmental stewardship and to showcase Canadian technology through innovative ways of delivering the Assembly. I have no doubt that the outcomes of this five day event will raise the bar for future IPU meetings, thereby ensuring the legacy of our efforts in Quebec City.

Colleagues, it is now less than two months until the opening of the 127th Assembly in Quebec City. We are extremely proud and excited to be hosting this major event.  We very much look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you.

Merci.

 

Respectfully submitted,