Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

Canada as a whole makes up one of the regions of the CPA, and its 14 branches correspond to the provincial and territorial legislative assemblies and the federal Parliament. Within the Canadian region, legislators can take part in a wide range of exchange programs, conferences and seminars. The Canadian region also has its own publication, Canadian Parliamentary Review. The Regional Council is the decision-making body for the Canadian region. Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Branch, is a member of the Regional Council. A virtual meeting was held given that the regional conference has been postponed.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Commonwealth Secretariat (ComSec) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) organized a webinar for committees in charge of human rights of the Parliaments of Africa, the Caribbean and Canada, and Members of the Commonwealth. The virtual seminar built on previous discussions and drew up guidelines enabling Commonwealth parliaments, especially their committees dealing with human rights issues, to have greater impact in promoting and protecting human rights. The Honourable David McGuinty, PC, MP, President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU), led a delegation of parliamentarians composed of the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, Vice-President of the Group, the Honourable Kim Pate, Senator, the Honourable Marilou McPhedran, Senator, Ms. Iqra Khalid, MP, Ms. Stephanie Kusie, MP, and Mr. Sven Spengemann, MP.

Senator Ataullahjan moderated a panel on strengthening strategies for a better contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level in light of COVID-19. Mr. Spengemann presented a selection of activities by Canada’s parliament related to the implementation of the most recent UPR recommendations; he also pointed out the role that the IPU and its Committee on Democracy and Human Rights can play to strengthen parliamentary engagement regarding the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Mr. McGuinty highlighted the work of parliamentary committees that touch on broad aspects of human rights, as well as gender representation in parliament, the cabinet and heads of Canada’s missions abroad. Senator Ataullahjan, Mr. Spengemann and Ms. Khalid noted the importance of parliament and parliamentary human rights committees in enhancing their work related to the UPR, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human rights, and the value of webinars such as this one to exchange knowledge and best practices about human rights at the national and international levels.

On July 10th 2020, Senator Rosa Galvez, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas and Vice-President (North America) of ParlAmericas' Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PNCC), Ms. Julie Dzerowicz, M.P., Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, Ms. Stephanie Kusie, M.P. and Ms. Marie-France Lalonde, M.P. participated in a virtual meeting on the topic of “Build back better: A green and sustainable economic recovery.”

Diego Paulsen, President of Chile’s Chamber of Deputies, and Elizabeth Cabezas, President of ParlAmericas and a member of Ecuador’s National Assembly, provided welcoming remarks. Ana Belén Marín, President of ParlAmericas’ PNCC and a member of Ecuador’s National Assembly, moderated a session at which the following individuals made presentations: Leo Heileman, Regional Director of the Latin America and the Caribbean Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Raúl Salazar, Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean; and Brian O’Callaghan, a researcher at the University of Oxford’s Smith School for Enterprise and the Environment.

Mr. Heileman began by noting the high number of zoonotic diseases that have emerged in recent years, attributing their increased frequency to human impacts on the natural environment. In characterizing climate change as a larger crisis than COVID-19, he suggested that now is the time to "reactivate" the economy, generate “decent” work and try to meet the needs of the most vulnerable groups. Mr. Heileman outlined several areas that UNEP has identified as having the potential to help reactivate the economy while benefitting the climate. These include: rural, agricultural and ecosystem resilience; urban resilience; renewable energy and energy efficiency; and the transition to electric vehicles and e-mobility.

Mr. Salazar spoke about the double impact of COVID-19 and climate disasters – such as heavy rain, powerful tropical storms and droughts that are more intense, frequent and widespread – in numerous countries in the western hemisphere. In his view, governments must take an integrated, intersectional approach to risk management. He also described actions that could reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience in general, and outlined some roles for parliaments in applying disaster risk reduction approaches and supporting investments in climate change adaptation.

Mr. O’Callaghan summarized the results of his recent study on the possible benefits of a "clean" recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; the study was based on a review of stimulus policies from the 2009 global financial crisis and a survey of more than 230 economists from the G20 countries. His study concluded that climate-related spending could enhance economic growth during the recovery from the pandemic. Mr. O’Callaghan emphasized the importance of using stimulus spending to achieve long-term climate objectives and not just short-term gross domestic product growth.

Paola Vega, Vice-President (Central America) of ParlAmericas’ PNCC Change and a member of Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly, gave closing remarks.

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 12+ geopolitical group, participated in the fourth part of the Extraordinary Session of the International Executive Committee by videoconference on July 9, 2020. During this meeting, the members discussed various issues and next steps. The Executive Committee oversees the administration of the IPU and makes recommendations to the IPU Governing Council on various matters.

The Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee considers issues relating to cultural expression in French, education, training, communication, information and communications technologies and audiovisual media. MP Richard Martel represented the Canadian Branch at the committee meeting. Members in attendance were briefed on the reports on activities for both the committee and the Parliamentary Network to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The committee also heard from Prof. Abdel Rahamane Baba-Moussa, General Secretary of the Conference of the Ministers of Education of French speaking countries (CONFEMEN); Georges Malamoud, Strategic Advisor to the Rector of the Agence Universitaire Francophonie (AUF); and Arnaud Mercier, Professor of Communication and Information Science, Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas on the theme, “Disinformation in health: reflections during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Committee members also considered an interim report on teaching during a crisis, received an update on the implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and shared how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the sphere of culture. To conclude, members discussed subjects on the agenda for the Committee’s next meeting.

The Honourable Scott Simms P.C., M.P., President, CAEU; the Hon. Percy E. Downe, Senator; the Hon. Peter M. Boehm, Senator; the Hon. David Mark Wells, Senator; the Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P.; and the Hon. Larry Bagnell, P.C., M.P. participated in a videoconference call with the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Canada (D-CA). D-CA participants included Ms. Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Chair, France), Mr. Ondrej Kovarík (Czechia) and Mr. Damian Boeselager (Germany). The main topics of discussion were the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, the ongoing ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – and its role in a post-pandemic recovery – relations with China (including the detention of Michael Korvig and Michael Spavor), and the recent election of non-permanent members to the United Nations Security Council. The meeting concluded with a discussion on topics for discussion at a future meeting. Among the proposed topics were artificial intelligence, migration, the taxation of digital goods and services, the gendered impacts of COVID-19, regional security and humanitarian aid. It was also noted that all EU parliamentary delegation meetings will continue to be conducted remotely for the time being.

More than 40 heads of national delegations and the elected members of the Bureau met on July 7, 2020 to a Standing Committee meeting. The Standing Committee meets three times a year to guide the work of the Assembly and would have met in Vancouver this week had the 2020 Annual Session not been cancelled due to the pandemic. Dr. Hedy Fry, C.P., M.P., Head of the Canadian OSCE PA Delegation and Special Representative on Gender Issues, noted Canada’s regret that it was not able to host the Annual Session this year. “As the OSCE PA convenes via videoconferencing today, we are reminded that we should have been gathering in Vancouver, Canada for the 2020 Annual Session from July 2 to 7,” Fry said. “The COVID-19 global pandemic has redefined how we, as parliamentarians, interact and communicate. Yet in a way, we have become more connected and our voices more relevant. As we continue to face new challenges and find new opportunities to fulfill the PA’s mission, I truly hope we, Canada, will be able to host a future Annual Session here in Vancouver.”

At this meeting, MP Cheryl Gallant received an update about the situation in Ukraine. A Ukrainian parliamentarian gave an overview of the political and security context in his country. The information session was followed by a question and answer period. The Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine then discussed the advantages for Ukraine under its new status as a NATO “Enhanced Opportunities Partner.” A presentation was also given on reforms in the defence and security sectors during another question and answer period. Lastly, the Director of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre (NIDC) in Ukraine gave participants an overview of misinformation about COVID-19 in Ukraine and public perception of NATO.

Bureau Meeting – July 6 The Bureau is delegated the authority to oversee the implementation of Plenary Assembly decisions. It ensures the implementation of the motions adopted, the resolutions made, and the advice and recommendations issued by the Plenary Assembly, and it can make any decisions it deems useful for that purpose. It considers, on the basis of a report from the General Secretariat, issues involving branch membership and changes to their status, and it adopts the APF’s budget. Francis Drouin, MP, Chair of the Canadian Branch and First Vice-Chair of the APF; Chris d’Entremont, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Branch; and Joël Godin, MP and Chair of the APF’s Parliamentary Affairs Committee, each participated in this meeting by videoconference. Parliamentarians in attendance discussed new requests for APF membership. Branches represented at the meeting gave status updates on the pandemic situation in their nations, with Mr. Drouin giving the update on the situation in Canada, and they also discussed the effects of the pandemic on the general operation of the APF’s International Secretariat. Several reports on activities were presented, and the report on activities for the Parliamentary Secretary General and the cooperation programs were considered. The Treasurer’s report on the 2019 accounts was also discussed. Lastly, the chairs of the committees and networks shared the results of their proceedings: Mr. Godin, the Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, gave an update on the work of his committee, including a Canadian initiative under the leadership of Mr. d’Entremont on how parliaments are operating during the pandemic. Lastly, an update was given on the status of the APF’s statute review and the APF’s regional activities.

The AdHoc Committee on Migration held a second meeting as a series in a regular discussion with the European Commission on key issues related to migration and asylum policy. Ms. Paraskevi Michou, Director-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations discussed the current state of affairs followed by a question and answer period with members of the committee. Dr. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., participated in the meeting.