Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

The Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (SCPAR) held a regular meeting on 10 February 2022 via videoconference. New members from the Canadian delegation – Ms. Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament (MP) for Labrador, and Mr. Bob Zimmer, MP for Prince George–Peace River–Northern Rockies – and other new members introduced themselves. This meeting marked Ms. Aaja Chemnitz Larsen’s (MP, Greenland, Parliament of Denmark) first meeting as Chair and Ms. Lisa Murkowski’s (Senator, Alaska, United States) first meeting as Vice Chair.

Members reported on the priorities of the Arctic regions of their respective countries including:

• sustainable economic development to benefit Arctic residents, along with increased investments;

• the need for mental health services in remote communities;

• climate change and its impacts on all aspects of life in the Arctic; and

• the development or release of country-specific Arctic strategies.

SCPAR members provided an update on the COVID 19 pandemic. Vaccination campaigns in Arctic regions seem successful in most countries, with high rates of fully vaccinated residents. Common challenges experienced by Arctic residents included: social isolation and financial burdens due to restrictions limiting gatherings and the operation of businesses and movement between communities and countries, particularly for Indigenous peoples; and an increase in the need for mental health services.

The next meeting of SCPAR is planned for 12 May 2022 to potentially be hosted in Washington D.C., United States.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) held a virtual event on the “clean energy revolution”. Parliamentarians from the OSCE region, OSCE officials and members of the scientific community discussed current energy trends, the latest technological developments in energy production and possible implications of the transition from greenhouse gas-emitting energy to renewable and clean energy. They considered policies needed to promote the carbon-neutral and sustainable energy sector and the role of national parliaments and interparliamentary in this regard. The Canadian delegates present included the Honourable Senators Clément Gignac, Stanley Kutcher, Julie Miville-Dechêne and Lucie Moncion, as well as Mr. Ziad Aboultaif, M.P., Ms. Kristina Michaud, M.P., and Ms. Ya’ara Saks, M.P.

CPA International created the CPA Constitutional Amendments Working Group. The Canadian Region was represented at this meeting by the Honourable Yuen Pau Woo, Senator.

On 1 February 2022, MP Julie Dzerowicz, NATO PA Vice-President and Vice-President of the Canadian NATO PA, MP Cheryl Gallant, also Vice-President of the Canadian NATO PA, and Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia participated in a virtual meeting of the NATO PA Standing Committee. During this meeting, participating delegates exchanged views on the 21 draft NATO PA recommendations for the 2022 NATO Strategic Concept. The Canadian delegation highlighted several issues to keep in mind when revising NATO's Strategic Concept. These issues included the need to protect minority rights, particularly those of migrants; address China’s rise and increased assertiveness; advance non-nuclear proliferation; and respond to cyber security threats and other issues like brain-computer interface. Participating delegates also discussed the most recent developments in Ukraine and expressed their support for the Ukrainian people amidst acts of Russian aggression.

The 59th Meeting of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors took place virtually on January 28, 2022. Two Canadian parliamentarians participated:

• Marc G. Serré, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), Member of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors and Chair of the ParlAmericas Corporation; and

• The Honourable Rosa Galvez, Senator, Vice-Chair of CPAM, President of ParlAmericas’ Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PPCC), 2nd Vice-President on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the ParlAmericas Corporation.

Mexican Senator Verónica Camino Farjat, 2nd Vice-President on the Board of Directors and President of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality (PNGE), provided opening remarks and an update on ParlAmericas’ December 2021 activities. Members of the Board approved the 2021 audited financial statements and received information from ParlAmericas’ International Secretariat about funding and the upcoming priorities for ParlAmericas’ three thematic networks. Finally, members of the Board discussed details relating to the upcoming 6th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network (OPN).

APF Bureau meeting – January 27 to 28, 2022

The Bureau monitors the implementation of decisions made by the Plenary Assembly of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF), for which it exercises delegated authority. It ensures the implementation of the motions passed, the resolutions adopted and the opinions and recommendations issued by the Plenary Assembly. In this respect, it may make any decision it deems useful. It reviews, pursuant to the General Secretariat’s report, issues relating to the admission of sections and to changes in their status. It passes the Assembly’s budget.

Francis Drouin, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Branch and First Vice President of the APF, and Marie France Lalonde and Senator Éric Forest, members of the CAPF executive committee, participated virtually in the hybrid meeting held in Libreville, Gabon.

The APF Bureau heard from Geoffroy Montpetit from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. He discussed the OIF APF partnership and opportunities for cooperation between the two institutions. A number of activity reports were presented, including the activity report of the APF Parliamentary Secretary General. The APF’s cooperation programs were also reviewed. The Treasurer’s report on the draft budget for 2022 was considered, in addition to a review of the political situation in the francophone world and various institutional projects.

The members in attendance also heard the activity reports from the presidents of the APF’s commissions and networks and from its mission leaders.

The Honourable Vernon White, Senator, attended the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC) meeting that took place in Brussels, Belgium, on January 24, 2022, via videoconference. During the meeting, Mr. Michal Szczerba from Poland was elected Co-Chair of the Council. Participants were briefed on Ukraine’s political situation and on recent developments in the region and discussed next steps in the political relationship between Ukraine and NATO. The NATO PA members reiterated their commitment to support Ukraine on its path of reform and their firm support for Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity. Members were also briefed on the progress being made regarding the development of the new NATO Strategic Concept and were invited to share their views on what should be included.