Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

Parliamentarians from 21 legislative assemblies of the Americas and the Caribbean met for the 16th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas in Asunción, Paraguay. The theme of this annual meeting was “Accelerating Progress on Agenda 2030: Good Practices for Parliamentary Action.” The parliamentarians had an opportunity to share their respective regional experiences and discuss the challenges and progress made in implementing Agenda 2030 and achieving its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

During the Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, parliamentarians from NATO member countries and partner nations meet to study draft reports and hear from government representatives, NATO officials, and experts on a wide range of issues concerning the Alliance.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a unique organization made up of national parliaments from around the world which works to protect and build global democracy through political dialogue and concrete action. The theme of the general debate at the 141st Assembly was "Strengthening international law: Parliamentary roles and mechanisms, and the contribution of regional cooperation".

The Can/Am BTA is a coalition of businesses, public-sector organizations and individuals with an interest in bilateral trade and tourism. Its mission is to maximize commercial activity and ensure the continued growth of cross-border trade, as well as improving border-crossing capabilities. The Can/Am BTA holds two meetings each year: a spring meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, and a fall meeting in Washington, D.C.

Canadian delegates travelled to Marrakesh, Morocco in order to participate at the 18th Autumn Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly.

The Parliament of Canada has observer status at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and regularly sends delegates to participate in debates. This forum is also an opportunity for the Canadian delegation to hold meetings with representatives from member and observer states of the Council of Europe to discuss bilateral and European Union-related issues.

During this conference, 500 Parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and decision makers from across the Commonwealth came together for professional development, supportive learning and the sharing of best practices to address the critical issues facing today's parliaments. The conference theme was: Adaptation, engagement, and evolution of parliaments in a rapidly changing Commonwealth.

The Canada-China Legislative Association (CACN) and the Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group (CAJP) have participated in the 40th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Bangkok, Thailand from August 25 to 30. As observers, the delegates engaged with Southeast Asian Nations on issues of economic, cultural, political and social nature. This was also an opportunity to network with representatives from other Asia-Pacific countries.

ParlAmericas supports parliamentary climate action through innovative programs, dialogues, and partnerships designed for parliamentarians of the Americas and the Caribbean to promote the highest political commitments for advancing legislative work on climate change mitigation and adaptation in the hemisphere.

The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan organization serving the legislators and legislative staff of the 50 U.S. states, as well as its commonwealths and territories. With its standing committees comprised of legislators and legislative staff, the NCSL provides research, technical assistance and a venue for the exchange of ideas on state issues.