Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)

ParlAmericas is run by parliamentarians for parliamentarians, with a Board of Directors composed of 21 legislators, representing 17 countries from North, South, Central America and the Caribbean. The Board, elected by the Plenary Assembly, provides governance direction for the organization and sets out the organization’s strategy. The Board of Directors is headed by the Chair, who is elected every two years and supported by a technical secretariat, located in Ottawa. Canadian MP Marc G. Serré is Canada's representative on the Board of Directors.

The 53rd Meeting of the Board of Directors of ParlAmericas will provide an opportunity for the members to receive a financial update, discuss matters related to the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the creation of the organization as well as any other business that requires the Board’s attention.

The working session in English and French will provide a space for parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and civil society representatives of the Americas and the Caribbean to discuss the tactics and strategies utilized to distribute disinformation today and provide recommendations for parliamentarians’ consideration in their efforts to combat this phenomenon.

The working session in Spanish and Portuguese will provide a space for parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and civil society representatives of the Americas and the Caribbean to discuss the tactics and strategies utilized to distribute disinformation today and provide recommendations for parliamentarians’ consideration in their efforts to combat this phenomenon.

The Sub-committee on Open Parliament will hold a virtual meeting to establish its Executive Commmittee and discuss the Sub-committee objectives and activities.

Circular Economy – Sustainable approaches to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic

The 17th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas will provide an opportunity to share on the different measures that parliaments have taken or can take to implement sustainable and equitable production systems, considering the forthcoming economic packages for the reconstruction of our economies post COVID-19 pandemic, and to progressively meet the 2030 sustainable development agenda. The working sessions on November 16, 2020 (English and French) and November 20 (Spanish and Portuguese) will facilitate an exchange of good parliamentary practices for the implementation of this agenda in the parliaments of the hemisphere. Each country delegation will then present a statement related to the session theme at the plenary session on November 27, 2020. The plenary assembly will conclude with the reading of the final declaration and the Board of Directors elections.

ParlAmericas is run by parliamentarians for parliamentarians, with a Board of Directors composed of 21 legislators, representing 17 countries from North, South, Central America and the Caribbean. The Board, elected by the Plenary Assembly, provides governance direction for the organization and sets out the organization’s strategy. The Board of Directors is headed by the Chair, who is elected every two years and supported by a technical secretariat, located in Ottawa. Canadian MP Marc G. Serré is Canada's representative on the Board of Directors.

The 52nd meeting of the ParlAmericas Board of Directors will provide an opportunity for Board members to receive an update on upcoming activities in 2020-2021 and the financial situation of the organization. In addition, Board Members will consider the draft declaration on the circular economy that will be submitted to representatives of ParlAmericas member countries at the closing session of the 17th Plenary Assembly on November 27, 2020. The Board will also consider nominations received to fill the vacancies on the Board.

Circular Economy – Sustainable approaches to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic

The 17th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas will provide an opportunity to share on the different measures that parliaments have taken or can take to implement sustainable and equitable production systems, considering the forthcoming economic packages for the reconstruction of our economies post COVID-19 pandemic, and to progressively meet the 2030 sustainable development agenda. The working sessions on November 16, 2020 (English and French) and November 20 (Spanish and Portuguese) will facilitate an exchange of good parliamentary practices for the implementation of this agenda in the parliaments of the hemisphere. Each country delegation will then present a statement related to the session theme at the plenary session on November 27, 2020. The plenary assembly will conclude with the reading of the final declaration and the Board of Directors elections.

On 13 November 2020, members of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas met virtually with officials from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for a briefing on the political and public health situation in various countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean. The Canadian Section was represented by Mr. Marc Serré, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Section, Senator Rosa Galvez, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section and Vice-President (North America) of ParlAmericas' Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PNCC), Ms. Julie Dzerowicz, M.P., Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section, Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, M.P., Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie and Mr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, M.P.

GAC officials provided information about the ways in which various countries in the western hemisphere are managing the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also outlined some of the Government of Canada's trade considerations and international development projects in countries in the hemisphere, and described the ways in which Canada has been applying a "COVID-19 lens" to assess how best to support countries as they address the pandemic while continuing to focus on previously identified priorities in each country, such as advancing the equality of women and men, or enhancing trade.

Officials from GAC and members of the Canadian Section discussed governance, trade, investment and environmental issues, as well as future actions that the Canadian Section could take in engaging with other parliamentarians in the western hemisphere.