Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)

As part of the thematic agenda addressed by the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network (OPN), we believe that digital transformation has significant impacts on all aspects of society, including democracy. The Internet and other digital technologies provide new opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process, but they also create new challenges for democratic governance. In this context, the growing development and use of artificial intelligence tools and platforms has shown that their impacts must be analyzed and addressed from multidimensional and innovative legislative approaches that prioritize the rights of users and consumers and consider central issues such as privacy, data protection, transparency, gender mainstreaming in algorithmic responsibility, intellectual property rights, and ethics.

In this sense, this virtual exchange aimed to explore the current conditions and initiatives in the hemisphere regarding the governance of artificial intelligence and the legislative actions that are being developed in the different parliaments of the region. In addition, this meeting was part of the initial activities of the new working group of parliamentarians of the OPN, the Digital Caucus, which seeks to promote legislative work on digital rights, artificial intelligence, modernization processes, and other issues related to the impact of technology in democratic systems.

Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change, affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being at large. Building on the momentum of the United Nations resolution adopted in March 2022 to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024, this meeting explored how this global plastic treaty can help parliaments in creating legislation and support new collaborative complementary actions to reduce plastic production and foster a circular plastics economy.

The 7th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network (OPN) aimed to analyze the impact of the digital transformation on democratic systems, considering not only the opportunities and challenges that have emerged in recent years due to the widespread use of the internet and ICTs, but also how initiatives for transparent and accountable digital governance can be implemented within the paradigm of open parliament.

The social impact of these transformations was also addressed, especially in relation to the empowerment of women within the framework of an inclusive digital governance that recognizes the critical importance of their meaningful participation in the digital ecosystem as an essential condition for more robust and solid democracies.

The 19th Plenary Assembly was dedicated to exploring the importance of parliamentary engagement in the inter-American system and the need for parliamentary insights on the issues of hemispheric importance discussed in these spaces.

The 14th Gathering of the Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality, entitled Legislative Perspectives for Inclusive Economic Growth: Investing in the Care Economy, provided a space for parliamentary delegates and subject matter experts to exchange reflections and good practices on legislative initiatives related to care work and the economy.