Results: 1 - 34 of 34
May 7, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
April 6, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
March 26, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
March 22, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
March 22, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
• The Honourable Rosa Galvez, Senator, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of (CPAM) and Treasurer of the ParlAmericas Corporation Board of Directors;
• Marc Serré, MP, Chair of CPAM, Canada’s representative on the ParlAmericas Board of Directors and Chair of the ParlAmericas Corporation Board of Directors.
Marc Serré chaired the portion of the meeting held during the Annual General Assembly of the ParlAmericas Corporation Board of Directors. At the meeting, the 2021 ParlAmericas Corporation Board of Directors slate and the budgets for the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years were adopted. The Board approved ParlAmericas’ annual work plan and discussed the ParlAmericas sexual exploitation, harassment and abuse prevention policy that ParlAmericas is developing. Finally, some participants provided an overview of recent ParlAmericas work-related activities in their countries.
March 19, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
March 15, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
February 22, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
February 4, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
January 29, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
• The Honourable Senator Rosa Galvez, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM) and Treasurer of the Board of ParlAmericas Corporation;
• Marc Serré, Member of Parliament, Chair of CPAM, Canada’s representative on the ParlAmericas Board of Directors and Chair of the Board of ParlAmericas Corporation; and
• Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament, Member of CPAM and Member of the Board of ParlAmericas Corporation.
At this meeting, Mr. Serré led the discussion regarding the decisions to be made by the ParlAmericas Corporation Board. During this discussion, Senator Galvez presented the 2020 ParlAmericas audited Financial Statements, which were approved.
The 53rd Meeting of the Board of Directors enabled members to approve the calendar of activities for 2021 and to discuss the events to be organized for ParlAmericas’ 20th anniversary. The meeting concluded with an exchange of information on recent initiatives related to ParlAmericas’ work spearheaded by various parliaments or legislators in their respective countries. In this regard, Senator Galvez and Mr. Serré presented the activities of CPAM’s Sub-committee on Open Parliament.
January 21, 2021
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
November 27, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
The 17th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas provided 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) facilitated an exchange of good parliamentary practices for the implementation of this agenda in the parliaments of the hemisphere. Each country delegation presented a statement related to the event theme at the plenary session of November 27, 2020. The plenary assembly concluded with the reading of the final declaration and the Board of Directors elections.
For more information, see the report: Report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas
November 23, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
The 52nd meeting of the ParlAmericas Board of Directors provided 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 considered the draft declaration on the circular economy that was submitted to representatives of ParlAmericas member countries registered at the closing session of the 17th Plenary Assembly on November 27, 2020. The Board also considered nominations received to fill the vacancies on the Board.
November 16, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
The 17th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas provided 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) facilitated an exchange of good parliamentary practices for the implementation of this agenda in the parliaments of the hemisphere. Each country delegation presented a statement related to the event theme at the plenary session of November 27, 2020. The plenary assembly concluded with the reading of the final declaration and the Board of Directors elections.
November 13, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
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.
October 30, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Mr. Marc Serré, M.P., Chair of ParlAmericas’ Canadian Section, and Her Excellency Sofia Lastenia Cerrato Rodriguez, Ambassador of Honduras to Canada and Dean of the Latin America Group of Ambassadors, co-hosted the reception. Others attending from the Canadian Section were 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, Mr. Stéphane Bergeron, M.P., Ms. Stephanie Kusie, M.P., Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada and Mr. Robert Oliphant, M.P., all of whom made remarks to the participants.
Representatives of the following countries attended the reception: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru.
Mr. Serré outlined some of the activities in which the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas has been involved since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Galvez highlighted that the pandemic has affected people differently, depending on such factors as age, gender and sector of employment. Some foreign participants expressed their gratitude for Canadian parliamentarians’ efforts to support their countries during the pandemic. Others discussed the strong ties between Canada and the countries in the western hemisphere, and said that they look forward to future opportunities to gather and to get to know each other better, ideally in person.
October 2, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
September 23, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
September 11, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
July 22, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Gale Rigobert, St. Lucia’s Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, welcomed everyone to the meeting, following which Tonni Brodber, Acting Head of Office at the UN Women Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, Andy Daniel, Speaker of St. Lucia’s House of Assembly, and Elizabeth Cabezas, President of ParlAmericas and a member of Ecuador’s National Assembly, provided opening remarks. Ms. Rigobert also moderated a session during which presentations on the topic of gender inequality in disaster and crisis situations were made by: Angie Dazé, Senior Policy Advisor at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD); Kyana Bowen, Programme Officer at the UN Women Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean; and Elizabeth Riley, Acting Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
Ms. Dazé explained that gender interacts with other factors – including age, disability, ethnicity and sexual orientation – to influence people's vulnerability to climate change and disasters. She outlined three components of a gender-responsive approach to building climate and disaster resilience: a recognition of gender differences in needs and capacities for managing climate and disaster risks; gender-equitable participation and influence in planning and decision-making processes; and gender-equitable access to financial servicese. Finally, Ms. Dazé presented some of the IISD's work relating to gender-responsiveness, climate change and disaster risk management.
Ms. Bowen described some ways in which disaster-preparedness planning and response can be gender-transformative, leading to lasting changes in gender norms. She noted that, when compared to most other parts of the world, the Caribbean is subject to more natural hazards, such as hurricanes, floods, sea level changes, drought and earthquakes. Ms. Bowen also discussed the ways in which planning for such hazards can be gender-transformative at the home, community, national and regional levels. Finally, she summarized some of the UN Women Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms. Riley outlined various types of hazards that are common in the Caribbean region, including earthquakes, storm surges, flooding and volcanic eruptions. She underscored that the number of Atlantic hurricanes in 2020 is already higher than normal, and that – with the additional challenges resulting from the pandemic – countries face a complex, multi-hazard scenario that will make disaster response more difficult. Ms. Riley explained that, as an agency of the Caribbean Community, CDEMA supports countries in their efforts to mobilize and coordinate disaster relief, among other things. She described the impacts of climate change in the Caribbean region, and highlighted a rise in the intensity of tropical storms and the damage they cause. Ms. Riley also emphasized the importance of resilience, and stated that CDEMA considers gender to be a cross-cutting theme in all of its work. Finally, she commented on the number of cases of COVID-19 in the region and discussed ways in which the Caribbean could deal with hurricane season in the context of the pandemic.
Following the presentations, several participants spoke briefly about some resources that parliamentarians may wish to use when addressing issues of gender equality, climate change and disaster risk reduction. Jack Hardcastle, Program Assistant at the Secretariat to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), noted a climate change toolkit designed specifically for small island states that the CPA has published.
Speaker Daniel presented two publications: COVID-19: An Analysis of the Legislative Agenda and the Centering of Gender Equality in Legislative Responses, co-authored by ParlAmericas and Directorio Legislativo; and the Parliamentary Protocol for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, authored by ParlAmericas.
Massimiliano Tozzi, Project Manager at the United Nations Development Programme, commented on the project “Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean (EnGenDER).” He said that the project aims to ensure that actions relating to climate change and disaster risk reduction are informed by an analysis of gender inequalities, and are designed to alleviate existing inequalities.
Following a discussion in which participants shared their countries’ best practices regarding gender-responsiveness and disaster resilience, Ms. Brodber and Chester Humphrey, Vice-President (Caribbean) of ParlAmericas’ Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality and President of Grenada’s Senate, gave closing remarks.
July 10, 2020
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.
June 22, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
During the first panel, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) officials highlighted – among other topics – that the humanitarian situation in Venezuela was worsening and that, by June 2020, more than 5 million Venezuelans had left their home country and 7 million people within Venezuela needed humanitarian aid. They also noted the Government of Canada’s continued engagement with partners in Venezuela and internationally to find solutions to the situation in Venezuela, and the Government’s contribution of $27 million for humanitarian aid to support Venezuelan refugees and migrants.
During the second panel, Eduardo Stein – Joint Special Representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants with the International Organization for Migration and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – mentioned that, of the 5.1 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, 4.3 million are hosted in Latin American countries. According to him, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Venezuelan refugees and migrants have been highly vulnerable to discrimination and violence, and – as of June 2020 – about 70,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants had returned to their home country. Ben Rowswell – President of the Canadian International Council and former Canadian Ambassador to Venezuela – stated that, although addressing the humanitarian situation is currently the most important issue in Venezuela, the international community must continue to request free and fair elections in that country in 2020.
June 16, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
June 11, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
• Irwin LaRocque, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community, said that the response to the pandemic must take into account the effects of hurricane season in Caribbean countries.
• Diane Quarless, Director of the Economic Commission for the Latin American and Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, highlighted the economic impact of the pandemic in the Caribbean, particularly on the tourism industry, which is an important source of income for many countries in the region. She also explained that the heavy indebtedness of Caribbean states, as well as their difficulty in obtaining official development assistance, foreign direct investment or concessional lending, limits the financial resources available to these countries to respond to the crisis caused by the pandemic.
• Monika Queisser, Head of the Social Policy Division of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, gave a global overview of the economic impact of COVID-19. She also shared data showing that more women than men have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
• Therese Turner-Jones, General Manager of the Country Department Caribbean Group of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), explained that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the lives of women in the Caribbean and that women must be part of the discussions and decisions involving the response to the pandemic.
During the question period, the Honourable Rosa Galvez, Senator, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, stressed that the way to measure economic recovery should not be based solely on GDP.
June 5, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), gave the keynote address, highlighting how the pandemic has affected the economic situation in the Americas and Caribbean region and outlining proposals that could help mitigate its effects. She explained that ECLAC expects that, in 2020, the gross domestic product of the Americas and Caribbean region will fall by 5%, 12 million people will become unemployed, and the number of people living in poverty will increase by over 28 million in the region. She highlighted that certain population groups in the region are more likely to suffer as a result of the pandemic. For example, women make up the majority of workers in the informal labour force, they often have little in the way of savings, and they have to go outside the home to earn an income. In addition, many children and adolescents may not have access to online learning; it is estimated that only 20% have this option. Ms. Bárcena proposed the following options to respond to the economic crisis sparked by COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean: establish an emergency basic income over a period of six months for people living in poverty; provide subsidies to companies based on the number of employees and the employer’s commitment to its employees; promote measures leading to a more egalitarian and environmentally sustainable economic structure; and implement universal healthcare. Ms. Bárcena highlighted the important role of parliaments in implementing these measures.
Following the keynote presentation, the presiding officers each presented the measures implemented in their countries to respond to the pandemic.
May 8, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
• Yeliz Osman, Policy Specialist on Ending Violence Against Women at the UN Women Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, noted that it is too soon to reach conclusions on the impact of COVID-19 on violence against women, but emerging figures seem to indicate that it has increased during the pandemic. She explained that many countries in the Americas and the Caribbean recorded a 30-90% increase in calls to helplines for violence against women during the pandemic.
• Karina Arteaga, a member of the National Assembly of Ecuador, told parliamentarians in attendance about measures taken in Ecuador to counteract the high rates of gender-based violence. For example, the public prosecutor’s office activated an online service for victims of violence.
• Member of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies Marcela Sabat noted that government measures in Chile are aimed at expanding the capacity to receive complaints by offering the option of filing a complaint through WhatsApp or a web chat. Ms. Sabat said that women without access to the Internet or a smart phone can use the code phrase “Mascarilla 19” [Mask 19] to discreetly report violence during a visit to a pharmacy.
• Mexican Senator Verónica Camino indicated that Mexico has several legal instruments to prevent, address, punish and eradicate violence against women. She emphasized the importance of collecting and consulting data on violence against women to inform decision making and public policy formulation.
May 8, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Other organizations participating in the webinar included Directorio Legislativo, the National Democratic Institute, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Latin American Network for Legislative Transparency and Parliamentary Network Africa.
Discussions during the webinar focused on the importance of legislatures remaining open and transparent during a global crisis. Participants spoke about how keeping the public informed helps legislators fulfill their representation and oversight responsibilities.
May 1, 2020
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Participants heard presentations by: the Honourable Juan Watterson, Speaker of the Isle of Man’s House of Keys; Luiz Fernando Bandeira de Mello, Secretary-General of the Board of Brazil’s Senate; and Matthew Hamlyn, Strategic Director of the Chamber Business Team of the United Kingdom’s House of Commons. They discussed the technical and political challenges associated with implementing virtual sittings and committee meetings in their legislatures.
Jarvis Matiya, the CPA’s Acting Secretary-General, updated participants about the CPA’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the launch of the CPA Toolkit for Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and delivering parliamentary democracy.
The Honourable Bridgid Annisette-George – Speaker of Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives, ParlAmericas Board Member and a member of CPA’s International Executive Committee – delivered closing remarks.
April 16, 2020
videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Participants heard presentations by: Gustavo Vasconcellos, Technology and Information Analyst in the Innovation and ICT Directorate of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies; Miguel Landeros, Secretary General of Chile’s Chamber of Deputies; and Claudio Prieto, General Coordinator of Technology and Information of Ecuador’s National Assembly. These panellists provided a detailed account of technical and procedural measures being implemented in their country to enable legislatures to meet virtually.
February 19, 2020
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
February 5, 2020
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Room 505, Victoria Building
12:30 p.m.
To be eligible to vote at the AGM the deadline for membership for this association is 7 days before the meeting.
Results: 1 - 34 of 34 — Page: 1 of 1