Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association (RUUK)

On 18 May 2021, Members of the Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association (RUUK) met with members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) for the second in a series of bilateral meetings on topics of mutual interest. The overarching theme of this meeting was defence and security. The meeting was co-chaired by RUUK chair, the Honourable John McKay, P.C., M.P. and CPA UK chair, Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP. The meeting began with an overview of the U.K. government’s recently released policy paper, Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, followed by a discussion of Canadian priorities in these fields. Among other topics, delegates discussed defence spending, multilateral partnerships and opportunities for collaboration between Canada and the U.K. Particular attention was paid to Arctic issues, with discussion ranging from Arctic shipping routes to the Arctic Council to Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. The remainder of the meeting focused on cybersecurity. Delegates discussed the growing sophistication of cyber threats, vulnerabilities in critical national infrastructure and the emerging role of quantum technologies. Of note, delegates emphasized that Canadian and U.K. researchers were increasingly working collaboratively in a variety of fields, including quantum technologies.

On 16 March 2021, members of the Executive Committee of the Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association (RUUK) participated in a bilateral meeting with members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK). The meeting provided a forum for participants to share their thoughts on a wide range of issues of mutual interest with a view to identifying key topics for further exploration at future meetings. The meeting was co-chaired by RUUK chair, the Honourable John McKay, P.C., M.P. and CPA UK chair, Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP. The co-chairs welcomed delegates with opening remarks focusing on the historic bonds and enduring friendship between the countries before formally opening the meeting. Three broad themes were listed on the meeting agenda: the impact of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, trade, and the UK’s renewed approach to foreign policy. Discussion was frank and informative, and both delegations agreed that the future held many opportunities for deepening the relationship between the two countries. A second meeting has been scheduled for 18 May 2021.

On January 21, 2021, the Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association (RUUK) met virtually with Her Excellency Susan Jane Le Jeune D’Allegeershecque, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Canada. The High Commissioner and RUUK members spoke about a wide-range of issues of national and international importance to both countries. Among other issues, association members raised questions about the Canada-U.K. free trade agreement, the U.K.’s Presidency of the G7 group of nations, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26), scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021. Association members also highlighted areas such as vaccine collaboration and scientific research where further cooperation between Canada and the U.K. could be explored.