Participation of the Honourable Patricia E. Bovey, Senator on behalf of the Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., Speaker of the Senate, and the Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons, to the Speakers' Summit in the context of the G20 and the Parliamentary Women Speakers' Summit, Buenos Aires, Argentina

An invitation to attend the events was issued by Ms. Gabriela Michetti, Vice-President and Speaker of the Senate of the Argentine Republic, Mr. Emilio Monzó, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Republic and Ms. Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The Speakers' Summit provided the opportunity to have interactive discussions on key issues under consideration by the Buenos Aires G20 Leaders' Summit, such as the future of work, combating corruption, and empowering women. At the end of the summit, delegates adopted a joint statement that related, in part, to the importance of the G20 and its initiatives, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), and the role of women and gender equality.

The Parliamentary Women Speakers' Summit offered a platform to discuss the importance of mainstreaming the empowerment of women into the global agenda.

Senator Bovey also had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Juan Jose Miguel Aicega, Chair of the Argentina-Canada Friendship Group of the Chamber of Deputies. They discussed topics of mutual interest, such as bilateral trade, marine and fisheries sectors and climate change.

Senator Bovey heard from Ambassador David Usher, Canada's recently appointed Ambassador to Argentina, on the current situation of the Canada-Argentina bilateral relations and the status of the Canada-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement. Lastly, Senator Bovey had a briefing on cultural diplomacy with Ms. Beatriz Ventura, Public and Cultural Affairs Officer at the Embassy of Canada to Argentina. They discussed the importance of academic programs such as Canadian study programs and the effect these programs can have on bilateral relations and cultural diplomacy. All agreed that a strong cultural identity impacts the national economy in a positive way.