XVIIIth Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary Meeting (IPM), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The XVIIIth Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary Meeting was held in Ottawa from November 20 to 22, 2011.

Interparliamentary relations are an integral part of the bonds between Canada and Mexico. Regular Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary Meetings (IPM) have also offered a constructive venue for Canadian and Mexican parliamentarians to share experiences, learn from each other, and promote their respective cultures. Since the first was held in January 1975, these meetings have covered a range of topics, including international justice, economic and democratic development, as well as cultural diffusion.

This year, the Mexican delegation was composed of:

• His Excellency José González Morfín, President of the Senate of the United Mexican States;
• Her Excellency Adriana González Carrillo, Senator, Chair of the North America Foreign Relations Committee;
• His Excellency Juan Bueno Torió, Senator, Secretary of the Europe Foreign Relations Committee;
• His Excellency Alfonso Elías Serrano, Senator, Secretary of the Committee for Economic Promotion;
• His Excellency Carlos Jiménez Macías, Senator, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Asia-Pacific;
• His Excellency Julió César Aguirre Méndez, Senator, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Africa;
• Her Excellency Selene Lucia Vázquez Alatorre, Senator, Member of the Border Affairs Committee and the Labour and Social Welfare Committee;
• His Excellency Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, Deputy, President of the Foreign Affairs Commission;
• His Excellency Aarón Irízar López, Deputy, Secretary of the Social Development Commission;
• His Excellency Jorge Alberto Juraidini Rumilla, Deputy, Secretary of the Economics Commission;
• His Excellency Jesús Ramírez Rangel, Deputy, Chairman of the Mexico-Canada Friendship Group;
• His Excellency Carlos Luis Meillón Johnston, Deputy, Secretary of the Rural Development Commission;
• His Excellency Vidal Llerenas Morales, Deputy, Secretary of the Budget and Public Finance Commission and of the Public Finances Studies Center Committee;
• Her Excellency Rosario Brindis Álvarez, Deputy, Secretary of the Budget and Public Finance Commission;
• His Excellency José Isabel Meza Elizondo, Deputy, President of the Science and Technology Commission; and
• Her Excellency María Teresa Rosaura Ochoa Mejía, Deputy, Secretary of the Citizen Participation and Public Safety Commissions.

The following Canadian parliamentarians took part in the XVIIIth Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary Meeting:

• The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate;
• The Honourable Andrew Scheer, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable Céline Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Senator;
• The Honourable Fernand Robichaud, P.C., Senator;
• The Honourable Terry Stratton, Senator;
• The Honourable Frank W. Mahovlich, Senator;
• The Honourable Mobina S.B. Jaffer, Senator;
• The Honourable Pierrette Ringuette, Senator;
• The Honourable Terry Mercer, Senator;
• The Honourable Claudette Tardif, Senator;
• The Honourable Percy Mockler, Senator;
• The Honourable Michel Rivard, Senator;
• The Honourable Daniel Lang, Senator;
• The Honourable Donald Plett, Senator;
• The Honourable Carolyn Stewart Olsen, Senator;
• The Honourable Don Meredith, Senator;
• The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P.;
• The Honourable Laurie Hawn, P.C., M.P.;
• Mr. Joe Comartin, M.P.;
• Mr. James Bezan, M.P. ;
• Ms. Joy Smith, M.P.;
• Mr. Mark Warawa, M.P.;
• Ms. Denise Savoie, M.P.;
• Mr. Dave Van Kesteren, M.P.;
• Ms. Lois Brown, M.P.;
• Mr. Randy Hoback, M.P.;
• Mr. Ed Holder, M.P.;
• Mr. John Weston, M.P.;
• Mr. John Carmichael, M.P.;
• Mr. Sean Casey, M.P.;
• Mr. Joe Daniel, M.P.;
• Ms. Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, M.P.;
• Mr. Réjean Genest, M.P.;
• Ms. Hélène Laverdière, M.P.;
• Mr. Leung Chungsen, M.P.;
• Mr. Jonathan Tremblay, M.P.;
• Mr. Bernard Trottier, M.P.; and
• Ms. Susan Truppe, M.P.

The XVIIIth Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary Meeting included three business sessions:  cooperation regarding security and justice; cooperation to enhance economic competitiveness; and cooperation and integration at the regional and multilateral levels.

At the conclusion of their meetings, the parliamentarians issued a Press Release.