The Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., Speaker of the Senate, led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to the Hellenic Republic and the United Kingdom from April 11 to 21, 2022.

The delegation has the honour of tabling its

Report

The official delegation in the Hellenic Republic was composed of the following members:

• The Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., Speaker of the Senate;
• Mrs. Karen Furey;
• The Honourable Raymonde Saint-Germain, Senator;
• The Honourable Leo Housakos, Senator;
• The Honourable Tony Loffreda, Senator;
• Mr. Vince MacNeil, Chief of Staff to the Speaker; and
• Ms. Catherine Cuerrier, Secretary to the delegation.

The official delegation in the United Kingdom was composed of the following members:

• The Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., Speaker of the Senate;
• Mrs. Karen Furey;
• Mr. Gérald Lafrenière, Interim Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments, and Chief Legislative Services Officer;
• Mr. Vince MacNeil, Chief of Staff to the Speaker; and
• Ms. Catherine Cuerrier, Secretary to the delegation.

Background – Hellenic Republic

Greece, with just under 11 million people, includes three geographical entities: the mainland, the Peloponnesian peninsula, and numerous islands (which constitute 19% of its territory). Greece’s classical history and rich culture have significantly shaped Western thought and democratic traditions. In 2021, Greece celebrated the 200th anniversary of Greek independence.

In 1974, after seven years of military dictatorship, Greece held democratic elections and a referendum that resulted in the creation of a parliamentary republic. Parliamentary elections in July 2019 brought a majority centre-right New Democracy government to power, with 157 MPs, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The main objectives of the current government are to lower taxes, increase international investment, transition to a green economy, allow Greeks abroad to vote, increase e-government services and ensure transparency in government.

In April 2010, Greece began what would become a prolonged financial and economic crisis due to rising debt levels, a loss of competitiveness, continued governance challenges, decreased investor confidence and the emergence of the worldwide banking crisis. Following three successive bailout packages with the European Union (EU), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Greece exited the bailout program in August 2018 and began a period of “enhanced surveillance” of its finances. In 2021, Greece experienced a period of fiscal relaxation for the first time in more than a decade

Greece is active in multilateral forums. It is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), La Francophonie and a number of other regional organizations.

The year 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Greece. The two countries enjoy excellent relations based on people-to-people ties and share fundamental values that underpin cooperation on regional and global issues, including support for multilateralism, the rules based international order and the strengthening of democratic values.

There are a variety of bilateral treaties and agreements between Canada and Greece, which provide an effective framework for cooperation on relevant international and bilateral issues, such as taxation, legal assistance in criminal matters, a bilateral Extradition Treaty, audio-visual co-production, education, youth mobility, social security and air transport. Canada and Greece have enjoyed good trade relations for many years. In 2021, Canadian merchandise exports to Greece were valued at over $143.6 million, up 17.8% from 2020, while imports increased to nearly $337.1 million in 2021, up 11.1% from 2020. Greece is one of 12 (of 27) EU member states that have yet to ratify the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The Agreement remains provisionally applied until all EU member states have completed national ratification.

Objectives – Hellenic Republic

The purpose of the visit to the Hellenic Republic was to strengthen bilateral relations between the Hellenic Republic and Canada, promote democratic values and Canadian interests, enhance trade and investment relations, encourage wider cooperation in the field of education and learn how the Hellenic Parliament adapted and responded to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic while sharing the experience of the Parliament of Canada. Finally, the visit aimed to highlight the importance of the diplomatic relations that the Hellenic Republic and Canada have maintained for over 80 years.

Meetings – Hellenic Republic

During its visit to the Hellenic Republic, the delegation met the following officials:

• His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister;
• His Excellency Constantine An. Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Parliament;
• His Beatitude Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece;
• His Excellency Adonis Georgiadis, Minister for Development and Investments;
• Her Excellency Niki Kerameos, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs;
• His Excellency Christos Stylianides, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection;
• Mr. John Chrysoulakis, Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy;
• Mr. George Katrougalos, Member of Parliament, Representative of the Opposition Party SYRIZA;
• Mr. Stavros Keletsis, Chairman of the Greece-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group;
• Ms. Vasso Theodorakopoulou-Bogri, Regional Vice-Governor of Attica Islands;
• Mr. Konstantinos Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens; and
• Mr. George Koukoudakis, Mayor of Hydra.

Meeting with His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister

During their meeting, His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister, and the Canadian delegation discussed ways to reinforce the overall bilateral relationship, focusing on the economic dimension of cooperation. Prime Minister Mitsotakis referred to the reforms that have been and are still being implemented by the government to attract investment, as well as the reduction of taxes. He specifically referred to the large Greek community of Canada.

The Ukraine conflict and the new landscape that is being formed for the European security architecture were also discussed. Prime Minister Mitsotakis referred to the initiatives undertaken by the country to support Ukraine, as well as the assistance provided to the Greek community. Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Speaker Furey exchanged views about the impact of the war on the economy, particularly in the energy sector.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis gave an overview of his plan for Greece’s energy efficiency and long-term self-sufficiency, focusing on renewable energy sources, the announcements concerning national gas explorations in six regions in Greece and the country’s initiatives to become a strategic energy gateway in the Balkans and the EU.

Meeting with His Excellency Constantine An. Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Parliament

His Excellency Constantine An. Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Parliament, and Speaker Furey began by lauding the excellent relations between Greece and Canada. They noted that Speaker Furey’s visit came at a historic moment as the year 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Ukraine conflict was central to the meeting between the two presiding officers. President Tassoulas drew parallels with the challenges Greece is facing with Turkey, underscoring that they are dangerously ratcheting up tensions in the region. The two officials discussed NATO, in which the two countries work together, and Canada’s efforts to keep the alliance united. They also spoke about the global impacts of the conflict and the resulting human suffering and economic damage. They agreed that disinformation is a growing problem that societies must protect themselves from and that solidarity and good communication are more vital than ever.

The presiding officers compared the Greek and Canadian political systems, particularly in terms of voter representation in Parliament. Finally, the discussion turned to the Canadian delegation’s visit to Hydra, where its members marvelled at the richness of the island’s culture and architecture, and its tour of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, which overflows with history and archaeological treasures from the excavations of the Acropolis.

Meeting with His Beatitude Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece

The meeting with Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece allowed the delegation to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society and the harmful impacts of disinformation. His Beatitude made reference to the conspiracy theories on the origins of the COVID-19 virus, but admitted that he was especially concerned about people being unable to separate faith from science. The participants all agreed that faith is important to nourish the spirit, the body and the soul, and that the current situation in Ukraine is a reminder that all the people of the world should join forces and work together for peace.

Meeting with His Excellency Adonis Georgiadis, Minister for Development and Investments

His Excellency Adonis Georgiadis, Minister for Development and Investments, began the conversation by offering assurances that the New Democracy government provides a stable environment for innovation and investment, and emphasized that the government is trying to make progress on the ratification of CETA. He stated that the government wants to find ways of expanding trade between Greece and Canada. Speaker Furey responded by expressing the hope that Greece would finalize its purchase of Canadian water bombers. The Minister also discussed the work of the former Canadian ambassador in Greece to promote Canadian floatplanes as a means of transporting tourists and travellers from the continent to the Greek islands.

Mr. Georgiadis noted Canada’s significant investments in mining, finance and airport management. He further praised Canada’s world-class expertise in medical cannabis, renewable energy and green technologies, all fields in which Greece could benefit from Canadian know-how.

Finally, Mr. Georgiadis commented on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on e-commerce and productivity in Greece. He added that the digital transformation is being accelerated by the EU’s post-COVID recovery and resiliency fund. He told Speaker Furey that he would like to organize a meeting of the Delphi Economic Forum in Toronto in October. The main topic would be promoting CETA. According to the Minister, this would be a terrific way to raise awareness of the investment opportunities between Greek and Canadian businesses.

Meeting with Her Excellency Niki Kerameos, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs

Her Excellency Niki Kerameos, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, gave a brief history of her country’s education system before outlining the current situation and the New Democracy government’s efforts to implement sweeping reforms to the entire system, from primary school to universities. For 40 years, the emphasis was on transferring knowledge, but the reforms are putting the focus on skills development. Ms. Kerameos explained that the digital transformation of the education system was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, so the reforms seek to digitize the education system. The EU’s post-COVID recovery and resiliency fund will help support these changes.

In an informal fashion, the members of the delegation identified the similarities and differences between Canada’s various provincial education systems and the new and former Greek systems. The Greek reforms will add a teacher evaluation system for the first time. The delegation suggested that Canadian professional associations could be helpful in developing standards and evaluation systems.

Post-secondary education in Greece is one area where Ms. Kerameos would like to see more Canadian involvement. She suggested that her ministry could foster contacts between Greek and Canadian universities. She said that Brexit has had a major impact on the Greek education system. About 80% of Greek children who were attending British schools are looking for new, reasonably priced schools abroad.

Lastly, the Canadian delegation reiterated how strongly Canada feels about strengthening the people-to-people ties between the two countries, noting that the country would like to see more young Greeks study in Canada. The delegation further suggested that Greek business students take part in international competitions organized by various Canadian universities as a unique learning and networking opportunity for the two countries. Ms. Kerameos concluded by remarking that, due to globalization, students cannot be tomorrow’s leaders unless they forge and maintain international ties.

Meeting with His Excellency Christos Stylianides, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection

The meeting with His Excellency Christos Stylianides, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, allowed the delegation to learn more about the environmental issues facing Greece, including forest fire management. The delegation compared these issues with those faced by Canada. Speaker Furey mentioned Greece’s upcoming acquisition of Canadian De Havilland DHC-515 water bombers, and Minister Stylianides said that it was a priority for Greece and Europe to obtain a fleet of the best planes and helicopters to respond as effectively as possible to wildfires in Europe and elsewhere.

Regarding the other natural disasters that Greece experiences, including earthquakes, rising sea levels and coastal erosion, Minister Stylianides stated that Greece and the EU need to work together on a joint response and funding mechanism to limit global warming and its associated impacts. The goal is to make them less vulnerable to the effects of climate change. He added that prevention, preparation and resiliency are the three key elements of Greece’s approach to dealing with the crisis and that the government has two ministries responsible for climate change: the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection and the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

Minister Stylianides acknowledged that little progress has been made over the past decade because of Greece’s economic crisis, but said that Prime Minister Mitsotakis plans to move forward with renewable energy from solar and wind sources. He added that Greece is now better positioned to meet its target of obtaining 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030, consistent with EU goals.

Lastly, the participants spoke about the Ukraine conflict and its impacts on Greek citizens. Minister Stylianides said that many Ukrainians of Greek origin live in the Donbas region of Ukraine and that the Greek government’s priority is to protect the Greek diasporas and its citizens living abroad.

Meeting with Mr. John Chrysoulakis, Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy

With the Greek diaspora in Canada numbering nearly 250,000 Canadians of Greek origin, the meeting with Mr. John Chrysoulakis, Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, was an opportunity to learn about the Greece–Canada relations their citizens maintain.

Mr. Chrysoulakis remarked that the Greek business community is well represented in Canada and supports the significant trade and investment relationship between the two countries. The two officials commented on the excellent and friendly relations that Greece and Canada have had for 80 years now. They added that these relations are based on people-to-people ties, growing trade and investment links, and common values and approaches to major regional and global issues. Mr. Chrysoulakis praised Canada for its leadership and best practices in innovation on green technologies. Regarding trade relations, Speaker Furey noted that Greece had signed CETA and expressed the hope that it would soon be ratified. The idea of having younger generations help expand economic opportunities was also raised.

Mr. Chrysoulakis continued the discussion on strengthening ties between the two countries by way of young people, especially in the education sector, by highlighting the enormous success of the Greek language program established by Simon Fraser University, in Burnaby, in Greater Vancouver. This program receives funding from the Stavros Niachos Foundation in Greece. He added that Greeks believe learning the language is very important, as they see it as essential to strengthening the cultural identity of youth. Speaker Furey spoke highly of the strong links between the two countries in the education sector and the youth exchange agreement they have. He said that they would like the number of exchanges to increase in the future.

Finally, Canada received thanks for its support of Greece in its UN Security Council campaign.

Meeting with Mr. Georgios Katrougalos, Member of Parliament, Representative of the Opposition Party SYRIZA

The members of the delegation met with Mr. Georgios Katrougalos, foreign affairs critic for SYRIZA, the main opposition party, and a former minister of foreign affairs. During the meeting, the delegation had the opportunity to discuss a wide variety of topics. Mr. Katrougalos gave an overview of the ideology and priorities of his party and its position on the Ukraine conflict. He explained that it hoped to form an alliance with the social democrats, who, in his view, can offer a credible alternative to the neoliberal perspective. He noted that his party is pro-globalization but wants a socially responsible globalization that is not based on economic benefits alone. Mr. Katrougalos added that, in his opinion, overly liberal economic ideology can push political systems to the right or, worse, to populism.

Regarding the growing problem of disinformation, Mr. Katrougalos said that it threatens democracy and poses a problem when the wealthy or governments control the media, as the true voice of the people goes unheard and freedom of expression is stifled.

Mr. Katrougalos concluded the meeting by affirming that parliamentary reform with more proportional representation would result in more stable and equitable participation in the country’s governance.

Meeting with Mr. Stavros Keletsis, Chairman of the Greece-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group

The delegation attended a luncheon with Mr. Stavros Keletsis, Chairman of the Greece-Canada Friendship Group, and some of its members. The participants had the opportunity to reiterate the importance of the long-standing diplomatic relations between the two countries. They also underscored how these relations depend on the great potential mutual benefits of educational, cultural, commercial and financial exchange and the two countries’ common values and approaches.

Meeting with Ms. Vasso Theodorakopoulou-Bogri, Regional Vice-Governor of Attica Islands, and Mr. George Koukoudakis, Mayor of Hydra

During a visit to the island of Hydra, the delegation had informal meetings with Ms. Vasso Theodorakopoulou-Bogri, Regional Vice-Governor of Attica Islands, and Mr. George Koukoudakis, Mayor of Hydra. The meetings helped the delegation learn about the Attica region and the historical significance of the island of Hydra during the war of independence. The delegation also discussed the modern governance of Greece and sustainable tourism.

Meeting with Mr. Konstantinos Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens

The conversation at Athens City Hall centred on municipal affairs. Mayor Konstantinos Bakoyannis first wanted to learn more about the recent protests in Ottawa, which took place in January and February and seemed to evolve from an anti-COVID-19 measures protest to a general anti-establishment protest. The delegation informed the mayor that an independent investigation is currently underway and that the Parliament of Canada will receive a copy of the report.

Amongst other topics of discussion was the Ukraine conflict and its impact on Greece, including the increase in the price of goods and energy. The mayor said that Athens has joined efforts to bring some aid and services to people displaced from Ukraine. He remarked that the first thing that women ask for when they arrive in Greece is access to education for their children.

The conversation turned to sustainable cities, and the delegation congratulated the mayor on his efforts to modernize municipal services and infrastructure. He replied that 10 years of economic crisis in Greece had slowed this work, and he lamented that 70% of carbon emissions come from cities. For Mr. Bakoyannis, approaches such as smart cities and the increased digitization of services will help create better places for people to live, work and raise their families. The mayor concluded the meeting by noting that Athens is committed to helping young people create the future they want.

Other activities – Hellenic Republic

Canadian Institute in Greece

The delegation met with the leaders of the Canadian Institute in Greece, which promotes Canadian research and education in fields relating to Greece’s heritage. The members of the delegation learned about the institute’s work and the way it raises Canada’s profile in Greece.

Hellenic-Canadian Chamber of Commerce

The delegation was able to exchange with members of the Hellenic-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which brings together Canadian businesspeople in Greece and Greek businesspeople who do business with Canada. The delegation discussed issues relating to the business environment in Greece and gained a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Canadian investors in Greece.

Meeting with key Greek economists

The delegation had the opportunity to attend a business round table with Mr. Dimitris Malliaropulos, Chief Economist of the Central Bank of Greece, and Mr. Panagiotis Liargovas and Mr. Svetoslav Danchev, two experts from economic think tanks in Athens. The discussion touched on post-COVID economic prospects and overall growth projections for Greece as an EU member state. However, the main topic was the Ukraine conflict and its impact on the global economy.

The Acropolis and Acropolis Museum

The Canadian delegation visited the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, where they learned more about the history of the Greek civilization and the finds at the Acropolis of Athens archaeological site.

Hydra

The delegates gained an appreciation for the culture of the island of Hydra and discovered its rich history at the School of Fine Arts—Annex of Hydra, which is affiliated with Toronto Metropolitan University and has an active exchange program with multiple foreign schools, and at the Pavlos Kountouriotis Mansion, the residence of Mr. Pavlos Kountouriotis, a famous sea captain and the first president of modern Greece, who was re-elected president four times.

Background – United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is a major global power, with significant economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence. The UK has a diverse population, a testament to both the heritage of the British Empire and its relatively welcoming immigration policies. Like many countries, the UK grapples with issues of multiculturalism, immigration and national identity. The uncertainty caused by Brexit has had repercussions on migration from EU countries and influenced many European citizens in their decision to leave the UK.

The UK’s most recent general election was in December 2019 and resulted in Mr. Boris Johnson winning the largest Conservative majority since Ms. Margaret Thatcher in 1987. The Labour Party suffered its worst defeat since 1935.

Canada and the UK enjoy a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship founded on deep historical links, strong people-to-people ties (including extensive academic, scientific and cultural cooperation), common values and vibrant economic relations. The relationship is bolstered by collaboration on key global issues, including as the only two countries that are members of the United Nations (UN), G7, G20, OSCE, NATO, World Trade Organization (WTO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Commonwealth.

People-to-people ties are extensive. Over 10 million Canadians claim some form of British ancestry. Some 560,000 Canadians were born in the UK, and the country is the second-largest source of visitors to Canada in 2019 after the United States.

Canada and the UK are close allies, working together to address global priorities, including support for the rules-based international order, security issues, international development, media freedom, gender equality and climate change. The close Canada–United Kingdom relationship plays a key role in maintaining a strong transatlantic alliance, with long-standing collaboration, especially on defence.

Objectives – United Kingdom

The purpose of the visit to the UK was to strengthen relations between the Parliament of the UK and the Parliament of Canada. The delegation had the opportunity to discuss a range of issues relating to parliamentary governance including the security of parliamentarians and the parliamentary precinct, the reform of the House of Lords and the changes in parliamentary practice and procedure imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meetings – United Kingdom

During its visit to the United Kingdom, the delegation met the following officials:

• Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II;
• The Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons;
• Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Senior Deputy Speaker, House of Lords;
• Mr. Simon Burton, Clerk of the Parliaments, House of Lords;
• Ms. Alison Giles, Director of Security for Parliament; and
• Ms. Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics and Director of the Constitution Unit, University College London.

Audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Throughout his tenure as Speaker of the Senate, Speaker Furey has nurtured the close bond between Canada and the UK, in part through developing the close relationship between Canada and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.

While in the UK, Speaker Furey was honoured to be invited to a personal audience with Her Majesty the Queen. The audience was organized with the goal of presenting Her Majesty with a Loyal Address in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee. The Loyal Address was presented to Her Majesty in the week of her 96th birthday.

Meeting with The Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons

Democratic institutions did not escape the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Canadian delegation discussed how their respective parliaments overcame the various challenges to fulfill their legislative duties over the past two years. They spoke about the changes in parliamentary procedure and practice necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including virtual and hybrid sittings, and the impact on human resources. Lastly, the participants discussed the vaccination and anti-vaccination campaigns.

Meeting with Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Senior Deputy Speaker, House of Lords

To mark Speaker Furey’s visit to the Palace of Westminster, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, hosted a luncheon in his honour. The attendees mainly discussed the importance of interparliamentary relations and diplomacy, as well as the critical role that democratic institutions play in society.

Meeting with Mr. Simon Burton, Clerk of the Parliaments, House of Lords

The Canadian delegation discussed parliamentary procedure with Mr. Simon Burton, Clerk of the Parliaments at the House of Lords. The discussion revolved around the measures taken and challenges encountered in continuing parliamentary proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another topic of conversation was the Senate of Canada’s governance model, which has been divided into three separate positions in recent years. The final subject raised was the various past and proposed reforms to the House of Lords and the Senate of Canada.

Meeting with Ms. Alison Giles, Director of Security for Parliament

Pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, the Parliamentary Protective Service is solely responsible for all physical security operations in the Parliamentary Precinct and on Parliament Hill. The service is overseen by the speakers of the Senate and House of Commons. However, the Senate retains control of a series of non-physical security functions and has a Corporate Security Directorate.

The meeting with Ms. Alison Giles, Director of Security for the British Parliament and a national and diplomatic security expert, was an opportunity to learn more about the corporate security programs and services provided to the UK Parliament Buildings, parliamentarians, their staff and guests, and all visitors, including the assets located there and any events that take place there. The meeting was also a chance to note the key differences and similarities with those provided by the Parliamentary Protective Service of Canada’s Parliament and the Senate’s Corporate Security Directorate.

Meeting with Ms. Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics and Director of the Constitution Unit, University College London

After providing an overview of the various reform proposals undertaken in the British House of Lords, Ms. Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics and Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London, gave her impressions of the Canadian, Scottish and Welsh political systems and various other subjects, including Brexit.

Finally, the meeting enabled the Canadian delegation to discuss the modernization of the Senate and methods to make it more effective, transparent and accountable.

Acknowledgements

The delegation wishes to thank the staff at Global Affairs Canada, the Library of Parliament and the Canadian Embassy in Greece and the High Commission in the UK for their support, professionalism and help during the visit. The delegates also wish to thank Mr. Mark Allen, Ambassador of Canada to Greece and the Honourable Ralph E. Goodale, P.C., High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Permanent Representative of Canada to the International Maritime Organization for their support and presence during these visits.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C.

Speaker of the Senate