The Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons visited New York, from March 13 to 15, 2018.

The Speaker has the honour of tabling his

Report

The objectives of the visit were to:

• Enhance Canada’s bilateral relations with a number of countries whose permanent representatives to Canada are located in New York City;
• Enhance relations between Canada and the United Nations; and
• Attend and participate in events at the Commission on Status of Women (CSW).

Working Luncheon

At the invitation of Speaker Regan, the following non-resident ambassadors attended a luncheon on March 15, 2018 to foster parliamentary diplomacy:

• H.E. Elisenda Vives Balmaña, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Andorra to the United Nations;
• H.E. Doma Tshering, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bhutan to the United Nations;
• H.E. Ry Tuy, Ambassador to Canada, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the United Nations;
• H.E. Mohamed Siad Doualeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Djibouti to the United Nations;
• H.E. Anatolio Ndong Mba, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea to the United Nations;
• H.E. Ali Naseer Mohamed, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations;
• H.E. Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations;
• H.E. Damiano Beleffi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of San Marino to the United Nations;
• H.E. Ronald Jumeau, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Seychelles to the United Nations; and
• H.E. Robert Sisilo, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Solomon Islands to the United Nations.

The objective of the luncheon was to highlight the range of Canada’s interests with these countries including a discussion on foreign policies with respect to issues of international and mutual interest; promoting educational exchanges; emphasizing Canada’s interests with the United Nations in the areas of international development, gender equality, security and human rights; and, encouraging ongoing parliamentary dialogue by further promoting parliamentary exchanges.

During the event, much of the discussion centred around climate change and its impact on fisheries and oceans and how countries could advance bilateral and multilateral collaboration on the issue. There was particular interest in how Canada will address the issue of climate change during its G7 Presidency. There was also discussion on the value of parliamentary diplomacy in enhancing cooperation and understanding.

Meeting with the President of the General Assembly

On March 14, 2018, Speaker Regan met with H.E. Miroslav Lajcak, President of the United Nations General Assembly. President Lajcak spoke of his priorities for 72nd session of the United Nations, including a focus on people, migration, conflict prevention, implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and revitalization of the General Assembly. Speaker Regan and President Lajcak went on to discuss developments for reform at the United Nations, particularly within the Security Council.

The Sixty-second session of the Commission on the Status of Women

The Sixty-second session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) took place at the United Nations Headquarters from March 12 to 23, 2018. Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and United Nations Economic and Social Council-accredited non-governmental organizations from all regions of the world attended the session. Themes of the conference included:

• Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls; and
• Participation in and access of women to the media, and information and communications technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women.

Speaker Regan attended a number of CSW activities, focussed primarily on the role of Parliaments in supporting women, as well as addressing violence against women in politics. These events included a session organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Parliament’s role in supporting women; a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) event on the role of Parliaments as partners in advancing implementation of a 2000 UN resolution on Women, Peace and Security; and an event on violence against women in politics, where he delivered opening remarks. His comments touched on the IPU’s recent study on Sexism, Harassment and Violence Against Women Parliamentarians and he spoke of the role of men and boys in speaking up for their female colleagues and peers.

Bilateral Meetings

Speaker Regan was able to capitalize on the presence of notable international figures attending the CSW to hold a series of bilateral meetings with the following individuals:

• H.E. Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands;
• Minister Hala Lattouf, Minister for Social Development of Jordan; and
• Minister Neziha Labidi, Minister of Family, Women and Children of Tunisia.

Topics of discussion included the effects of climate change, support for refugees, children, women and vulnerable groups as well as capacity building to address social development, civics and countering violent extremism.

Acknowledgements

Speaker Regan would like to express his gratitude to all the staff of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations for their excellent efforts in making the visit such a success. In particular, he recognizes the diligent work of Deputy Ambassador Michael Grant, Mr. Michael Bonser and Ms. Julanar Green, Counsellor, for ensuring that the visit was successful and productive.

He also wishes to thank Global Affairs Canada for the documentation provided as part of the preparation for this visit.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P.,
Speaker of the House of Commons