Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)

The 19th Plenary Assembly was dedicated to exploring the importance of parliamentary engagement in the inter-American system and the need for parliamentary insights on the issues of hemispheric importance discussed in these spaces.

The 14th Gathering of the Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality, entitled Legislative Perspectives for Inclusive Economic Growth: Investing in the Care Economy, provided a space for parliamentary delegates and subject matter experts to exchange reflections and good practices on legislative initiatives related to care work and the economy.

This inter-parliamentary dialogue provided a space for parliamentarians to exchange with subject matter experts and among themselves on strategies promoting parliamentary diplomacy on climate action within parliaments, aligned with existing international frameworks.

On June 6 to 8, 2022, a parliamentary delegation of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM) attended a parliamentary gathering held on the occasion of the 9th Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, United States.

The 6th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network (OPN) included three virtual sessions that took place on March 9, 15 and 22, 2022. During the sessions, dialogues were held between parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and civil society and youth representatives on key considerations for a robust public integrity strategy, recognizing its importance not only in preventing and fighting corruption, but as one of the fundamental pillars on which political, economic, and social systems are built.

The plenary session of the 18th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas offered a space for member parliaments to present the various legislative initiatives that their Parliament has been undertaking with the contribution of civil society and youth, to rebuild the social contract. Likewise, the declaration was read and the results of the election for positions on the ParlAmericas Board of Directors were announced, as well as the host Parliament for the next 19th Plenary Assembly.

On September 13, 22 and October 4, 2021, a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians participated in the 13th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Network on Gender Equality (PNGE). The three online events were conducted in ParlAmericas’ official languages: English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. The 13th Gathering of the PNGE explored the ways in which strengthening social supports and services can contribute to addressing the root causes of gender inequality and other forms of social vulnerability, building on conversations spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic on enhancing social protection systems. The question of data was a crosscutting focus of the Gathering, with particular attention to the availability and use of disaggregated data to address the differentiated needs of women and vulnerable groups during the pandemic. The Gathering provided spaces for knowledge-sharing on good practices for more systematic collection of disaggregated data with a view to preventing the gaps in social protection during future crises and to ensuring an overall strengthening of the social safety net. The Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, Senator, was elected as Vice-President (North America) on the Executive Committee of the PNGE.

This inter-parliamentary dialogue provided a space for parliamentarians and parliamentary staff to exchange with subject matter experts and among themselves on strategies for parliaments to inclusively drive climate action and ensure that short and long-term climate plans are developed with an intersectional lens, to promote a just transition and lead to decent and clean work for all.

The working session provided a space for parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and civil society representatives of the Americas and the Caribbean to discuss the tactics and strategies utilized to distribute disinformation today and provide recommendations for parliamentarians’ consideration in their efforts to combat this phenomenon.

Circular Economy – Sustainable approaches to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic

The 17th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas provided an opportunity to share on the different measures that parliaments have taken or can take to implement sustainable and equitable production systems, considering the forthcoming economic packages for the reconstruction of our economies post COVID-19 pandemic, and to progressively meet the 2030 sustainable development agenda. The working sessions on November 16, 2020 (English and French) and November 20 (Spanish and Portuguese) facilitated an exchange of good parliamentary practices for the implementation of this agenda in the parliaments of the hemisphere. Each country delegation presented a statement related to the event theme at the plenary session of November 27, 2020. The plenary assembly concluded with the reading of the final declaration and the Board of Directors elections.

The ParlAmericas parliamentary Network for Gender Equality discussed the theme “Designing Inclusive Futures in Partnership with Youth” through a series of online events for parliamentarians in the Americas and the Caribbean. Through the exchange of experiences and good legislative practices, this gathering fostered a dialogue on the importance of incorporating youth voices and action in parliamentary efforts for gender equality.

The Honourable Senator Rosa Galvez, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, attended events organized as part of the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 25) held in Madrid, Spain. The Conference offered the opportunity to learn more about various climate change issues, promote parliamentarians’ role in implementing the December 2015 Paris Agreement, and present the activities of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change.

Parliamentarians from 21 legislative assemblies of the Americas and the Caribbean met for the 16th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas in Asunción, Paraguay. The theme of this annual meeting was “Accelerating Progress on Agenda 2030: Good Practices for Parliamentary Action.” The parliamentarians had an opportunity to share their respective regional experiences and discuss the challenges and progress made in implementing Agenda 2030 and achieving its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

ParlAmericas supports parliamentary climate action through innovative programs, dialogues, and partnerships designed for parliamentarians of the Americas and the Caribbean to promote the highest political commitments for advancing legislative work on climate change mitigation and adaptation in the hemisphere.

The ParlAmericas parliamentary Network for Gender Equality is examining the theme, “Achieving balance in the world of work” through a series of panel sessions and workshops on reducing barriers to women’s economic empowerment.

The Canadian Section of ParlAmericas was in Brazil for a three-day bilateral visit. It started in Brasilia where the delegation established parliamentary ties with the newly elected congress and promoted ParlAmericas as a forum for hemispheric dialogue. Then, it went to São Paulo where it explored trade and investment opportunities for Canada.

The 4th Annual Gathering of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network aimed at analyzing the key features of corruption in the region, explore strategies and mechanisms to strengthen parliamentary oversight of legislative frameworks, and focus on developing concrete actions that can be taken by parliaments to foster a more open State.

The Canadian Section of ParlAmericas visited Mexico City to develop ties with the newly elected Government and Congress.

The Canadian Section of ParlAmericas participated in the meeting on Transformational Leadership for Gender Equality in the Caribbean to learn more about the current initiatives in the region to advance women’s leadership and gender equality, and to develop strategies to mainstream this focus in national sustainable development efforts. Through a series of exchanges, the delegates forged strengthened partnerships, coordinated agendas, and contributed to these efforts at the regional level by providing input on a Draft CARICOM Regional Gender Equality Strategy.

The Canadian Section of ParlAmericas participated in the 10th Annual Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the International Criminal Court and the Rule of Law and 40th Annual Forum for Parliamentarians for Global Action in Kiev, Ukraine. This meeting offered an occasion to discuss challenges faced by parliamentarians in attaining a universal system of justice at a domestic, regional and international levels centred on the Rome Statute, while understanding the independent mandate fulfilled by the International Criminal Court’s judicial organs.

A delegation representing the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas met with Panamanian parliamentarians and local stakeholders to enhance their knowledge about trade, climate change issues, security and other public policy issues. Additionally, delegates attended the 3rd Gathering of the Parliamentary Network on Climate Change. The role of national parliaments in international climate efforts, the challenges of transitioning to low-carbon economies and models for pricing carbon were discussed.