Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU)

On 28 and 29 April 2021, a delegation from the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) comprising Ms. Iqra Khalid, MP, Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen, MP, and Ms. Michelle Rempel Garner, MP attended the Seventh Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians. The theme of the virtual conference was Post-COVID-19 recovery: A youth-responsive approach. Over 120 parliamentarians from 84 countries in addition to representatives from governments, international organizations, civil society, youth organizations, academia and the private sector participated in discussions organized into four sessions: youth participation; education; health; and economic empowerment.

Ms. Khalid was a featured panelist during the fourth session on economic empowerment. In her remarks, Ms. Khalid highlighted Canada’s efforts at empowering youth and mitigating the pandemic’s negative impact on youth employment. For the benefit of Canada’s future prosperity and post-pandemic recovery, she emphasized the importance of investing in programs that help Canadian youth find quality economic and employment opportunities in the private, not-for-profit and public sectors, as well as develop skills and access essential training. In particular, she noted the value of supporting young people from marginalized and racialized communities who already face multiple barriers and risk long-lasting consequences from the pandemic’s economic disruption.

The conference’s outcome document provides additional information on the deliberations, best practices and recommendations for action. Finally, the conference coincided with the launch of the IPU’S 2021 report on Youth participation in national parliaments; notably, the report highlights that the proportion of parliamentarians under the age of 30 remains “extremely low,” at only 2.6 per cent globally.

Canada hosted the Fourth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in 2017.