Participation of the Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., Speaker of the Senate, and the Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons, and a Parliamentary Delegation, to the XXIst Mexico–Canada Interparliamentary Meeting in Mexico City, Mexico

From February 18–21, 2018, the Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C., and the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P., led a parliamentary delegation to the XXIst Mexico–Canada Interparliamentary Meeting in Mexico City, Mexico.

The delegation comprised the Honourable Senators Dennis Dawson, Percy Mockler, Lucie Moncion and Kim Pate, as well as the following members of the House of Commons: Mr. Mark Warawa, Ms. Carol Hughes, Ms. Julie Dzerowicz, and Mr. Terry Sheehan. Accompanying the delegation were Mr. Stuart Barnable, Chief of Staff to Speaker Furey, Mr. Brian Underhill, Chief of Staff to Speaker Regan, Mr. Gérald Lafrenière, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol, Ms. Caroline Massicotte, Secretary to the delegation, and Ms. June Dewetering, Advisor to the delegation.

The meeting occurred in response to an invitation from Deputy Victor Giorgana Jiménez, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of the Union of the United Mexican States. During the meeting, the delegation met with the following individuals:

From the Senate of the Republic:

• His Excellency Ernesto Javier Cordero Arroyo, President of the Senate;
• Senator Marcela Guerra Castillo;
• Senator Marco Antonio Olvera Acevedo;
• Senator Victor Hermosillo y Celada;
• Senator Laura Rojas Hernández;
• Senator Isidro Pedraza Chávez;
• Senator Víctor Manuel Galicia Ávila; and
• Senator Jesús Priego Calva.

From the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of the Union:

• His Excellency Édgar Romo Garcia, President of the Chamber of Deputies;
• Deputy Victor Giorgana Jiménez;
• Deputy Fernando Uriarte Zazueta;
• Deputy Marko Cortés Mendoza;
• Deputy Christian Alejandro Carrillo Fregoso;
• Deputy Vidal Llerenas Morales;
• Deputy Martha Cristina Jiménez Márquez; and
• Deputy Francisco Gutiérrez.

As well, the delegation heard from Ambassador Pierre Alarie, Canada’s Ambassador to Mexico, Ambassador Carlos Manuel Sada Solana, Undersecretary for North America with Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Dr. Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, Mexico’s Secretary of the Economy, Mr. Francisco de Rosenweig, a partner with White & Case LLP, and Mr. Emilio Cadena Rubio, President and Chief Executive Officer with Grupo Prodensa. Finally, the delegation met with Senator Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The Themes

Canada–Mexico Interparliamentary Meetings, which have been held since 1975, enable federal legislators from both countries to share their experiences, promote dialogue and advance parliamentary relations between the two nations. At the XXIst Mexico–Canada Interparliamentary Meeting, representatives from each country provided opening remarks and delegates then focused their discussions on the following four themes:

• Migration and Labour Markets;
• Mexico–Canada Economic and Trade Relationship;
• Energy Integration; and
• Environmental Protection.

At the conclusion of the meeting, delegates adopted a declaration (see Appendix A) that related, in part, to these four themes.

• Migration and Labour Markets

Regarding migration and labour markets, Canadian delegates mentioned such issues as bilateral collaboration on migration, labour mobility and the working group on this topic established under the Canada–Mexico Partnership, international credential recognition in the context of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the Seasonal Agricultural Workers, Temporary Foreign Workers and Youth Mobility Programs. They also made comments about the lifting of the visa that was previously required for Mexicans entering Canada, the increased frequency of flights between Canada and Mexico, and Canadians who visit Mexico as tourists.

The topics discussed by Mexican delegates included the opportunities enabled by migration, diversity as a source of strength, Canada’s acceptance of migrants and refugees, and countries collaborating to address migration challenges. As well, they highlighted temporary worker programs, and Mexico as a transit and destination country.

• Mexico–Canada Economic and Trade Relationship

On the topic of the Mexico–Canada economic and trade relationship, Canadian delegates noted the countries’ importance to each other in a number of ways. As well, they commented on such issues as integrated supply chains, a trilateral NAFTA, sharing the benefits of trade, and Mexico as a tourist destination for Canadians.

In focusing on NAFTA, Mexican delegates spoke about the timing of negotiations in the context of their country’s upcoming elections, trade between Canada and Mexico, and the benefits of trade for both workers and businesses.

• Energy Integration

With an emphasis on energy integration, Canadian delegates drew attention to working together in achieving shared goals, Canada and Mexico as energy partners, and reduced costs and enhanced security resulting from energy integration. Furthermore, they made statements about renewable energy in Canada, corporate social responsibility, environmental innovation and clean technology, among other topics. 

Mexican delegates concentrated on such issues as Mexico’s energy reforms in 2013, the Paris Agreement, various types of renewable energy, mining technology and being prepared to face the unavoidable changes of the future. They also underlined Canadian investment opportunities in Mexico in such areas as clean technology and green energy.

• Environmental Protection

Regarding environmental protection, Canadian delegates noted the prevalence of extreme weather events, joint environmental stewardship, the duty to consult with Canada’s Indigenous peoples, protecting vulnerable species and dealing with invasive species. Furthermore, they mentioned such issues as greenhouse gas emissions, carbon pricing, and environmental protection coincident with economic growth.

In observing that climate change is one of their country’s most important issues, Mexican delegates underscored bilateral commitments to climate change that occurred at the November 2017 meeting of the Canada–Mexico Partnership, the need to conserve habitat and the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, among other topics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX A: DECLARATION ADOPTED AT THE XXIST MEXICO–CANADA INTERPARLIAMENTARY MEETING

JOINT DECLARATION OF THE MEXICAN AND CANADIAN DELEGATIONS

 

Mexico City, 20 February 2018

 

In keeping with what was determined on February 20, 2018 during the XXIst Mexico–Canada Interparliamentary Meeting in Mexico City, the following is agreed:

Joint Declaration

1. Convinced of the importance of the bilateral relationship between our countries, and of the close historical, economic and cultural ties that have been forged during the 74 years of that relationship, we welcome the holding of the XXIst Mexico–Canada Interparliamentary Meeting. We also believe that continuing to hold these meetings demonstrates understanding, respect and cooperation, as well as the willingness of both legislative bodies to engage in dialogue for mutual benefit.
2. Recognizing that the economic, political and social interdependence between our two countries requires the formulation of a comprehensive, broad and renewed agenda that lays the groundwork for sustainable development of the North American region, we applaud the willingness of our legislative bodies to continue working together for the joint benefit of our countries in a spirit of mutual respect.
3. We affirm that respect for sovereignty, democracy and the rule of law, as well as for human rights, are among the pillars upon which our bilateral relationship is built and upon which cooperation is generated.
4. Against the backdrop of major global transformations, including in North America, we express our conviction that parliamentary diplomacy plays a fundamental role in contributing to better understanding of our shared values and vision for the future, as well as areas of divergence between our nations.
5. Having considered the various perspectives shared by legislators at the XXIst Mexico–Canada Interparliamentary Meeting, we affirm our desire to continue to work together in the following areas:
   1. Recognizing that diversity is a strength and that migration between our countries can have tourism, employment- and education-related benefits, we agree on the need to collaborate through bilateral mechanisms and in multilateral fora on migration issues.
   2. In light of the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement that have accrued since the agreement’s implementation in 1994, mindful of the need to update the agreement to recognize a 21st century global environment, and cognizant of the integrated supply chains that exist in the continent, we believe that the NAFTA negotiations must continue on a trilateral basis, including with a commitment to labour, gender rights and environmental protection, with a view to arriving at a win-win-win agreement that will be a strong tool for economic growth and integration in the North American region.
   3. Having a shared commitment to North American energy sustainability, security and integration, and the gains that result, we support existing bilateral and multilateral institutional mechanisms that support these energy goals, and are aware of the need to prioritize a range of energy sources, including various forms of renewable energy, as well as a focus on clean energy technology.
   4. Sharing the goals of environmental cooperation and sustainability, as evidenced by our endorsement of the Paris Agreement and other mechanisms designed to en t cooperation designed to ensure a healthy environment consistent with economic growth. 
6. Being convinced that meetings among legislators are instrumental in promoting better understanding on shared interests, encouraging the exchange of information and initiating dialogue on points of divergence, we urge legislators with an interest in the Mexico–Canada relationship to find innovative ways in which to continue their dialogue during the period between the interparliamentary meetings between Mexico and Canada.

It was agreed that the next interparliamentary meeting between Mexico and Canada should take place in Canada during the year 2019.

 

Signed in Mexico City on the 20th day of February of 2018.

________________________ Dep. Víctor Giorgana Head of the Mexican delegation	_______________________ Hon. Geoff Regan, P.C., M.P. Head of the Canadian delegation
________________________ Sen. Marcela Guerra Head of the Mexican delegation	_______________________ Hon. George J. Furey, Q.C. Head of the Canadian delegation