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June 5, 2020
Legislating for Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery: Cooperative Dialogue Between Presiding Officers of Parliaments of the Americas
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), gave the keynote address, highlighting how the pandemic has affected the economic situation in the Americas and Caribbean region and outlining proposals that could help mitigate its effects. She explained that ECLAC expects that, in 2020, the gross domestic product of the Americas and Caribbean region will fall by 5%, 12 million people will become unemployed, and the number of people living in poverty will increase by over 28 million in the region. She highlighted that certain population groups in the region are more likely to suffer as a result of the pandemic. For example, women make up the majority of workers in the informal labour force, they often have little in the way of savings, and they have to go outside the home to earn an income. In addition, many children and adolescents may not have access to online learning; it is estimated that only 20% have this option. Ms. Bárcena proposed the following options to respond to the economic crisis sparked by COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean: establish an emergency basic income over a period of six months for people living in poverty; provide subsidies to companies based on the number of employees and the employer’s commitment to its employees; promote measures leading to a more egalitarian and environmentally sustainable economic structure; and implement universal healthcare. Ms. Bárcena highlighted the important role of parliaments in implementing these measures.
Following the keynote presentation, the presiding officers each presented the measures implemented in their countries to respond to the pandemic.
May 8, 2020
Legislative Actions for the Prevention of Violence Against Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
• Yeliz Osman, Policy Specialist on Ending Violence Against Women at the UN Women Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, noted that it is too soon to reach conclusions on the impact of COVID-19 on violence against women, but emerging figures seem to indicate that it has increased during the pandemic. She explained that many countries in the Americas and the Caribbean recorded a 30-90% increase in calls to helplines for violence against women during the pandemic.
• Karina Arteaga, a member of the National Assembly of Ecuador, told parliamentarians in attendance about measures taken in Ecuador to counteract the high rates of gender-based violence. For example, the public prosecutor’s office activated an online service for victims of violence.
• Member of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies Marcela Sabat noted that government measures in Chile are aimed at expanding the capacity to receive complaints by offering the option of filing a complaint through WhatsApp or a web chat. Ms. Sabat said that women without access to the Internet or a smart phone can use the code phrase “Mascarilla 19” [Mask 19] to discreetly report violence during a visit to a pharmacy.
• Mexican Senator Verónica Camino indicated that Mexico has several legal instruments to prevent, address, punish and eradicate violence against women. She emphasized the importance of collecting and consulting data on violence against women to inform decision making and public policy formulation.
May 8, 2020
Parliaments and Pandemics: Going Virtual and Staying Open in the COVID-19 Era
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Other organizations participating in the webinar included Directorio Legislativo, the National Democratic Institute, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Latin American Network for Legislative Transparency and Parliamentary Network Africa.
Discussions during the webinar focused on the importance of legislatures remaining open and transparent during a global crisis. Participants spoke about how keeping the public informed helps legislators fulfill their representation and oversight responsibilities.
May 1, 2020
Virtual Parliamentary Sittings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Participants heard presentations by: the Honourable Juan Watterson, Speaker of the Isle of Man’s House of Keys; Luiz Fernando Bandeira de Mello, Secretary-General of the Board of Brazil’s Senate; and Matthew Hamlyn, Strategic Director of the Chamber Business Team of the United Kingdom’s House of Commons. They discussed the technical and political challenges associated with implementing virtual sittings and committee meetings in their legislatures.
Jarvis Matiya, the CPA’s Acting Secretary-General, updated participants about the CPA’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the launch of the CPA Toolkit for Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and delivering parliamentary democracy.
The Honourable Bridgid Annisette-George – Speaker of Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives, ParlAmericas Board Member and a member of CPA’s International Executive Committee – delivered closing remarks.
April 16, 2020
Organizing Virtual Parliamentary Sessions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
videoconference
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Participants heard presentations by: Gustavo Vasconcellos, Technology and Information Analyst in the Innovation and ICT Directorate of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies; Miguel Landeros, Secretary General of Chile’s Chamber of Deputies; and Claudio Prieto, General Coordinator of Technology and Information of Ecuador’s National Assembly. These panellists provided a detailed account of technical and procedural measures being implemented in their country to enable legislatures to meet virtually.
February 19, 2020
Executive Committee Meeting
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
February 5, 2020
Annual General Meeting
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
Room 505, Victoria Building
12:30 p.m.
To be eligible to vote at the AGM the deadline for membership for this association is 7 days before the meeting.
December 1 - 3, 2019
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 25)
Madrid, Spain
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
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.
October 30 - November 1, 2019
16th Plenary Assembly and 49th Meeting of the Board of Directors of ParlAmericas
Asuncion, Paraguay
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
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.
August 8 - 9, 2019
4th Gathering of the Parliamentary Network on Climate Change
Paramaribo, Suriname
Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)
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