Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU)

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee Vice-President for the Twelve Plus geopolitical group, remotely participated in the sixth sitting of the 286th session of the International Executive Committee of the IPU. The meeting took place on November 25, 2021 as part of the 143rd IPU Assembly in Madrid, Spain. Members of the Executive considered new initiatives to strengthen the organization’s accountability and transparency, as well as reviewed the work of its Sub-Committee on Finance, including the proposed consolidated budget for 2022. The Executive also examined the IPU’s calendar of future activities, which includes both in-person and virtual events. The meeting was the last for Mr. McGuinty as a member of the Executive Committee. The IPU President thanked him for his four years of dedicated service and offered best wishes for his continued contribution to the IPU specifically and parliamentary diplomacy more broadly.

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee Vice-President for the Twelve Plus geopolitical group, remotely participated in the fifth sitting of the 286th session of the International Executive Committee of the IPU. The meeting took place on November 24, 2021 as part of the 143rd IPU Assembly in Madrid, Spain. Members of the Executive finalized the draft IPU Strategy 2022-2026, as well as other matters related to the membership of the organization. Its recommendations were submitted to the Governing Council for endorsement by that body.

On 22 November 2021, the Hon. David McGuinty, P.C., MP, President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU), and the Hon. Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, attended a virtual meeting of the Twelve Plus Group. During this meeting, the Group voted for candidates to fill two vacancies on the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and one vacancy on the organization’s High-Level Advisory Group on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism. MP McGuinty and Senator Ataullahjan were both voting members.

On 17 November 2021, the Hon. David McGuinty, P.C., MP, President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) attended a virtual meeting of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Participants discussed the situation of certain parliaments, as well as the preparations for the 143rd Assembly and 208th session of the Governing Council.

On 15 November 2021, the Hon. David McGuinty, P.C., MP, President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU), and the Hon. Marilou McPhedran, Senator, attended a meeting of the steering committee of the Twelve Plus Group. Participants discussed several matters, including the programme of activities for the 143rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (including potential emergency items), the Group’s financial matters, sanctions against parliamentarians by foreign governments and questions related to IPU membership. They were also briefed on key issues discussed at the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, including the adoption of a new Strategy for 2022-2026, the financial situation of the organization and its recent mission to Venezuela.

On November 12, 2021, a delegation from the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) comprising Senator Rob Black, Senator Amina Gerba and Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia attended a webinar entitled “The WTO negotiations agenda at the MC12: Towards a sustainable recovery” as part of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (WTO). Jointly organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the European Parliament, the event was planned to coincide with the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) scheduled to take place at the end of November 2021. Ambassador Dacio Castillo, Chair of the WTO’s General Council, delivered the webinar’s keynote address. In light of the passage of time since any outcome was achieved at a ministerial conference, as well as ongoing challenges in the multilateral trading system, he underscored the importance of MC12 in enabling the membership to reach critical decisions and set out a concrete direction for the organization. Participants also heard from Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal from the International Trade Centre and Ms. Anoush der Boghossian from the WTO Trade and Gender Focal Point. As part of the discussions, the participants were challenged to consider the roles parliamentarians could play in advancing such priorities as e-commerce and a green global recovery and services, as well as reforming the WTO to better integrate gender issues into its agenda.

On 9 November 2021, Mr. David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU), participated in a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Participants continued their discussion on the draft IPU Strategy 2022–2026. During the debate, Mr. McGuinty emphasized the important role the IPU plays in enabling information sharing and collaboration between parliamentarians from all over the world. Additionally, the President of the IPU reported on his activities over the last six months and the Secretary General provided an overview of the organization’s activities since the 207th session of the Governing Council in May 2021. Finally, the Executive Committee discussed matters related to IPU membership and preparations for the forthcoming 143rd Assembly.

On November 8, 2021, a delegation from the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) comprising Senator Rob Black, Senator Amina Gerba and Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia attended the webinar, “Trade and Health: Parliamentary Perspectives on MC12” as part of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (WTO). Jointly organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the European Parliament, the event was planned to coincide with the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled to take place at the end of November 2021. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the WTO, delivered the keynote address to participants. She emphasized that the post-pandemic potential for higher levels of global trade and more even distribution of economic growth is directly linked to achieving equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries. In this respect, she called for parliamentarians to support measures that improve links in the vaccine supply chain, encourage vaccine manufacturing in developing countries, and address intellectual property concerns. Mr. David Walker, Facilitator on the WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic, also addressed the webinar participants. He noted that the WTO can play an important role in global efforts to address issues in trade and health in light of its comparative advantage and focus on promoting trade among its 164 member states.

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee Vice-President for the Twelve Plus geopolitical group, participated in the second online sitting of the 286th session of the International Executive Committee which took place on November 2, 2021. The meeting provided the members with an opportunity to share their views about the IPU’s draft strategy for 2022–2026.