Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

From 14 to 28 June 2021, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) United Kingdom (U.K.) hosted a five-session workshop series on Trade Agreements, using the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as a case study. Each workshop followed a similar format with a portion of the time reserved for presentations and the remainder for a question-and-answer period. Presenters for the workshops included politicians, officials and other experts from Commonwealth countries that are already part of the CPTPP.

The fourth workshop, which took place on 28 June 2021, was divided in two parts: CPTPP and Agriculture and CPTPP and Creative Industries.

PART 1: CPTPP AND AGRICULTURE

The CPTPP and Agriculture topic was presented by Randy Hoback, MP, former Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade of the Parliament of Canada; Tori Morgan and Isabelle Rayner from the U.K.’s National Farmers’ Union; and Ken Ash, former Director of the Organisation for Co-operation and Economic Development’s Trade and Agriculture Directorate. The session examined the benefits and risks of joining CPTPP from an agricultural perspective as well as the process for negotiating specific exceptions for local farming industries to accommodate differences in national standards for food safety and animal welfare.

In addition to Mr. Hoback, the workshop was attended by the following parliamentarians from the Canadian Branch of the CPA: the Honourable Robert Black and Mr. Dan Mazier, MP.

PART 2: CPTPP AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

The second topic was presented by Garry Neil, author of Canadian Culture in a Globalized World: The impact of trade deals on Canada’s cultural life; and Reema Selhi, Legal and Policy Manager at the U.K.’s Design and Artists Copyright Society. The session focused on intellectual property provisions within the CPTPP particularly as they relate to creative industries such as music, radio, television, visual arts, photography, crafts and design.

The Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee examines issues relating to cultural expression in French, education, training, communication, information and communications technologies and audiovisual media. Darrell Samson, MP, attended the meeting of the APF’s Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee to discuss school retention, sport and La Francophonie, as well as the CECAC’s contribution to the upcoming Summit of La Francophonie in Djerba. The members in attendance heard reports on the activities of the CECAC and of the Parliamentary Network to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Mr. Samson also informed the CECAC about the tabling in the House of Commons of Bill C-32 (official languages), the work on Bill C-10 (broadcasting), and the virtual functioning of Canada’s Parliament. The CECAC also heard presentations from a panel of international experts on how young people are using media, education for global citizenship and solidarity, and the protection of cultural heritage, particularly in Armenia. The CECAC also followed up on resolutions adopted in recent months, including those on education in a crisis, student mobility and the educational use of digital tools. The meeting concluded with a discussion on topics related to the next CECAC meeting.

The plenary session provided a space for parliamentarians of the Americas and the Caribbean to discuss how legislatures are working to support their country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, while ensuring national climate plans are gender responsive, involve different sectors of society, and are effectively communicated with the public. A declaration was adopted and elections for the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PNCC) Executive Committee took place.

For more information, see the report: Report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas

The Permanent Delegation of the APF Bureau meets when convened by the APF’s President. It has the power to decide on exceptional administrative matters. It also monitors the implementation of interparliamentary cooperation programs in accordance with the guidelines given by the Plenary Assembly and presents the APF’s programs and annual budget to the Bureau. Between meetings of the Bureau, it exercises all the powers of the Bureau and reports on its activities at the next Bureau meeting. In light of the pandemic and the difficulties of holding the APF Annual Session with its members on the dates scheduled, the parliamentarians, including Francis Drouin, Chair of the Canadian Branch, met urgently to discuss alternative solutions.

On June 23, 2021, a delegation from the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) comprising Senator Rob Black, Senator Brent Cotter, Senator Victor Oh, Mr. Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, MP, and Mr. Yves Perron, MP attended the High-level parliamentary meeting: Transforming food systems for health, equity and sustainability. They were joined by over one hundred other parliamentarians, officials from various United Nations agencies and representatives from civil society. The virtual event was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in connection with the United Nations’ Food Systems Summit taking place in September 2021. The programme focussed on two matters related to food systems: their connection with climate change and sustainability, as well as their link with malnutrition and health. Participants heard about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global, national and local food systems and the importance of commitments on all levels and by all stakeholders, including parliamentarians, to address inequalities. During the discussion, Mr. Erskine-Smith queried the potential benefits of prioritizing plant-based food systems in overcoming current challenges and pressures on sustainability and health.

On June 21, 2021, three Canadian parliamentarians participated in the 56th Meeting of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors:

• Marc G. Serré, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), Member of the ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors (North America) and Chair of the ParlAmericas Corporation;
• The Honourable Rosa Galvez, Senator, Vice-Chair of CPAM and Treasurer of the ParlAmericas Corporation; and
• Randy Hoback, M.P., Member of CPAM and Member of the ParlAmericas Corporation.

ParlAmericas’ President, Paraguayan Senator Blanca Ovelar, highlighted ParlAmericas’ activities since March 2021 and answered questions posed by members of the Board of Directors. ParlAmericas’ International Secretariat provided a financial update, following which members reviewed the draft declaration to be presented at the 5th Gathering of the Parliamentary Network on Climate Change’s (PNCC) plenary session. During a discussion about elections for the PNCC, Senator Galvez indicated her intention to seek to become the network’s president.

On June 14, 21, and 28, 2021, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) United Kingdom (U.K.) hosted a series of virtual seminars for newly elected parliamentarians from the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The series, which was requested by the BVI House of Assembly, was held more than two years after the country’s last election. The objective of the series was to ensure elected representatives in BVI continue to be well-equipped to effectively carry out their parliamentary duties and to allow them to reflect on the challenges and opportunities they have experienced fulfilling their roles to date.

Over the three-day series, Members of Parliament from across the Commonwealth were invited to give presentations. Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, MP, Chair of the Canadian Branch of the CPA, gave a presentation on June 21, 2021. Her presentation focused the roles and responsibilities of standing committees in both chambers of the Parliaments of Canada. She also discussed the role of the Chair, the opposition and the staff that assist standing committees. Ms. Ratansi also drew parallels between Canada and BVI’s system of governance and answered questions from the audience.