Interparliamentary Activities and Reports

Attended by newly elected Members of the Anguilla House of Assembly, the Post-Election Seminar featured panelists presenting from across the Commonwealth. This seminar, which is the CPA’s longest running program, was delivered for the first time fully virtually due to travel restrictions in place during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Branch, was invited to appear on the panel. During a round table discussion, she addressed the role of committees in the Westminster parliamentary system. At another point in the seminar, she also discussed how to strengthen the voice of women in Parliament.

The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is the United Nations hub for the global review of progress toward the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a contribution to the HLPF, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) holds an annual Parliamentary Forum, which was designed to give parliamentarians participating in the HLPF an opportunity to discuss the main theme of the session and exchange experiences on SDGs implementation. The main theme of the 2020 session was ‘The Big Reset: Learning from COVID-19 to fast track the SDGs’.

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU), led a delegation of parliamentarians composed of the Honourable Peter Boehm, Senator, the Honourable Kim Pate, Senator, Ms. Julie Dzerowicz, M.P., Ms. Iqra Khalid, M.P. and Mr. Sven Spengemann, M.P. The delegates heard presentations from experts and discussed the importance of increasing support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with fellow parliamentarians. Speakers emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic has made the need to transition to more sustainable and equitable economic models all the more apparent. Mr. McGuinty and Senator Boehm spoke on behalf of the delegation, highlighting the cross-sectional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pursuing the SDGs and the need to translate principles into evidence-based policies that can win the support of constituents.

MP Cheryl Gallant attended this meeting of the Political Committee. Two reports were studied in depth at the meeting: the general report entitled “The Rise of China: Implications for Global and Euro-Atlantic Security” and the special report entitled “COVID-19 and Transatlantic Security.”

Canada as a whole makes up one of the regions of the CPA, and its 14 branches correspond to the provincial and territorial legislative assemblies and the federal Parliament. Within the Canadian region, legislators can take part in a wide range of exchange programs, conferences and seminars. The Canadian region also has its own publication, Canadian Parliamentary Review. The Regional Council is the decision-making body for the Canadian region. Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Branch, is a member of the Regional Council. A virtual meeting was held given that the regional conference has been postponed.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Commonwealth Secretariat (ComSec) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) organized a webinar for committees in charge of human rights of the Parliaments of Africa, the Caribbean and Canada, and Members of the Commonwealth. The virtual seminar built on previous discussions and drew up guidelines enabling Commonwealth parliaments, especially their committees dealing with human rights issues, to have greater impact in promoting and protecting human rights. The Honourable David McGuinty, PC, MP, President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU), led a delegation of parliamentarians composed of the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, Vice-President of the Group, the Honourable Kim Pate, Senator, the Honourable Marilou McPhedran, Senator, Ms. Iqra Khalid, MP, Ms. Stephanie Kusie, MP, and Mr. Sven Spengemann, MP.

Senator Ataullahjan moderated a panel on strengthening strategies for a better contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level in light of COVID-19. Mr. Spengemann presented a selection of activities by Canada’s parliament related to the implementation of the most recent UPR recommendations; he also pointed out the role that the IPU and its Committee on Democracy and Human Rights can play to strengthen parliamentary engagement regarding the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Mr. McGuinty highlighted the work of parliamentary committees that touch on broad aspects of human rights, as well as gender representation in parliament, the cabinet and heads of Canada’s missions abroad. Senator Ataullahjan, Mr. Spengemann and Ms. Khalid noted the importance of parliament and parliamentary human rights committees in enhancing their work related to the UPR, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human rights, and the value of webinars such as this one to exchange knowledge and best practices about human rights at the national and international levels.