Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM)

This inter-parliamentary dialogue provided a space for parliamentarians to exchange with subject matter experts and among themselves on strategies promoting parliamentary diplomacy on climate action within parliaments, aligned with existing international frameworks.

On June 15, 2022, the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM) hosted a reception on Parliament Hill for Ambassadors and High Commissioners of ParlAmericas’ member countries. The following Speakers addressed the assembled diplomats:

• Marc G. Serré, M.P., Chair of CPAM;

• Randy Boissonnault, P.C., M.P., Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance;

• His Excellency Martin Alejandro Vidal Delgado, Ambassador of Uruguay and Dean of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean; and

• Annabella Zavagno, ParlAmericas Deputy Director General.

M. Serré welcomed the guests and thanked the members of the diplomatic corps for their integral roles in maintaining the meaningful relationships between Canada and other ParlAmericas’ member countries. He also commented on the meetings that were held when the Canadian Section was at the IX Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles, California earlier in June. Finally, a particular mention was made of the successful efforts during the Summit establish a formalized role for ParlAmericas in future summits.

On June 6 to 8, 2022, a parliamentary delegation of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM) attended a parliamentary gathering held on the occasion of the 9th Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, United States.

A high-level dialogue was held virtually on June 1st, 2022, on the theme ''Promoting multilateralism through parliamentary diplomacy''. It provided an opportunity for parliamentarians of the Americas and the Caribbean, prior to the 9th Summit of the Americas, to discuss the importance of the role of legislative powers in the Summit processes with a view to advancing multilateralism, regional integration, and the promotion of human rights and democracy.

The 61st Meeting of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors occurred virtually on May 17, 2022. Three Canadian parliamentarians participated:

• Marc G. Serré, M.P., Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), Member of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors (North America) and Chair of the ParlAmericas Corporation;

• The Honourable Rosa Galvez, Senator, Vice-Chair of CPAM, President of ParlAmericas’ Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PNCC), 2nd Vice-President on ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors and Treasurer of ParlAmericas Corporation;

• The Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer, Senator, Vice-President of ParlAmericas’ Parliamentary Network on Gender Equality (PNGE) (North America); and

• Randy Hoback, M.P., Member of CPAM and Member of the ParlAmericas Corporation.

Representative Bridgid Annisette-George, Speaker of Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives and Vice-President of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors, provided opening remarks and an update on ParlAmericas’ recent and upcoming activities; particular mention was made of ParlAmericas’ participation in the upcoming 9th Summit of the Americas.

Two representatives of the Organization of American States (OAS), Francisco Guerrero Aguirre, Secretary for Strengthening Democracy, and Maria Celina Conte, Director of the Summits of the Americas Secretariat, spoke to the members of the Board about the 9th Summit of the Americas and its events. As well, they stressed the importance of democracy and of integrating social justice considerations into all pandemic-response initiatives. Finally, the members of the board discussed ParlAmericas’ participation at the upcoming Summit of the Americas.

On March 29, 2022, the Honourable Rosa Galvez, Senator, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), President of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PNCC), 2nd Vice-President of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors and Treasurer of the ParlAmericas Corporation, chaired a meeting of the PNCC Executive Committee. Senator Galvez welcomed the participants and gave the floor to Costa Rican MLA Paola Vega Rodríguez, who announced the end of her term as MLA and therefore as PNCC Vice-President.

The following members of the Executive Committee attended the meeting: Senator Raúl Bolaños-Cacho Cué of Mexico, Vice-President (North America); MNA Radjendrekoemar Debie of Suriname, Second Vice-President (South America); and Senator Anthony Vieira of Trinidad and Tobago, Vice-President (The Caribbean).

In the first part of the meeting, the representative of the International Secretariat of ParlAmericas presented the work plan for fiscal year 2022–23. The goal to build a PNCC Staff Network, similar to that of the other two ParlAmericas Networks, was also announced.

In the second part, Senator Galvez encouraged Executive Committee members to share any updates on the environmental work they have been leading in their own parliaments. She concluded by talking about her own parliamentary initiatives as well as those of the Canadian government.

In the third part, Executive Committee members heard presentations on climate change issues. Senator Gladys González of Argentina and Camila Gramkow, Economic Affairs Officer at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, gave a presentation on the Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition. Nahuel Arenas, Deputy Chief of the United Nations Regional Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for the Americas and the Caribbean, spoke about tools parliamentarians can use to help their countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, including disaster risk reduction.

The 6th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network (OPN) included three virtual sessions that took place on March 9, 15 and 22, 2022. During the sessions, dialogues were held between parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and civil society and youth representatives on key considerations for a robust public integrity strategy, recognizing its importance not only in preventing and fighting corruption, but as one of the fundamental pillars on which political, economic, and social systems are built.

On 16 March 2022, the Executive Committee Meeting of the ParlAmericas Board met virtually. Along with the chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, Marc Serré, the following Members of Parliament were present: Richard Cannings, Randy Hoback, Stephanie Kusie, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Jamie Schmale, Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné. Senators René Cormier, Rosa Galvez, and Michael L. MacDonald also attended.

Executive Committee members discussed priorities for the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas. They reviewed the budget for 2022–2023 then discussed a number of thematic issues, operational considerations, and future activities for the section.

The 6th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network (OPN) included three virtual sessions that took place on March 9, 15 and 22, 2022. During the sessions, dialogues were held between parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and civil society and youth representatives on key considerations for a robust public integrity strategy, recognizing its importance not only in preventing and fighting corruption, but as one of the fundamental pillars on which political, economic, and social systems are built.

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

The 60th Meeting of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors occurred virtually on March 11, 2022. Two Canadian parliamentarians participated:

• Marc G. Serré, M,P., Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), Member of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors (North America) and Chair of the ParlAmericas Corporation; and

• The Honourable Rosa Galvez, Senator, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), President of ParlAmericas’ Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PNCC), 2nd Vice-President on ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors and Treasurer of ParlAmericas Corporation.

Paraguayan Senator Blanca Ovelar, President of ParlAmericas’ Board of Directors, provided opening remarks and an update on ParlAmericas’ recent and upcoming activities, such as participation at the 9th Summit of the Americas. Members of the Board of Directors approved the 2022–23 work plan for ParlAmericas, and conducted business; the business items included the Board’s Annual General Meeting and discussion of items relating to ParlAmericas’ budget and financing. ParlAmericas’ International Secretariat provided an overview of newly approved funding, and upcoming projects and events. Finally, Board members discussed details relating to the 6th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network (OPN) which took take place virtually on March 9, 15 and 22, 2022.