Visit of the Honourable George J. Furey, K.C., Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, Republic of Portugal and Republic of Lithuania
From November 7 to 12, 2022, the Honourable George J. Furey, K.C., Speaker of the Senate, led a parliamentary delegation on a visit to the Republic of Portugal and the Republic of Lithuania. The delegation consisted of the Honourable David M. Wells, Senator, the Honourable Lucie Moncion, Senator, and the Honourable Hassan Yussuff, Senator. The delegation was accompanied by Ms. Karen Furey, Mr. Vince MacNeil, Chief of Staff to the Speaker, and Mr. Jacques Maziade, Secretary of the delegation.
In the Republic of Portugal, the members of the delegation met with the following persons:
- His Excellency Augusto Ernesto Santos Silva, President of the Assembleia da República;
- Mr. João Gomes Cravinho, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
- Ms. Ana Catarina Mendes, Minister of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and for Parliamentary Affairs;
- Mr. António Costa e Silva, Minister of Economy and Maritime Affairs; and
- Mr. Ricardo Baptiste Leite, President of the Portugal-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The delegation also took the opportunity to hold a roundtable discussion with representatives of Canadian companies operating in Portugal. The delegation met with the following individuals:
- Ms. Sara Caetano, Country Manager, Open Text;
- Mr. Carlos Lourenço, CGI Portugal; and
- Mr. António Salvador, Managing Director, Somincor/Lundin Mining.
In addition, topics such as, but not limited to, energy security, economy, migration and the rise of populism were discussed with the following experts:
- Ms. Mónica Dias, Professor, Vice-Director, Institute for Political Studies, Catholic University of Lisbon;
- Mr. João Taborda Gama, Partner, Gama Glória Law for Strategies;
- Ms. Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rector, Catholic University of Portugal; and
- Mr. Victor do Prado, Senior Fellow, Brazilian Center for International Relations.
Finally, delegates were able to discuss ocean and climate change issues with the following experts:
- Mr. Fausto Brito e Abreu, Deputy Director to the Board, CONSULGAL;
- Dr. Vasco Becker-Weinberg, Professor, Nova University;
- Mr. João Canário (Ph.D.), Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon;
- Mr. Tiago Pitta e Cunha, Director/CEO, Oceano Azul Foundation; and
- Ms. Helena Vieira (Ph.D.), Coordinator Researcher, ERA Chair Holder, Environmental Economics and Natural Resources, University of Aveiro.
The visit to the Republic of Portugal was an opportunity to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries as well as to strengthen bilateral relations, parliamentary cooperation, and Canadian interests in Portugal. It also provided an opportunity to discuss energy, economic, trade, and security issues of mutual interest.
In the Republic of Lithuania, members of the delegation met with the following individuals:
- His Excellency Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic;
- Her Excellency Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas;
- Her Excellency Ingrida Šimonytė, Prime Minister;
- Mr. Vytautas Mitalas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas;
- Mr. Paulius Saudargas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas;
- Mr. Arnoldas Abramavičius, Vice-Minister of the Interior; and
- Ms. Danielė MORGANA, Head of the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with Canada.
Among others, the delegation had the opportunity to exchange views with members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on National Security and Defense of the Seimas.
In addition, the delegation met with members of the NATO Force Integration Unit (Lithuania).
The purpose of the visit to the Republic of Lithuania was to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and to promote democratic values. The members of the delegation had the opportunity to discuss with their counterparts foreign policies and policies for the defense of international and common interests, including the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. In this regard, the delegation reiterated Canada's support for Lithuania as it faces the consequences of this invasion.
The report will be available once it has been tabled in the Senate.